How long do rats live, what do different species and breeds look like, their weight and size?

Peculiarities

The domestication of tailed animals began at the beginning of the last century. Decorative rats have a keen intelligence, have excellent memory and are highly trainable. In this regard, the popularity of rodents as pets is increasing every year. Even those who do not have warm feelings for rats watch with interest the antics of the eared animals.

The domestic rat is a compact pet. Adults weigh from 300 to 600 grams depending on gender. Boys grow up to be almost twice as big as girls. Most breeds have a slightly elongated muzzle, ears set high and with rounded tips. The body is covered with fur, its thickness and length depends on the specific breed. The tail is most often bare or covered with a small amount of hair. It is noteworthy that in some individuals it is warm to the touch, while in others it is cold.

What you need to know to properly keep rats at home.

House mouse in a human home

Many representatives of this species of animals prefer to live directly next to humans. The lifespan of mice at home is slightly longer - about 2 years, rarely their age reaches 3 years. Life expectancy increases due to more comfortable living in rooms where there are no sudden changes in temperature and humidity. But not everything is so rosy for the house pest in human habitation.

Rodent in the house

People don't like mice for many reasons:

mice are carriers of dangerous infections such as pseudotuberculosis, plague, tularemia;
mice cause damage to human property by gnawing furniture, fabrics, and edible supplies;
House pests leave behind feces and urine that have an unpleasant odor.

As soon as the owner of the house notices the unwanted tailed guests, he immediately takes measures to destroy them. All kinds of traps, mousetraps, and poisonous baits appear in the premises, which sharply shorten the lifespan of a mouse. In addition to all sorts of devices for catching and poisoning rodents, people often have a cat at home. Its predatory instincts work quickly, and the mouse does not have long to live.

Even if the animal is caught in a trap and remains alive, it can die from dehydration. The number of days that a mouse lives without food and water is very short.

On a note!
Once caught in a mouse glue trap, the rodent cannot escape and is left to die. Glued mice live for 2-3 days.

Lifespan

In the wild, the lifespan of a rodent depends on its habitat and rarely exceeds one year. They live as pets for 2-2.5 years.

There are also cases where domestic rats lived up to three years or more. And the Guinness Book of Records notes that the oldest rat lived to the age of 7 years.

The popularity of rodents as pets increased dramatically with the release of the third Harry Potter book. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, there was a certain wizard who lived in the guise of a rat for 12 years. Fans of the world of magic who believed in the long life of pets were in for a slight disappointment. Rats bought at the height of Pottermania lived, like ordinary ones, for 2-3 years .

How long rats live at home is influenced by quality of life, nutrition and genetics. To prolong a pet’s existence, you need to provide it with favorable living conditions. The common belief that rodents can live in any conditions is partly true. However, poor care will certainly affect life expectancy.

An example of proper keeping of furry pets.

Life expectancy of a decorative rat

Research in England has shown that most pets die before they reach 3 years of age. However, this figure is much higher than the age at which wild rats die.

Rats develop rapidly and, unlike other rodents, puberty begins at the age of 6 weeks, and they become adults at 5 months. Each month of a rodent can be equated to 2 years of human life. Based on this, 4 rat years are 120 human years.

What determines the lifespan of a rodent?

First of all, long life is influenced not by the environment and care, but by genetics. Parents who have suffered from the disease will not produce healthy rat pups that will live a long life.

It is recommended to buy an animal in specialized nurseries, where you will be provided with information about the baby’s pedigree, vaccinations and the necessary diet and care if the baby rat has individual characteristics and predispositions.

Where did you buy your pet?

How to extend the life of a pet?

The longevity of a pet also depends on the conditions in which it is kept. Like other rodents, rats require a spacious cage in which they can spend active time. It is important to install ladders, shelves, tunnels, a lounger, toys and other items that will provide the little rat with not boring leisure time while the owner cannot devote time to him.

Important! If your pet lives in a small cage and leads a sedentary lifestyle, this will soon lead to consequences such as obesity, muscle atrophy and heart disease.

Many breeders keep hamsters in aquariums, which is not the case with rats. The cage should be well ventilated to prevent overheating and dampness in the air. Rats are very clean, so litter also plays an important role.

Important! Do not buy pine litter, avoid sawdust and cotton wool (they will hurt the animal), paper litter and hay (they do not absorb odors). The best option is wood pellets.

