(please let me know of any grammatical errors and disreguard numbers. this is for my end-of-the-year exams in animal science. i’d appreciate help to correct any info i may have gotten wrong.)
1. Many people do not realize that both black and brown rats are an introduced species to North America and Europe. Both species of rat are native to Asia Minor. They can be found in large numbers in Japan, China, and India.
2. The brown rat, Rattus Norvegicus, is the domesticated pet rat many people keep today. Their cousin, the black rat, rattus rattus, is the rat that carried the fleas which carried the plague. The rats kept as pets today had absolutely no involvement in the black plague. Very few people are trying to domesticate the more timid black rat, but they are not readily available to adopt. Rats were also used in sport. Rat-baiting was common in the UK in 1853. Dogs were placed into pits with a certain number of rats. Rules varied from match to match, but typically the dog had to kill as many rats as the dog weighed in pounds in the time allotted. A combination of the quickest time, the number of rats and the dog’s weight decided the victory. A rate of five seconds per rat killed was considered quite satisfactory; fifteen rats in a minute was an excellent result. The last public competition took place in 1912.
3. Today, the brown rat is used for laboratory testing, companion animals, and often food for reptiles as well. Wild rats that were used in rat-baiting were eventually bred domestically, producing the albino white lab rat known today. Captive bred rats meant for laoratory research have become almost dog like in their temperment. Carefully bred rats with documented genetic history are often used a basis for laboratory research due to their frequent reproduction, genetic purity and similarities to human anatomy. Lab rats are often fed extremely high amounts of a new food additive or injected with large doses of a new chemical compound. Theoretically, if the test product is completely safe for humans, it shouldn’t matter if the laboratory rats ingest two hundred times the recommended levels.
Rats are very much like dogs, and are becoming a more popular pet in the US because of this. Unlike other rodents, rats very rarely bite. Instead of wanting to stay away from people, many rats crave attention from their owners. They can be trained to do many tricks just as dogs can, and can also be litter box trained like a cat. And contrary to popular belief, rats are actually very clean animals. They groom themselves constantly just as a cat would. Unfortunately, these lovable little animals are often bred and sold as food for snakes.
4. In the wild, rats eat almost anything. They are scavengers by nature. Rats in the wild will eat animal eggs, fruits, vegetation, smaller animals (including mice), and many bugs. In captivity rats are also fed a wide variety of foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of their daily diet along with a specially formulated lab block diet made for rats/mice.
5. To own a rat, it is necessary to have a large wire cage ideal for proper ventilation and climbing opportunities. Many wooden objects should be provided inside the cage to aid the rats’ natural chewing instinct and to help keep their teeth at an appropriate length. Many toys should be provided for the rats to keep their minds stimulated. These are very smart animals and, when bored, have been known to self-mutilate.
6. Rats, like all rodents, need a constant supply of things to chew on. Rats’ teeth grow constantly throughout their life. Without something to wear their teeth down on, their teeth can become overgrown and cause them to starve. Eventually, if left untreated, their teeth can grow into their brain and kill them if they haven’t died of starvation yet.
7-8. Rats are very prone to respiratory diseases. Every rat, aside from lab rats, has mycoplasma. Mycoplasma is a microscopic organism related to bacteria. This can generally be harmless, but when additional infections and irritants are added to a rat’s environment, this could cause a myco flare-up, commonly referred to a pneumonia. A rat’s condition will go downhill very fast and many will die even with veterinary treatment. To prevent this, rats should be kept in a mold and dust-free environment. A proper diet will also greatly improve their health.
Rats are also notorious for being host to many different parasites, most commonly mites and fleas. Both mites and fleas can find their way into store-bought bedding and will start to infest your rats and home once added to their cage. Freezing bedding for 2 days before use is a good way to prevent this from happening. Also, keeping your rat away from other animals that may carry external parasites is always a good idea.
Many rats, especially females, are prone to tumors. It is rare for a male to develop one, but most females will die of a mammary tumor. Although a veterinarian may be able to remove the tumor, it
(7-8 cont.) Although a veterinarian may be able to remove the tumor, it will most likely come back. This can be prevented by providing a diet with the proper nutritional values of rats. A diet very low in fat and protein is ideal.
9. Rats are very good at keeping themselves clean, much like a cat. They will groom themselves periodically throughout the day. Keeping rats in a clean environment greatly helps them. A rat kept in a feces-ridden cage will become dirty, smelly, and unable to properly clean itself. Providing rats a small dish of water may help. Most rats will dip their hands in the water to clean their face. Rough surfaces in their cage should be provided, such as rocks, to help keep the rat’s nails trimmed. Wooden objects should also be provided to aid the rat in keeping their teeth at an appropriate length.
10. Rats reproduce very quickly. They breed during all seasons. A rat’s gestation period is from 21-23 days. Litters are typically from 8-12 babies, but as much as 20 is possible. Once babies are born, they are hairless, earless, and eyeless. They will stay with mom, feeding off of her, for the next 3-5 weeks of their lives. At 2 weeks they will have a light coat of fur and open their eyes. At 3 weeks they will start to nibble at food. At 4 weeks most, if not all, babies will be eating on their own. Between 4-5 weeks babies leave mom. At 6 weeks babies become sexually mature. Female rats can become pregnant within 24 hours after birth, therefor making it possible for them to have litters of babies almost constantly. Of course this is very unhealthy though and the mother rat will not live long if she has to nurse babies constantly.
Good info for the most part, there are a few errors. Paragraph 3, line 4, laboratory, not laoratory. Paragraph 7-8, line 4, myco flare ups can lead to pneumonia as a secondary infection, but this is a separate thing. Paragraph 10, line 2, they can have as many as 20 pups, not as much as. Line 4, they are not eyeless, their eyes are sealed shut and open around day 12 or 13. Line 6 They can actually eat solid foods just a couple days after birth as their teeth finish developing very quickly, but they are not able to get enough easily digestible nutrients from solids until 4 to 5 weeks old. Hope this helps!
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Great job on the list. I think you got just about everything! 
