All About White Rats

Not all people treat rats with love, many feel disgust and disgust towards them. But such impressions are often caused by animals that live in the natural environment or outbuildings of people. However, there are white rats, which are pretty cute creatures, they are brought as pets.

The white rat is a domesticated creature that has white fur. She is one of the most common and beloved pets to date. The Chinese were the first to tame this animal, a little later a white rat was brought to America and European countries, where it was crossed with an albino rat. The painstaking work of breeders has led to the emergence of a domestic white rat with red eyes.

This animal has no special differences from the traditional gray rat, except for the special color of the fur coat and eyes. These features of appearance were the result of insufficient amounts of melanin in the blood. In fact, the animal’s eye protein is transparent, and veins of blood vessels that pierce the eye are colored red.

Sometimes one can also meet an inferior albino representative, which is characterized by a gray shade of fur and dark eye color. It is such an animal that is able to better adapt to living at home. They are not afraid of daylight, and also have strong immunity and protective reactions of the body. Especially albinos are not obtained, because their genes with a set of chromosomes are unique and spontaneous.

The color that the rat offspring will have is impossible to know in advance. So, one offspring may include representatives with white and gray colors. The white rat with red eyes is medium in size and weighs about 0.3–0.4 kg. but there are also individuals that have a mass of half a kilogram. The male is always larger than the female.

The pet's muzzle has an elongated and even pointed shape. There are 4 teeth in the front that are quite long and sharp. Another feature of this animal can be called an unusual tail.

It may seem right away that he is bald, but in fact the organ is covered with white fibers, which are almost invisible. The white rat is a very funny rodent that has its habits and habits. That is why many people have chosen this animal as a pet.

On average, decorative rats at home live no more than two and a half years. If the conditions of maintenance and care are ideal and meet all the requirements, then a pet can live 3–3.5 years. An animal that is raised in a laboratory can last longer, up to about four years.

According to the reviews of people who have already acquired white rats, it can be understood that this is a good, positive animal, with him little trouble. However, when keeping fluffy unpretentious animals, the following rules should be followed:

• not to contain individuals of different sexes in one cage, since the female will constantly give birth to cubs, and, as you know, there are quite a lot of them in one litter; accordingly, the rat will not live long, and the owner will be puzzled by the question of where to put the kids;
• the minimum dimensions of the rat house are 40x50x60 cm; such dimensions for the cage are minimal, if it is more spacious, then the pet will be even more comfortable in it;
• you should refuse to purchase a plastic dwelling for a rodent; the best option for an animal will be a cage that has a metal roof and a plastic tray; the rods should be close to each other, otherwise the pet will run away;
• white rats prefer to eat filler food; it is worth buying a faience or hinged metal feeder;
• the owner should buy a drinker made of plastic, which has an inner ball and is easily fixed on the cage;
• when choosing a filler, corn should be preferred, since it is able to absorb all odors, and is also considered not allergenic;
• cleaning the rat house should be done every 4 days, that is, change the filler; general cleaning of the cell should be carried out 1 time for 7 days; washing the house should be carried out using powder or soap, after which the structure is poured with boiling water and dried;
• the cage should be equipped with a wooden house for the rodent, it will serve as a berth;
• it would be nice if there is a hammock in the rat’s dwelling, animals like such devices very much.

To care for a rat albino at home should be the same as for other representatives of this species, namely:

• the cage is always kept clean, otherwise the animal may become sick; the reaction to unsanitary conditions in the rodent is manifested by loss of hair, the appearance of red dots on the skin, and watery eyes;
• a white fluffy pet is worth walking, as he is quite active and agile; when walking around the apartment, the rat should be watched, eliminated access to wires, and also temporarily remove other pets;
• a white rat requires constant communication with a person, so you can not leave the animal without attention, since the pet can get sick and die;
• albino white hair needs combing and bathing; the owner must ensure that yellowness does not appear on the coat, which may be a sign of illness.

The content of a white rat implies providing the rodent with proper and complete nutrition. Feeding a rodent does not mean that he needs to give everything that is available in the refrigerator. Since this pet is characterized by a developed intellect, it is recommended to offer him several different products, of which the rat will choose the right one.

Setting a clear diet and dividing food into portions will help maintain the health of the pet. The white rat mainly feeds on cereals, which are an integral part of store feeds. And also it can be fed pasta, boiled corn, bread crust, porridge. During the preparation of cereals for a rodent, do not add vegetable and animal oil to the dish.