The rat's diet should be varied and nutritious: specialized food, vegetables, fruits, and herbs are mandatory components of daily nutrition. Sometimes you can give protein foods , but it is not recommended to abuse them.

position the cage in such a way that the baby rat does not reach indoor plants, as negative substances can cause food poisoning;
never feed your rat food from the table or leftover food;
Water must be given filtered or bottled, but under no circumstances should it be taken from the tap . Even boiled unfiltered water can pose a threat to the health and life of the baby;
The cage must contain a dental stone, which is available at any pet store. It not only saturates with calcium, but also allows you to grind your teeth. If this is not done, then soon the pet will not be able to eat.

It is recommended to bathe your rat only when necessary (no more than once a week). With proper maintenance and timely cleaning, the rat pup does not need the procedure, but in some cases it is still carried out. This must be done carefully so as not to catch a cold, and observe temperature conditions when bathing and drying.

Diseases of domestic rats from which rodents most often die

Despite the fact that during domestication the rats became smarter and calmer, their immunity did not increase. Rodents are often susceptible to diseases, so care must be taken when choosing a place for cages and walks.

It is not recommended to walk with a rat in nature, even using a harness, or to keep it in an open cage in nature. Animals often get diseases that are carried by virus-carrying insects; upon contact with the ground they can develop a fungus;
the most common disease is a cold , which leads to lung problems. A rodent can get it if the cage is in a draft or from hypothermia after bathing;
another disease that affects the lungs and respiratory tract is mycoplasmosis, which is transmitted by airborne droplets, and, unfortunately, cannot be treated;
It is necessary to take preventive measures against worms and ticks , which are not excluded in rodents. If you notice unusual behavior or aggression in a rodent, take it to the vet immediately, as parasites cause scabies and tuberculosis;
Due to a bad environmental situation or poor genetics, tumors are sometimes found in rat pups. If they are benign, then there is nothing to worry about. Malignant ones will have to be treated for a long time and often there is a need for surgery, which not every specialist will undertake.

Important! Sphynxes are very sensitive and vulnerable rodents, so never raise your voice to them. A sharp, rude cry can cause a stroke in a baby.

The earliest symptoms are: apathy, refusal to eat, the appearance of wheezing and heavy breathing, mucous discharge from the eyes and nose, swelling and lack of coordination of movements, bald spots in the coat and frequent scratching. If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian, who will advise you on further course of action. Do not self-medicate , as the body of rats is very sensitive and any wrong steps will only aggravate the situation.

How do the life spans of different breeds of rats differ?

Unlike dogs and cats, rats do not have stable breeds that are inherited and affect the longevity of the pet. Their classifications depend on coat type, color, ear structure and individual characteristics. There are exceptions among pets that do not fit the standard category and require special attention:

Sphynxes and the Double Rex breed. Lack of hair or curly fur that shows through the skin is most often susceptible to injury and disease. Basically, rodents live 1.5 - 2 years;
Tailless. Since the tail of a rat serves as a thermostat, rodents of this breed often suffer from temperature changes, so their lifespan also reaches 2 years;
Albinos. A common breed that is distinguished by its white color and ruby eye color, it often suffers from the external environment. Poor ecology affects the animal’s immunity, so the maximum lifespan is 1.5 years.

Important! Satin, Velvet, Dumbo, Rex, Standard and Fuzz rats live on average from 1.5 to 4 years.

How long do rodents live in the wild?

The population of wild rats is large and distributed throughout the world. Pasyuk can adapt to any conditions and climate, he has good coordination and is well oriented in space, knows how to swim and stays calmly in water for up to 72 hours.

Rodents often feed on leftover food in the trash, which can cause poisoning or intestinal disease. Pasyuki move through sewers where the necessary hygiene conditions are not observed, as a result of which colds and skin diseases cannot be ruled out.

Difficult living conditions affect the pasyuk's life expectancy. They are especially dangerous for fragile rats, which die at an early age. Basically, representatives of wild rats live 1-1.5 years. And only some individuals reach the age of 2-3 years.

Genetics

The lifespan of a house mouse is influenced not only by lifestyle, but also by genetic predisposition.

The fact is that in pet stores, rats live in mixed-sex packs , which does not happen in the wild. Animals living in crowds mate uncontrollably, after which they live in cramped conditions unsuitable for normal existence. It is very difficult to trace the genetics of such an animal, so it is impossible to say how long such a rat will live and what life awaits it.

