Rats are commonly known to spread diseases, but other than that they are also known to give birth to a number of babies in a very short period of time.So, you have pet rats, right? You bought a pair of a male and a female rat, and now your female rat is pregnant and will be giving birth to some cute little rats.But, now you don’t know how to take care of them, right? We are here to help you. We have gathered some information about pregnant rats and how to take care of them and compiled them in this article. This fact file will give you the information you need to handle rat breeding as well as rat control. After reading about the fertility of these rodents, also read about the rat nest and if rats carry rabies.How do you know if a rat is about to give birth?Like every other mammal on the planet, rats also give birth to young ones. If you keep male and female rats together in a cage, then you will definitely get some cute little babies in a few weeks.The maturity age for a female rat is 8-12 weeks, while a male rat reaches the stage of maturity after only 6-10 weeks of age. When these mammals become mature they can give birth to some very small rats.There are some signs when females are pregnant and about to give birth. You may have seen a pregnant lady somewhere with a very big tummy. A human can say that she is pregnant, but how does a rat say that she is pregnant and is about to give birth to some babies? For rats, you have to look for signs of pregnancy.If you have a pair of male and female rats in a single cage and the female one has gained some weight in a few weeks, then this is an indication that she is pregnant. Weight gain is the easiest way to know about pregnancy. There are some other ways also. Rats will start building a nest. Rats make nests to take care of their young ones who are about to be born. If you see some activity like this in your pet’s cage, then this is a sign that it is about to give birth to babies.Another sign of pregnancy is a slight change in its behavior. This is something which you may not notice easily. Rats will start to act strange when they are pregnant. You have to pay attention to notice this behavioral change in your pet.How many babies can a rat give birth to?Rats are one of those mammals which can produce thousands of babies in just one year. These rodents give birth to multiple babies and in a very short time.An average litter of a rat is seven young rats. Rats can give birth to as little as three baby rats and as many as 20 rats at a time. The number of babies born at a time from a single birth is called a litter.Rats reach the age of maturity or the age where they can give birth just a few weeks after their birth. On average, after 35-40 days of birth, a rat can give birth to young ones. The average gestation period (the time period required for a baby to be born, or the time period for which an organism is pregnant or carrying a baby inside her body) for a rat is about 21 days. After every birth, there are at least five to seven new baby rats in the world.Rats breed several times a year. Do you know that a rat can again get pregnant after only 48 hours of giving birth to new babies? These rodents have a very fast rate of reproduction, which leads to a high population of rats all over the world.Do all rats have the same breeding cycle?There are many species of rats all over the world. Every species of any animal is different from each other in some or way. The same is with rats.All species of rats are different from one another in some way. Every species has its own advantages and disadvantages. Every species gives birth to different numbers of babies at a time, and every species has a different gestation period. Every species of rat has a different breeding cycle.Despite these differences, all rats are able to reproduce thousands of babies in a year. They may need different periods of time to give birth to new babies, but they can reproduce a number of babies in a very short time as compared to other mammals. These small mammals are capable of building a new colony of rats in just a few months. But their average lifespan is also very short, so there are not as many rats visible to us.Rats can breed all year round. Rats which live in rural areas tend to breed during the summer season because of the warm environment, while rats in urban areas give birth to young ones all year round. This is because they live in houses that provide them with a warm environment all year to breed.How do you take care of your pregnant pet rat?Rats are very wonderful pets and are less demanding than other animals can be as pets. But when it comes to pregnancy, you have to pay a little attention to your little friend. Pregnancy is a natural process and animals can handle this without anyone’s help.But, it is your pet animal and your responsibility to take care of the pregnant rat so that she can give birth to some very beautiful and healthy babies. The first step for taking care of your female rat which is pregnant is to make sure that you provide the animal with all basic needs. Ensure that your rat has sufficient amounts of fresh water available and the right amount of food.It is necessary for you to provide all required nutrients to your pregnant pet for its health and its babies. You also need to remove all obstacles from the cage, like the exercise wheel. You also need to keep the cage clean and hygienic. You have to properly sanitize the cage of your pet.When rats are pregnant they make a nest for their young ones. They may make that nest in their own cage where you have kept them, so if you see any such thing in the cage, do not try to mess with it. The mother rat knows what she has to do, so let her do it. Do not interfere in her work.When your pet rat is pregnant keep it in a separate cage for safety. Do not keep it with any male or female rat. Also, multiple pregnant females should not be kept in one cage together. Every single pregnant rat has to be kept in a separate cage, and that cage has to be kept in a calm and peaceful area so that the mother rat does not feel stressed.If your pet rat is pregnant do not play with it. Do not hold it with your hands unless it is very necessary. Pregnancy can change the behavior of your pet, so only if she allows you to touch her should you touch her; otherwise, just observe her from a distance.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for rat gestation period then take a look at do onions kill rats or the world’s largest rat.
Rats are commonly known to spread diseases, but other than that they are also known to give birth to a number of babies in a very short period of time.
