| Scientific name | Rattus norvegicus |
| Place of origin | Europe |
| Life expectancy | 2-3 years |
| Adult weight | 500-700g |
| Weaning age | 4-5 weeks |
| Gestation period | 22-23 days |
| Average litter size | 8-12 |
Rats make excellent pets for adults and children alike. They rarely bite, particularly when they are well and regularly handled and can be trained fairly easily. They have distinct individual personalities and enjoy lots of company.
Males are more docile than females although they smell a lot stronger - however, this can be reduced by castrating them. The average life-expectancy of a rat is 2.5 to 3.5 years.
There are several different varieties of fancy rats with a number of types within each category:
Marked:
For more information about caring for rats, please follow the links below.
 Buying a ratHousing |
 Rat healthNutrition/Feeding |
Links to other rat websites |