A completely different situation arises when animals are bred by a breeder. Matings in such cases are planned, and partners are selected depending on temperament. Rat pups from peaceful, sociable parents are prepared for sale as pets. Such babies are brought up in a favorable environment, which prevents the pet from displaying aggression in the future.

Females in nurseries give birth to cubs no more than twice a year . Frequent pregnancies exhaust the animal, as a result of which it produces weak, non-viable litters.

In order for a pet to be healthy, please its owners and live a long life, it must be purchased only in special institutions.

You will learn how to make the life of a pet rat comfortable in this video.

Long-lived rats

There are key factors that affect rodents:

Living conditions. A rat cannot live in the cold for long, but in a comfortable environment its life expectancy is on average 2.5 years.
Food source. Waste, poisonous plants, cannibalism among animals are the causes of rapid death.
Lifestyle. Pets live in a safe environment, without having to deal with natural enemies and mobilize their forces for survival, which could shorten their lives. This means that there are an order of magnitude more centenarians among domestic rodents.
Habitats. The lifespan is determined by the territory where the animals live. Wild rats are persecuted, hunted by people, destroyed and poisoned. Compared to domestic pets, such individuals live less.

Even among domestic rodents, there are those that do not exist for long, and there are long-livers. The second group is represented by the offspring of healthy parents and grandparents who at one time lived a long time.

Interesting video: Pros and cons of keeping rats

Rodent character

Those who have never met a rat face to face before can argue that rodents have a bad character. And only the owners of tailed sneaks can say with confidence: this is a loyal and intelligent pet . In terms of intelligence, ornamental rodents are compared to dogs. And for good reason: these are very smart animals.

Each of the domestic rats has a special temperament. You will never meet two identical eared ones. There are homebodies who like to sit in a cage and sleep all day long. Travelers also meet: do not feed such a pet bread, let him walk around the apartment. There are also “revolutionaries”: when they get free (on the carpet, for example), they strive to turn everything in their own way, steal small objects and carry trinkets from place to place.

The rat is an animal that can smile sincerely . Of course, its smile bears little resemblance to a human’s, but scientists have proven that by showing its lower teeth, the rodent expresses its joy at meeting you.

It is also curious that rodents readily respond to their own name. If a mouse gets lost in the bowels of the apartment, you don’t have to rummage through all the closets in search of it (as, for example, in the case of a selfish hamster). Calling the tailed one by name, you will immediately see its ubiquitous face. After all, communication with your beloved owner is more important than any intrigues.

And rats love to communicate . For her, there is nothing so much adored as “her” person. The rat will choose as its “own” the one who will pay it the most attention. She won’t offend the rest of the family, but she won’t give her a championship medal either.

By the way, adult pets treat strangers with caution. You may not recognize your polite mustachioed friend when he grabs the finger of a curious guest. Rats are terribly loyal and devoted, and in the event of a change of owner they do not even try to get used to a new person, often remaining an “abandoned loner” until their death.

Care and maintenance of domestic rats.

When examining a rat's character, the future owner can be given some advice:

When buying a pet, be prepared to interact with it daily. Communication involves contact, play and hand feeding. This is the only way your “mouse” will be happy. Let your pet sit on your shoulder, lightly tease you, and steal small trinkets from you.
Introduce your pet to all family members right away so that there are no misunderstandings later.
Give your rat a name and speak to it often. The smart rodent remembers not only some words, but also perfectly captures the mood by the intonation of its voice.
Equip the “hole” according to all the rules (they will be described below). This way you will avoid the animal’s constant attempts to escape from the cage. A rat, in love with its home, will happily return there after a walk.
As you already understand, walks are mandatory for a rodent. Of course, you don't have to take your rat to the park. It is enough to let her out of the cage once a day. If you have a female, then it is not recommended to leave her unattended. The girls are very homely and their whole life consists of trying to “build” a nest. The material for the kennel will be your personal belongings, so keep a close eye on your pet if you are not ready to sacrifice socks as building material.

Keeping a pet

Domestic rats have strong immunity and stamina, but this should not be abused. In order for your pet to be healthy and live a long time, you need to carefully care for it.

Purity

The key to good rodent health is cleanliness . You need to wash the cage daily. The tray must be rinsed and treated with products without an aggressive odor. Remember that rodents have a very keen sense of smell, so “fragrant” cleaning chemicals can harm your pet.