An obligatory element of the white rat’s menu are vegetables and fruits. These products are sources of vitamins and nutrients.

A large amount of protein is considered contraindicated for albino. It will be enough for the pet to give 1 time in 7 days a piece of boiled meat or hard cheese.

This fluffy animal is a gentle creature with a special digestive system, so it is worth feeding it only with clean and fresh products. Food from the refrigerator should be warmed up before serving.

For healthy offspring, mating of albinos should be carried out with a brown, black or gray rat. The mating process is short and goes without difficulty. Having reached the age of 3-4 months, the female can begin to breed, the male becomes sexually mature a little later. An adult white rat carries babies for 20–26 days, while from 4 to 10 babies are born in one litter. There are situations when the number of cubs can increase to 20.

A newborn rodent is a defenseless little creature that weighs no more than 6 grams. A baby who has just been born is deaf and blind. At the age of 14 days, babies begin to try to eat solid foods on their own. Already at the age of one month, a small decorative rat is ready for independent life.

A decorative white rat is an intelligent and neat creature that spends a large amount of time cleaning its fur. But sometimes these pets still need additional help from the owners in swimming. Many rodents do not like water procedures. Albinos are afraid of water and may experience stress when in contact with it, which is why it is worth accustoming an animal to swimming from a very young age. If cleaning in the cage will be carried out constantly, then the animal will often not have to be bathed.

There are people who claim that bathing rats at home is prohibited. But there is another opinion, which indicates the admissibility of infrequent water procedures if all safety conditions are observed during the process.

Bathing white rats is necessary in the following situations:

• if the animal is dirty in a harmful substance;
• when in a dirty cell for a long period;
• if the rat does not clean its fur itself, that is, it is sick or untidy;
• when removing parasites;
• before the exhibition in a few days.

When a domestic rodent does not like water, then you do not need to bathe it, unless there is an urgent need. If the animal is not too contaminated, then you can wash it without using shampoo. During the procedure, it is worth talking to the rat in order to relieve it of fear. Refusal of bathing is necessary if the animal has a cold, as washing can aggravate the disease.

The rat prefers to stay clean she doesn’t crap where she eats and sleeps therefore, the installation of a toilet in the cage of a rodent will not be superfluous. Accordingly, if the house does not have odors and debris, the animal can be bathed less often.

When bathing a white rat, do not forget about such moments as:

• decorative rodents are prone to diseases of ENT organs, so finding the animal in a draft after bathing will lead to an ailment;
• the animal’s health can be worsened by cold in the room, cool water, unripe rat fur;
• when water enters the ears of a decorative pet, otitis media and deafness may occur;
• the use of detergents can cause a change in the natural smell of the animal, a violation of the barrier function of its skin, cause dryness and scabies.

It is better to buy a special tool for bathing rodents, but if one is not available, then it is worth using shampoo for cats. According to experts, you can use a baby detergent to bathe a rat, but it should not contain dyes or fragrances. For the rodent washing procedure, it is worthwhile to prepare several dishes with warm water, a shampoo, a towel and a piece of soft cloth that will replace the washcloth. Rats should not be washed under running water; before bathing, it is worth covering their auditory canals.

Immersion of the animal in a container with liquid must be carried out quickly and accurately, while stroking it and distracting the conversation. The fur should be gently moistened with water, then apply shampoo with massaging movements. Detergent should be washed off in two containers with water, and then dry the fur coat with a towel or cloth.

The tail of the rat is also worth washing, as dirt and dead skin particles accumulate on it. The organ should be moistened with a cotton pad, which is previously soaked in a soap solution. After that, the tail is brushed with a toothbrush, but gently and without pressing. Next, the body is washed off with warm water, wiped and lubricated with an odorless baby cream.

The white rat with red eyes has an excellent character, it is quite smart, which is even superior to the dog. The pet is quite sociable, he is easily tamed, and also responds with affection and responsiveness to a good good attitude.

It is recommended to start rat pups, as they are easier to tame. This rodent loves to sit on a person’s shoulder and kiss. And also they are able to sleep on the lap of the owner in a folded form like cats. This decorative pet can be taught various tricks. He is able to respond to his name, bring toys on demand and leave the house if the owner calls.

The features of caring for domestic rats are described in the next video.