To be able to make a decision whether or not your rat is well, you need to know what is normal for them. Like children, behavior in rats can be inherited or learned. Some behavior is instinctive, such as suckling their mother as soon as they are born. The rest of a rats behavior is learned from parents and by observation, and then becomes instinctive. Animals continually learn throughout their lives. They rely heavily on sight, sound and smell. Verbal signals are avoided as they could result in detection by a predator. The functions of behavior are to eat, to avoid being eaten, and to reproduce.

NORMAL BEHAVIOR
Rats are diurnal, but tend to be more active in the evening, so it is best to feed some of your rats daily allowance in the evening. Your rat will normally wake at feeding time, so it is possible to train him to come out at that time. Give rats time to wake up fully before trying to handle them as they may bite if they have been poked and prodded to wake up!

Rat behavior/noises

High pitched squeal
Young rats may squeal if frightened, especially if he has only just been taken away from his family. In older rats this is an expression of alarm or shock.

Teeth chattering
This is a sign of pleasure in rats and is similar to purring by a cat.

Fighting
Rats are very playful and will often play fight. However, in instances where adult rats are being introduced to one another, serious fighting could occur which may cause injury, and they should immediately be separated.

HEALTH CARE
If you provide the correct care, diet, environment, exercise and attention to your rat it will normally stay fit and healthy, and will be bright, alert and eating and drinking normally.

Any change in normal behavior may indicate an underlying problem. Watch out for:

• eating or drinking more or less than normal
• restless or lethargic or a crouched, huddled appearance
• coat that looks dull or is soiled or itchy
• discharge from the eyes, ears or nose
• soiling around the vent with urine or feces
• feces abnormal in color, texture or amount
• more or less urine being produced or unusual in color
• offensive odor from the ears, mouth or vent
• difficulty in eating, drinking or moving
• difficulty in breathing or raspy noises from the chest

Common illnesses
Rats do not often get ill but, because of their size, if they do get ill, they can deteriorate very quickly. If your rat looks ill you should take him to the vet as soon as possible.

Diarrhea
Overfeeding with green food is the most common cause of diarrhea. If your rat has diarrhea, stop feeding green food immediately and allow it only to eat its Reggie Rat mix. If the diarrhea persists, you should take your rat to the vet.

Constipation
Conversely, if there is a lack of droppings in the cage, and your rat is walking with a hunched appearance, it may have constipation. Feeding a small amount of green vegetables may relieve your rat but, if there is no improvement, he should be taken to the vet.

Colds
Rats can catch colds from humans, so if you have a cold you should keep the handling of your rat to a minimum. Your rat will have a runny nose and sneeze if he has a cold, and should be kept in a warm room. Sneezing can also be indicative of an allergy. Take him to the vet if you have any concerns.

Overgrown Teeth
Rats teeth continue to grow throughout their life. Rats need to gnaw to keep their teeth trim. If there is a chipped tooth, or their teeth do not meet properly, this may cause overgrown teeth and they must be trimmed by your vet. Do not attempt to do this on your own. Although trimming the teeth is not painful it can be frightening for the rat and he will wriggle. It is very easy to damage the teeth by breaking them or splitting them which can cause more severe health concerns.

Overgrown Nails
Nails can also become overgrown and should be trimmed by a vet to ensure your rat is comfortable.

Flystrike
Flies could be attracted to rat droppings, either in the cage or around the rear end of the rat. Fly eggs will hatch into maggots and will initially feed on the droppings and may then burrow into the rat and eat its flesh. This will result in discomfort, pain and, often, death. Avoid flystrike by removing droppings regularly from the cage, grooming your rat daily and ensuring good ventilation to the cage as this will prevent flies becoming attracted and then trapped in the cage. Spray the cage with a rat safe disinfectant/deodorant to deter flies and eliminate bacteria. Seek veterinary attention immediately if you suspect flystrike.