What does a rat look like, how many years does it live and what does it eat?

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06/01/2019 Rats are moving further away from their centuries-old role as pests and turning into popular pets. Decorative rats have won the hearts of people, despite the bad reputation of their wild ancestors, and settled in houses as pets. These cute little rodents are smart and quick-witted, loyal and friendly, and last but not least, easy to care for and maintain. The only thing that can upset the owner of the animal is its short lifespan. The article describes how long rats of various species live, what determines the lifespan of a rodent and whether it can be increased.

Lifespan of wild rodents in the natural environment

Wild rats, also called rats, are the most common species of rodent and also the shortest-lived. Living animals in natural conditions has more disadvantages than advantages. At every step, wild rodents face danger, sometimes emanating from their fellow tribesmen.

A mortal threat accompanies Pasyuks from the moment they are born until their last breath. Animals cannot feel safe at any stage of their lives:

• newborn babies are eaten by hungry relatives;
• grown-up individuals are hunted by predators (from wild birds to cats and dogs);
• Adult pasyuki are exterminated by people as pests.

In addition to this, the existence of pasyuks is regularly complicated by bad weather conditions, lack or shortage of food, etc. It is not surprising that in the natural environment, the average lifespan of a rat is 6-12 months. One and a half year old wild individuals are considered long-lived. And for a pasyuk to reach the age of three is fantastic luck, although rare rats succeed in this.

An interesting fact - according to research, the number of pasyuks living on the planet is twice as large as humans. If it were not for the short lifespan of wild rats, these rodents would have long ago filled the entire globe.

Why are rats dangerous?

Rodents that live near humans not only damage property and eat food supplies, but also spread more than 80 dangerous diseases. They are found in places where there is unsanitary conditions: abandoned buildings, landfills, basements. The animals are not susceptible to human diseases; they transmit infections through contact, bites, droppings or exhaled air.

Regardless of the breed, all these mammals pose a danger to humans, since they carry a large number of fungi, pathogenic microbes, and bacteria every day.

The most common diseases include:

• plague;
• fever;
• typhus; encephalitis;
• giardiasis;
• rabies;
• tuberculosis;
• toxoplasmosis;
• hepatitis;
• viruses, fungi, parasitic pathologies.

Animal excrement contains substances that cause allergies, lead to the development of asthma and exacerbation of the symptoms of atomic dermatitis.

Why is the Rat dangerous and how to fight it?

Lifespan of rats as pets

Domestic rats differ significantly from each other in terms of their lifespan - much depends on the care of the owner and the conditions of detention. In most cases, rats live at home for 2-2.5 years - by rat standards, this is already a respectable age.

According to average data, out of every hundred ornamental rodents, only three individuals survive to 3 years of age. Moreover, females reach the age of three much less often than males. By rat standards, 3 years of age is very old. And individuals that have lived for another six months are considered to have completely exhausted the time allotted by nature. Individuals for whom their owners have created ideal living conditions manage to reach this age.

There are cases where rodents living with particularly caring owners managed to celebrate their 5th anniversary. However, one ordinary domestic rat proved to the whole world that 5 years is not the limit. This modest little animal lived to be 7 years old. Her record is listed in the famous Guinness Book and has not yet been broken by any other rat - a truly unattainable result.

Types of rats

There are 3 wild species of rats living in our country: black, gray and Turkestan. Many species are common in certain regions: America, Asia, Australia.

Himalayan rats are found in Vietnam, arboreal rats in North America, and palm rats in the Pacific Islands. Let's look at what types of rats are common on Earth.

Gray rat

Lives in North America and Europe. In the wild, animals settle close to water and feed on eggs, young birds, and carrion.

In towns and villages, rodents get closer to buildings with farm animals, where there is a lot of food. In the city, rats are found in basements, outbuildings, and garbage dumps.

The body length of representatives of this species reaches 20 cm, the hair is hard and tough. The color varies from dark gray to reddish, and there is a brown tint. The wide muzzle has a blunt shape, with pointed pink ears, black eyes, and a light mustache.

The active spread of pasyuk across our planet is associated with their high fertility. In a year, females are able to breed up to 8 generations of animals, bringing up to 20 cubs in each litter.

Black rat

It is found in the same areas as the previous variety. He prefers to live in megacities, settling in the attics of private houses and the upper floors of high-rise buildings. Thanks to this feature, the animals received the nickname “roofing animals”.

In the wild, they live in burrows dug by other animals, or build their own nests in trees from branches and grasses.

