(Image by Bongo Fury Rattery)

Rats are an extremely social species. Do they have companions in their cage that they can cosy up with? Do they have safe clean bedding, with a range of different textures they can explore and dig in? Is everyone who handles them gentle and kind?

(Image of Jaq by his owner Nadia)

A Rats sense of smell is highly sensitive, and some species have been trained to detect odours specific to tuberculosis and landmines. Ask yourself Is their keen sense of smell being put to the test as they enjoy foraging for food? Are they in a smoke free/Fragrance Free/chemical free area?

(Image by Bongo Fury Rattery)

Rats cannot see very far and they are dichromats: which means they are not completely colour blind, but they do have red-green colour blindness. Rat vision is also quite blurry compared to ours, around 20/600 for normally pigmented rats. Albino rats slightly more blurry.

For this reason rats naturally feel safer in a cluttered cage with areas that they can at least partially hide in, are you providing this safe space? Are they away from direct bright light? Are they able to explore a variety of ropes, branches, boxes, hammocks, and hides in an interesting and visually busy and enriching environment?

(Image by Danja of her rat Hero)

Rats typically eat around 15-25g of dry feed daily. Is their diet healthy and interesting with all the nutrients and daily variety they enjoy? Do you have safe materials for them to chew and to ware down their teeth and nails on?

Picture of Gregg by Bongo Fury Rattery)

Rats are a crepuscular species which means they are most active during both dawn and dusk (or twilight). Can the rats sleep undisturbed during the daytime in a peaceful setting? Do they have pleasant sounds that they can interact with when they are awake such as your voice or other rat noises they can communicate with?