owning a wild rat

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sandy,

I found your answer to Maree very interesting and enlightening.  I have a cat who is a very successful and eager hunter.  Sadly, he does catch several birds, mice and rats every spring/summer.  Last month, he caught what I thought was a wild mouse.  I only discovered it when I got up in the morning, and found it lying on its back, seemingly stunned but still breathing.  Oz (my cat) had lost interest in it since it was no longer moving (he is gorgeous but cruel!).  I picked up the poor creature and took it inside and gave it some water which it have a bit of.  I then gave it some muesli and was surprised and delighted when it ate some.  I have never had much to do with rodents before so it was all new to me.  

I kept it for a couple of days in a box with a toilet roll tube for it to hide in.  Since it didn't appear to have actually been injured by its attacker, it seemed to get on fine in its new environment and was very happy to curl up inside my palm and hide its eyes between my fingers.  I felt I owed it since MY cat had caused it to go through such a horrendous ordeal.  I decided to keep it and got a second-hand mouse cage, some mouse/rat food and handled it every day to help form a bond.  At the time, I thought it might be a female mouse because it was small and non-aggressive.  However, it just kept growing.  I now think it is a male rat, but could still be wrong about that.  I call him Twitch.  

I think he has out-grown his cage, so I have just today purchased a proper rat cage.  I am yet to pick it up, but just hope he doesn't find the change too unsettling or disturbing.  I was interested in your comment that wild and domesticated rats do not mix at all.  I had been wondering if I should purchase another one so he could have a friend.  Since that's no longer an option, would he be happy enough on his own do you think?  I think it highly unlikely that Oz will leave me another live but traumatised baby rat to rescue.  

Now that Twitch is much bigger, how can I encourage him stay calm when I try to bring him out of the cage?  I tried it, but he no longer just stays in my hand.  He ran up my arm and onto my head!  I was not willing to let me catch him, so I was in a bit of a pickle.  Eventually, I encouraged him back down my arm, and he scuttled back into the cage.  Phew!  I would love to allow him out of his cage from time to time, but I do not want him to escape, because he will only end up as Oz's play-thing again.  

I am sorry that this is so long.  I will be very keen to hear any advice you have for me.

Thanks,
John.

ANSWER: Hi

I love your story!  I had my own wild rat named Holly. She lived to be close to 4 years old. She was a real handful and a great rat.  She lived alone and was happy too. She hated my other rats and used to terrorize even the large 900 gram bucks.  She was just a turd herself, being only 400 grams most of her life.   You CAN try to put wild with domestic, but it must be done when they are tiny babies, usually right around the time their eyes are opening. After that, its usually a mess.  Its best he is alone (or she)  Do you have photos of him?

The best way to let your rat safely play is to construct a play area for him.  First its best you learn to hold him.  Take the cage in a small batrhoom and shut the door.  Be sure there are no holes, under the cabinets, beneeath baseboards, close the  bathtub or shower drain, make sure the toilet lid is down etc....and let him come out to you. Reward him with a treat such as a bit of a cracker piece or a bit of sugarfree cereal.   Once you have him used to your hands, construct a play area out of cardboard. The instructions are on my website, sandsycrittercity.com. Go to the GETTING STARTED page on how to do it. Also, he needs a good diet, not the seed mix that are for mice and rats. This is not good for them and will cause kidney disease due to the high protein.  Read my page on proper diet on my website too.

Also, dont let the cat near the rat any more. He will kill him eventually. One bite and that can kill Oz.  Shut the door to the room his cage is in if possible.

I would love to see a photo of him!  Turn him up so I can vouch if he is a he or a she for sure.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Twitch grown 2   QUESTION: second photo of Twitch

Answer

Holly  
He is awesome. He has A LONG way to go as  far as growth. He looks to be around 2 months old, maybe a bit older.

This is when they are fast and slippery!!

He may grow to be anywhere from 400 grams to 900 grams.  Its hard to predict at this point. Socialize him as much as you can, talk to him, touch him, interact with him as much as you can during this young stage of growth so he is used to humans.  This age its hard to even hold down a domestic rat pup, so its not really due to his wild nature that he is fast and slippery!

Here is a picture of my fully grown wild rat, Holly. I have her on my website too, if you havent seen her photo yet.