Mammals prefer plant foods: nuts, seeds, grains. In terms of body size, black rats are smaller than pasyuks. The maximum dimensions are 20 cm in length, the tail usually exceeds these parameters. The coat color can be black, ash or brown.

Turkestan rat

Inhabits Asian states: India, Uzbekistan. It has become widespread in the Tien Shan mountains, where it occupies tree hollows and abandoned burrows. If there is human habitation nearby, the rodent will definitely find shelter in outbuildings or a house.

The size of the animal’s body is from 17 to 21 cm, its color is reddish-brown, and the fur on its belly is white or yellowish. They feed on fruits and small animals.

Black-tailed rat

Compared to other species, these rodents have fur on their tails. They live in New Guinea and Australia, preferably near bodies of water, where they feed on food washed ashore. Nests are built in hollows or between tree branches. The offspring are born with fur, so they mature and become independent quickly.

Wood rats

Distributed in Asian countries and the Pacific Islands. These are small rats, body length is 15 cm, weight - no more than 80 g.

The fur on the back is brown, on the belly it is light. The muzzle is sharp, the tail is covered with scales. The animals reproduce throughout the year and consume plant and animal food.

Why is the rat's life span so short?

How many years an animal will live depends on its genetics - the lifespan allotted by nature is written in the DNA of the rodent. The lifespan of a rat is directly related to the reproductive ability of the animal.

Rats are ready to breed from 1.5 months of age. In one litter, a female can bring up to 14 rat pups. Having not yet stopped feeding the offspring, the tailed mother is already ready for a new pregnancy. It is because of this that it is prohibited to keep rodents of different sexes in the same cage - the female will give birth continuously, and this will be an excessive burden on her body.

Another reason for the short life of a rat is its high-speed metabolism. Without food, these animals die in just 2-3 days - the rodent body, which does not receive food, eats itself.

How do wild animals live?

How long do rats live? Wild street individuals can live in basements, warehouses, and sewer systems. Their lifespan is even shorter than that of pets. The reason for this situation may be climatic conditions, fights with brothers for territory, for food. These animals are distributed throughout the world. Only in Antarctica their appearance has not been recorded. These are ubiquitous pests that bring disease and destruction to people. The population of these animals is very large. Each individual lives on average for a year or a little more. Many of them themselves become food for other animals. Many individuals are poisoned as a result of the activities of people who conduct real hunting for rats and mice.

Wild street individuals can live in basements, warehouses, and sewer systems

The word “rats” evokes unpleasant feelings and associations for most people. But indoor and outdoor rats have very significant differences. Cellar dwellers in the wild behave very aggressively. They bear very large offspring, numbering hundreds of copies. Wild individuals are even capable of growling. These rats can swim and hold their breath underwater. Therefore, they are able to get into the apartment through the sewer system. They crawl well along pipe walls.

Rats that live in basements and outside live very short lives. Their lifespan is usually no more than a year. Tame animals live in more comfortable conditions, which is why their life expectancy is 1.5-2 years. Some individuals live up to 2.5-3 years. There are cases when they lived in cages even for 5-6 years. It all depends on living conditions.

Wild rats are usually gray in color. Pasyuk has this color. This is what people call wild rodents. This is a good swimming species of animal that lives in basements and other secret places. The basement rat often enters a person's home. She can navigate well in the dark and swims well. She can walk 10-15 km in a day. The lifespan of a rat usually does not exceed 1-2 years

Differences in the lifespan of rats depending on breed

Wild, domestic and laboratory rats are far from the only possible classification of these animals. An alternative method is breed division. Thanks to the selective crossing of animals, many different breeds of rats were born, differing in characteristics:

• quality and structure of fur;
• location and size of ears;
• coat color, etc.

The following breeds are worth highlighting as the most famous rat varieties:

• tailless (distinguished by the absence of a tail);
• standard (very similar to wild individuals, but differ in that they can come in a wide variety of colors (gray rat with ash fur, blue rat with azure fur, etc.));
• dumbo (with large ears, which gives them a resemblance to elephants);
• husky (with a color similar to dogs of the same breed);
• satin or simply satin (distinguished by a shiny coat of fine hairs);
• rex (with short, curly fur);
• double rex (distinguished by wool of uneven length and a tendency to shed);
• sphinxes (hairless, i.e. bald).

White rats of all varieties have the shortest lives. The short life is due to the origin of the animals - they were bred artificially to participate in laboratory research and therefore the genome of these rodents is partially damaged. Rare individuals with white fur manage to live up to two years.

