Having pregnant rats is almost like having ordinary rats.Basically the same thing,but you add a few things.Having pregnant rats can be fun,but you should never breed your rats for fun.Make sure the will be sent to good homes,fed on good food,and will not be let go of.

  When you have pregnant rats,you should separate them from other rats and more importantly,other pregnant rats.Pregnant rats  must not be with each other because they often steal each others' kittens.You may put them together but risk losing a few to injuries.Mothers also become slightly aggressive to other rats in the colony.Pregnant does need to be separate from other rats to reduce stress.Prepare for a mesh cage with a plastic or noncorrosive metal tray bottom.This will serve as a maternity cage.Be sure that it is big enough for the mother to get away from her babies and exercise.

  You should also use bedding that will suit the kittens.You should automatically know that you must avoid soft wood beddings such as pine or cedar because they contain oils and phenols.Do not use corn cob bedding because these easily mold.I do not recommend cloth because they are stringy and may strangle the kittens or cut blood circulation if they get caught around the limbs. I also do not recommend that you use newsprint shreds because these contain toxic ink and absorb ammonia.You may use Carefresh newspaper or aspen bedding,but they are a bit dusty and sometimes contain mites.Just freeze the whole bag to kill them.My favorite choice is shredded paper towels because you can see the blood to tell when she will give birth.If you have pet gerbils you can put them in a tank with white printing paper to shred it into fine pieces.

  Pregnant/lactating does also need a special diet.Add high protein foods such as cat food.You may also use hard boiled eggs or scrambled eggs.I am not sure if powder calcium supplement works for rats,but the babies seem more pink and active than the ones' that had none.You should not feed raw eggs to your rats because the salmonella virus is fatal in rodents.Add these things to their regular diet.If you are using seed mixes,temporarily switch to lab blocks as these are more balanced.

  When you handle the pregnant  to-be moms you must be careful just like in humans.Do not lift them by the tail.The fetuses may detach from the uterus.Do not grab her by the belly either or else you may crush the veins of the fetuses.Do not force them out of the cage door if they are resisting as this will crush a few fetuses.What you should do is to either gently hold the female on her scruff and lay her down on your lap or better yet,have her walk on your palm and handle her from there.

  When the female weans her young you are left with all these babies.What should you do?Well,you can keep all of them like I do.This is,however,a very difficult job.I would know.You could send 'em to the pet shop to be sold as either pets or pet food(probably food).Before you breed you should already have lined up people to give themm to.Please do not send them to shelters.There are enough shelter rats and they are always mistreated and then put down.Do not release them either.This is cruel to the rats and if they do thrive,they will mess up the natural flora and fauna.

  Rats must be socialized to be able to be good pets.From day one you should handle them and talk softly.They cannot hear you because their ears are closed tight,but either way.Handle them daily to get them used to human contact.

• rats eat their babies when they are touched:this rarely happens,their bond is too much

• rats always have a ton of babies:sometimes they only have one
  

• rats are bad mothers:they are not,they love their young
  

• orphaned rats have no chance:they can be hand raised or adopted by lactating rats