Welcome to our basic rat care guide. We are not nutritionists but we promise our guide is up to date with the recommended CANADIAN standards.

 

Rat Care Guide

Housing:

  Providing an adequate cage for a pet rat is one of the most important responsibilities of a pet parent. According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and widely accepted small animal welfare guidelines, animals must be housed in enclosures that allow for species-specific behaviours, comfort, and health. For rats, this means cages must be large enough to provide climbing opportunities, enrichment, and space for exercise. A cramped or poorly designed cage can quickly lead to stress, obesity, respiratory problems, and behavioural issues.

 
In Canada, humane organizations such as the SPCA and Humane Canada emphasize that proper housing is directly tied to an animal’s overall welfare. Rats are highly social, intelligent, and active animals, and their cages should reflect that. Wire cages with multiple levels are recommended over aquariums or small plastic habitats, as they provide better ventilation and vertical space for climbing. Adequate floor space is equally critical: the commonly accepted standard in Canada is at least 2 cubic feet of space per rat, with more room strongly encouraged. Meeting or exceeding this ensures rats have room to move freely, build nests, and engage in natural behaviours.
 
An adequate cage also makes it easier for Canadians to meet the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which underpin our animal care standards: freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain or injury, and freedom to express normal behaviour. A properly sized and well-equipped cage with hammocks, hideouts, chew toys, and tunnels helps rats stay physically and mentally healthy. By following Canadian standards and best practices, pet parents demonstrate responsible care and ensure their rats enjoy not only safe housing but also a high quality of life.
 

 

Diet:

  When it comes to feeding pet rats in Canada, the quality and balance of their diet is essential to their long-term health. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and humane organizations such as Humane Canada emphasize the importance of species-appropriate nutrition to prevent disease and promote well-being. A pellet-based diet is strongly preferred over seed mixes because it ensures that rats receive consistent, balanced nutrition in every bite. Seed diets often encourage selective eating, where rats pick out high-fat or high-sugar items and leave behind the healthier components. Over time, this can result in nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and related health problems such as diabetes or liver disease.

Pellet diets, such as Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food, are widely recommended by veterinarians across Canada. These pellets are formulated to meet the specific dietary needs of rats, providing the right balance of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. By eliminating the option to selectively feed, pellets help ensure that pet rats consume a complete diet every day. Oxbow, in particular, is recognized for using high-quality, uniform ingredients without added sugars, artificial colours, or seed fillers, making it a trusted choice that aligns with Canadian standards for companion animal nutrition.

Providing a pellet-based diet also supports the Canadian Council on Animal Care’s principles of responsible care, which emphasize the prevention of unnecessary suffering and the promotion of natural, healthy behaviours. A balanced diet keeps rats at a healthy weight, supports their dental health, and helps maintain energy levels for exploration and enrichment. Fresh vegetables, occasional fruits, and safe treats can be offered alongside pellets, but the foundation of a rat’s diet should always be a high-quality formula such as Oxbow Essentials. By choosing pellets over seeds, Canadian rat owners demonstrate a commitment to best practices in animal welfare and ensure their pets live happier, healthier lives.

 

Bedding:

    Choosing the right bedding is critical for the health and comfort of pet rats. In Canada, animal welfare organizations and veterinarians no longer recommend cedar or pine shavings, as these softwoods contain aromatic oils (phenols) that can irritate a rat’s sensitive respiratory system and increase the risk of chronic lung disease. Since respiratory illness is one of the most common health concerns in domestic rats, avoiding unsafe bedding is considered an important part of responsible care under Canadian welfare standards.

    Aspen bedding is widely regarded as the best option for pet rats in Canada. Unlike cedar or pine, aspen is a hardwood that is free from harmful phenols, making it safe for rats’ delicate respiratory systems. It is also absorbent, relatively dust-free, and provides a natural texture that allows rats to burrow and nest—important behaviours recognized under the Canadian Council on Animal Care’s principles for species-appropriate housing. Other safe alternatives include paper-based bedding, such as Pure Comfort or shredded paper products, but aspen remains a reliable, affordable, and accessible option for Canadian pet parents. By choosing aspen or another approved bedding, pet guardians meet Canadian standards for animal welfare while helping ensure their rats live in a clean, safe, and enriching environment.

Treats/Live Insects:

   While a high-quality pellet diet should always be the foundation of a pet rat’s nutrition, occasional treats and feeder insects can provide enrichment and important nutrients. In Canada, animal welfare guidelines such as those promoted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and Humane Canada encourage pet parents to offer species-appropriate enrichment that stimulates both the body and mind. Offering live or freshly killed feeders in moderation gives rats the opportunity to engage in natural foraging and hunting behaviours, which supports their overall welfare and reduces boredom.

