Ratties Life span?

[ILovePiggies]

~How long to most rats live? Just curiosity (how ever its spelt?) Thank you~ ~c~

 

[bunnyluv17]

~How long to most rats live? Just curiosity (how ever its spelt?) Thank you~ ~c~

usually 2-4 years, but can live longer with excellent care.

 

[ILovePiggies]

~Alright thanks =D~

 

[_Cell_]

2-3 is a very reasonable expectation, at about 2-3 years rats legs begin to weaken and they have difficulties getting around in multi-leveled cages and will need the asistance of ramps or a single level cage with everything within their reach. Myco, or respiratory ailments, are another very common illness for rats which deteriorates their health as they age, it is not a contageious ailment, all rats (with the exception of quarentines labratory rats) carry this bacteria. it depends on the specific rat wether it effects them or not, some rats will never have so much as a sneeze while one of their cagemates may weeze horribly (sounds like when you drag a straw in and out of a fast food drink cup) the next most common ailment is tumours, rats were domesticated for labratory use, therefor all pet rats come from labaratory strains, which were used for their rapidly deviding cells, they were bred to develop cancer readily. While females commonly get mammory tumors beginning around 1 1/2 years of age, these are usually non invasive and easily removed. Males are less likely to develop tumors but when they do they are much more life theatening (brain, and genital tumors are common).

 

[ILovePiggies]

~So is sneezing a sign of myco?? :?: I'm ''rat sitting'' and 'Jonathan' is sneezing quite often. I thought maybe she was breathing in dust or something....

 

[stitsy&codyPig]

If he has red discharge coming out of his eyes he has a cold. But if he is just sneezing alittle he should be fine! My rat sneezes sometimes too.

 

[ILovePiggies]

~Okay good!!! I was getting worried there for a bit. I don't like the unknown. Thats why I love this site! ~

 

[Chloë-Jasmine]

My rat boo lived for 4 years. His legs must have been very old and he dragged around his back ones. I took him to several vets and they all told me they must have been paralyzed because there was nothing wrong with them in the way of broken bones. Boo was the runt of the litter, and inbred so I think he did pretty well. Are you thinking of getting a rat or just curious because you are rat-sitting?

 

[ILovePiggies]

~Oh I was just wondering because I was rat sitting and my friend and I didn't know. I won't be getting a rat anytime soon I know that. But maybe one day... one day...

 

[Chloë-Jasmine]

There very good pets, not as good as piggies but in my opinion the next best thing. They love to sit in your lap and they are the only pets more eager then pigs to get food. I hope you had fun looking after him!

 

[2pigs4rats]

Rats are great pets - I love all my animals the same though. I think of rats as companions though since they harly ever leave my side and run to me when I get home! Of course my cat does that too!

 

[l_eris_l]

That red discharge from the eyes is a sign of stress. The rat does not necessarily need to have a cold to have this discharge.

Alot of the rats at the lab where I used to work would have this discharge. They were probably stressed from living in such tiny little cages.