Of all the breeds, Sphynxes are considered the shortest-lived. Bald animals have increased vulnerability. They easily get damaged skin, through which infections in turn penetrate. In addition, the naked body of sphinxes, unprotected by fur, is susceptible to sunburn, as well as a strong and painful reaction to temperature changes.

Individuals of the tailless variety are also not distinguished by longevity. Usually their death is associated with some kind of injury. The rat's tail plays the role of a rudder to control the body. Deprived of this important detail, the animals actually do not control their movement in space.

a brief description of

Rats belong to the class mammals, order rodents, family mice. The animals have a sharp, elongated muzzle, and small ears and eyes. In most varieties, the tail is almost bare, covered with sparse vegetation and scales; in black rats, it is covered with thick hair. The length of the tail can be equal to or greater than the body size. There are also short-tailed rodents.

The fur covering the body of the animals is dense, rather thick, and the guard hairs are pronounced. The breed of rats is determined, among other things, by color. The color can be gray-brown, gray, sometimes yellow, orange, and reddish tones are found.

The animals are hardy and active, run fast, and in case of danger they are able to reach speeds of up to 10 km/h, jumping over obstacles no more than 1 meter high. Every day they are able to overcome 8 – 17 km. Rats are excellent swimmers, dives, and catch small fish. Rodents can spend three days in water without harm to health.

Mammals' vision is not very clear and is characterized by a small viewing angle of 16 degrees. Rats are forced to constantly turn their heads to examine their surroundings. They see the world in shades of gray.

Animals inhabit self-made holes, hollows, other people's nests, as well as artificially made premises. They live alone, in medium or large groups. Rodents are omnivores, but each species has its own taste preferences. Some breeds love shellfish and insects more, others love fruits, vegetables, and seeds.

Females bear offspring throughout the year. Populations living in northern regions do not reproduce in cold weather. One litter can consist of 2 – 22 cubs.

Each of us knows what rats look like, but the appearance of these animals can change depending on the breed, while the characteristic features remain unchanged.

What affects the lifespan of a rodent?

The lifespan of a rat depends on the following factors:

• genetics and heredity;
• belonging to the variety;
• conditions of detention;
• diet, etc.

If wild rodents are responsible for themselves, then the life of a domestic animal is in the hands of its owner. Accordingly, he is responsible for the quality of keeping the pet. If the owner is unable to influence the genetics and breed of the pet, then the living conditions of the rodent are in the control of man.

Wild rat and decorative rat

Many people probably don’t see much of a difference between domestic and wild rats, saying that they are rats and rats in Africa, but there is still a difference. And the main differences are:

• wild rats are gray and live in nature. Domestic rats are selectively bred, their descendants are black rats. They are much smaller in size than their gray brothers, but their tail is much longer.
• Due to the fact that decorative rats were bred in laboratories, we can say that they have “blue blood”. They are cleaner than street rats, friendlier, more affectionate, easy to train and, most importantly, do not carry dangerous diseases.
• Another visual feature of wild rats is that their external genitalia are covered with a thick layer of fur, while domestic ones are naked. This was done because in nature, rats need to produce offspring in any conditions, even in sultry heat, even in severe frosts. But decorative animals do not have such a need; they always live in comfortable conditions, and they simply do not have the need to constantly reproduce.

The rat is the most common pest

Causes of premature death of animals

Walking outside the cage is deadly for a pet rodent. The animal tries everything that it has access to – outside the cage it can be wires and other dangerous objects. On such a walk, the rodent risks getting:

• electric shock;
• poisoning with something (for example, detergents), etc.

In addition, small pets often suffer serious injuries and even die due to the carelessness of their owners. Owners of rodents often step on the animals, crush them with furniture, etc. Rats move faster than their owners assume, so the latter simply do not have time to notice where the animal has moved. Because of this, accidents occur, often resulting in death for rodents.

Often, animals sneak onto the balcony unnoticed by their owner, from where, due to their semi-blindness, they fall down and, alas, die. The rat's climbing of the curtains and subsequent fall also ends tragically.

Among other things, rats often die from the paws, or rather teeth, of other pets - cats and dogs. These animals are natural hunters, so they perceive rodents as prey. It is also worth noting that a particularly impressionable animal can die from fright - a small rat’s heart cannot stand it.

Tame rats are pampered creatures. Once on the street, they will not survive. To protect your little pet from death, injury and stress, you should keep him in a cage and let him out for a walk only under supervision and only in a pre-prepared, fenced area.