     Nutritionally, feeder insects can be an excellent occasional supplement. Options such as dubia cockroaches, black soldier fly larvae, superworms, mealworms, silkworms, butterworms, hornworms, crickets, red wrigglers, and nightcrawlers provide a good source of protein and healthy fats. These treats can help maintain muscle tone and support a healthy coat. Some insects, like black soldier fly larvae, are also rich in calcium, which is beneficial for bone strength. Because rats are omnivores, they can digest and benefit from small amounts of animal protein alongside their plant-based diet.

   That said, moderation and quality are key. Canadian standards for pet care emphasize preventing obesity and illness, so insect treats should be fed sparingly—perhaps once or twice a week—rather than forming a staple part of the diet. It is also important to source feeders from reputable suppliers to avoid parasites or pesticide exposure. By thoughtfully offering a variety of safe feeder insects, pet parents in Canada can provide both nutritional benefits and important behavioural enrichment, ensuring their pets live healthier, more engaging lives.

*NEVER FEED WILD INSECTS OR WORMS* The wild insects could themselves carry: parasites, disease or worse. Pesticides. 

Wheels:

   Exercise wheels are no longer recommended for domestic rats, as they pose more risks than benefits.

   Unlike smaller rodents such as hamsters or mice, rats have longer spines and heavier bodies, making them more prone to injury when running in wheels. Even with larger wheels, rats often arch their backs unnaturally while running, which can lead to spinal strain, chronic discomfort, or long-term musculoskeletal problems. In Canada, humane care guidelines such as those supported by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) emphasize preventing unnecessary pain and injury, making exercise wheels inconsistent with accepted welfare standards for rats.

   In addition to physical risks, exercise wheels are not considered necessary enrichment for rats. These animals are highly social, intelligent, and exploratory by nature. They thrive more from climbing structures, tunnels, hammocks, ropes, and opportunities to interact with their cage mates than from repetitive wheel running. Canadian veterinary and animal welfare recommendations now highlight the importance of multi-level cages, daily out-of-cage playtime, and varied enrichment to keep rats active and healthy. By avoiding wheels and instead focusing on safer, species-appropriate enrichment, Canadian pet parents can meet welfare standards while supporting their pets’ natural behaviours and overall well-being.

Toys And Hammocks:

Toys and hammocks are essential for maintaining the mental and physical health of pet rats. In Canada, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and Humane Canada emphasize that companion animals must be provided with enrichment that allows them to express natural behaviours and prevents boredom or stress. Rats are intelligent, social, and curious creatures who need daily opportunities to climb, chew, dig, and explore. Providing toys such as ropes, tunnels, chew blocks, foraging puzzles, and climbing structures helps meet these enrichment needs while supporting dental health and physical activity. Without these outlets, rats may develop stress-related behaviours such as bar chewing or lethargy, both of which reduce their quality of life.

 

Hammocks, meanwhile, are one of the most practical and beneficial forms of enrichment for rats. They offer comfortable, elevated resting spaces that rats instinctively enjoy, while also making use of vertical cage space as Canadian standards recommend for small animal housing. Hammocks encourage climbing, nesting, and social sleeping, all of which are normal behaviours that contribute to a rat’s emotional well-being. By including a variety of washable hammocks and toys in their enclosures, Canadian pet parents meet welfare standards for species-appropriate housing while ensuring their pets live enriched, stimulating, and happy lives.

Litter Training:

     Litter training pet rats is optional, but it can make cage maintenance easier and keep bedding cleaner for longer. Many rats naturally choose one or two spots in their enclosure to use as a bathroom, and placing a small litter box with paper-based or aspen pellets in those areas can encourage them to use it consistently. While not every rat will take to litter training, those that do help reduce odours and extend the life of the cage bedding, making cleaning more manageable for owners. Canadian welfare guidelines emphasize providing clean, sanitary housing for companion animals, and litter training can be a practical way to support this standard while giving rats a more comfortable and hygienic environment.

Socialization:

    Socialization is one of the most important aspects of caring for pet rats. Rats are highly social animals who naturally live in colonies, relying on one another for grooming, play, and emotional security. In Canada, animal welfare principles such as those outlined by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) emphasize that animals must be provided with opportunities to express normal behaviours. For rats, this includes constant companionship of their own kind. Keeping a rat alone can lead to stress, loneliness, and even depression, as no amount of human interaction can fully replace the comfort and communication they receive from another rat.

    For this reason, it is strongly recommended that pet rats be adopted in pairs or trios rather than kept singly. A bonded pair or small group not only helps meet rats’ social needs but also encourages natural play and exercise, which contributes to their physical and mental health. Pet parents often notice that rats housed with companions are more confident, active, and easier to tame. By ensuring rats have cage mates, Canadian pet parents are aligning with best practices in animal welfare, helping their pets live longer, healthier, and much happier lives.