In addition to washing the tray, the cage itself must be cleaned. Once a week, thoroughly wash the rods, houses and all equipment in the rodent’s home. Old food supplies should be thrown away so that microbes do not multiply in them. If your pet is very zealous in collecting provisions, then the entire collected set can be replaced with a piece of carrot. No matter how smart the rat is, it has not yet learned to count.

In addition to cleaning the room , it is recommended to occasionally bathe the rat . Rodents are not afraid of water, so there will be no problems with the procedure. Fill the bath with just enough warm water to touch the tummy of the rat standing in it. Let your pet swim, then pat the fur dry with a towel.

Females should be bathed once a month, while males should be bathed more frequently, once every two weeks.

From the video you will learn how to properly care for your tailed friend.

Feeding

The lifespan of a rodent is also affected by the quality of its diet . Only natural products are suitable for feeding your pet. Rats are omnivores by nature, however, if you want to prolong the life of the animal, then you should not indulge its weaknesses.

Rats have a big sweet tooth. They love everything sweet, sticky, delicious-smelling and even salty. If a mouse has once tasted a candy, then, hearing the familiar rustle of the wrapper, it will turn the cage upside down until you give it the sweetness. To avoid such begging, do not give your rat junk food, even as an experiment.

She should be fed natural food high in carbohydrates. Grain is optimal for this purpose. In addition to being saturated with carbohydrates, the rat will be able to wear down its teeth on the grains, which, by the way, grow throughout its life.

In addition to grain, they can be given:

boiled vegetables, fruits and other plant foods. Over time, each pet develops personal preferences;
crackers, unsweetened crackers;
vitamins and minerals from the pharmacy;
dairy products;
boiled meat and poultry.

Do not allow your pet to eat food uncontrollably. The daily norm for an adult rodent is 40 g of food. Physical activity in the form of running and walking is required.

Harmful products should be excluded:

food with seasonings, as well as salty, spicy and fatty foods;
sweet products, desserts. Chocolate is especially harmful to rats;
oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits;
raw potatoes, carrots and other vegetables;
raw meat and fish;
grass growing outside.

Arrangement of the house

The moral well-being of a pet plays an important role in its life expectancy. The pet should be warm, cozy and fun .

It is important to choose a cage in which the rodent will be comfortable. The gap between the twigs should not exceed 1 cm. Remember that if the rat was able to stick its head into the hole, then all of it will fit into it. And he will run away.

Rats love to climb various ladders and shelves. You can purchase a ready-made “cottage”, or equip it at your own discretion. The main thing is to ensure that the materials used to create “furniture” are non-toxic.

Arrangement rules:

exercise equipment must be securely fastened;
the tray should be deep so that the animal does not come into contact with its own feces;
a drinking bowl with clean water is required;
the bedding can be made of sawdust or paper (without printing ink!);
a house where the rat can retire: a box, a pot, etc.;
Animals have their own ideas about cleanliness, so the owner must do the cleaning.

Rats are wonderful pets that are great for both adults and children. In order for the pet to please the owner longer, the rodent’s life needs to be arranged in accordance with all the rules.

Decorative breeds of rats

Decorative rats
For pet lovers, it will be interesting to know what breeds exist, how to feed and care for them, what diseases they suffer from, and how many years rats live.

Sphynxes (hairless) are one of the modern domestic breeds bred through mutation. Her well-being and longevity are affected not only by nutrition, but also by problems associated with heating - the optimal temperature regime is + 16-30ºС, as well as treatment of colds, skin, allergic diseases, inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, which are common in this breed of various types of tumors, incl. malignant.
White rats: there are individuals with regular and red eyes, they are distinguished by their attractive appearance and great affection for their owner, friendly character, and are easy to train. Basic diet: cereals, vegetables and fruits, protein foods - raw and cooked meat and vitamins, clean water is required. However, this domestic species is characterized by reduced immunity: they can easily catch colds and are susceptible to infections, which is why their life cycle ends in 1.5-2 years.
The most aristocratic species is the blue rat, whose representatives are loyal and intelligent friends of humans, are able to remember words, love to play, have a non-aggressive character, and live 2-2.5 years.
Less whimsical types of domestic rats: Rex, Dumbo, etc. Animals are very fond of cleanliness and order in their home, various toys and entertainment. Riding on a wheel will help such a rodent stay fit and get sick less. Obesity in all breeds of rats can lead to heart disease and other diseases, which will reduce their life expectancy.