Rodent character

Those who have never met a rat face to face before can argue that rodents have a bad character. And only the owners of tailed sneaks can say with confidence: this is a loyal and intelligent pet . In terms of intelligence, ornamental rodents are compared to dogs. And for good reason: these are very smart animals.

Each of the domestic rats has a special temperament. You will never meet two identical eared ones. There are homebodies who like to sit in a cage and sleep all day long. Travelers also meet: do not feed such a pet bread, let him walk around the apartment. There are also “revolutionaries”: when they get free (on the carpet, for example), they strive to turn everything in their own way, steal small objects and carry trinkets from place to place.

The rat is an animal that can smile sincerely . Of course, its smile bears little resemblance to a human’s, but scientists have proven that by showing its lower teeth, the rodent expresses its joy at meeting you.

It is also curious that rodents readily respond to their own name. If a mouse gets lost in the bowels of the apartment, you don’t have to rummage through all the closets in search of it (as, for example, in the case of a selfish hamster). Calling the tailed one by name, you will immediately see its ubiquitous face. After all, communication with your beloved owner is more important than any intrigues.

And rats love to communicate . For her, there is nothing so much adored as “her” person. The rat will choose as its “own” the one who will pay it the most attention. She won’t offend the rest of the family, but she won’t give her a championship medal either.

By the way, adult pets treat strangers with caution. You may not recognize your polite mustachioed friend when he grabs the finger of a curious guest. Rats are terribly loyal and devoted, and in the event of a change of owner they do not even try to get used to a new person, often remaining an “abandoned loner” until their death.

Care and maintenance of domestic rats.

When examining a rat's character, the future owner can be given some advice:

1. When buying a pet, be prepared to interact with it daily. Communication involves contact, play and hand feeding. This is the only way your “mouse” will be happy. Let your pet sit on your shoulder, lightly tease you, and steal small trinkets from you.
2. Introduce your pet to all family members right away so that there are no misunderstandings later.
3. Give your rat a name and speak to it often. The smart rodent remembers not only some words, but also perfectly captures the mood by the intonation of its voice.
4. Equip the “hole” according to all the rules (they will be described below). This way you will avoid the animal’s constant attempts to escape from the cage. A rat, in love with its home, will happily return there after a walk.
5. As you already understand, walks are mandatory for a rodent. Of course, you don't have to take your rat to the park. It is enough to let her out of the cage once a day. If you have a female, then it is not recommended to leave her unattended. The girls are very homely and their whole life consists of trying to “build” a nest. The material for the kennel will be your personal belongings, so keep a close eye on your pet if you are not ready to sacrifice socks as building material.

How to increase the lifespan of an animal

The average lifespan of a rat is 2 years. Of course, this is very little. You can extend your pet's life by surrounding him with maximum care, attention and love. Measures necessary to increase the lifespan of a rodent include:

• ensuring optimal conditions of detention;
• creating a balanced menu;
• disease prevention;
• observation of the animal (its behavior, appearance, health, etc.).

Your pet needs a spacious cage. The animal should not be kept in unsanitary conditions. His food and drink must be fresh and clean. In addition, you need to protect the animal from heat and direct sunlight, cold and drafts. You cannot use pine filler for the cage. If you detect the slightest deviation from the animal’s usual behavior or a change in its appearance, you should consult a veterinarian.

It will not be possible to extend the life of an animal by decades. But for a loving owner, every day spent with a pet is important. And with good care, a rat's life can be extended by years.

Pet age in human years

In terms of the human life cycle, a pet rat will live somewhere between 3-5 years.
Humans are considered elderly starting at about 60 years of age, which would be about two years of age for a rat. Old age is a guarantee of decreased performance and mobility; therefore, it is a good way to determine the general age of a pet rat. One day in the life of a rat is equal to 26.7 days in human years, which is approximately 1 human day equal to a month in the lifespan of a rat. With this in mind, you can expect a rat's physical performance to decline after about 2 years, which is essentially a sign of old age.

How to extend the life of a pet? Recommendations for owners

It is very important to treat all diseases in a timely manner and prevent them from becoming chronic. Not everyone understands the anatomy of rats, and even fewer people know about possible diseases

In this case, you can contact a veterinary clinic; now almost all specialized clinics have a doctor who treats rodents directly - a ratologist. In small towns, it will most likely be difficult to find such a specialist, but even an ordinary veterinarian can easily diagnose the disease and prescribe therapy.

In addition to health, it is important to pay attention to the maintenance of your pet; for a comfortable life, rats require a spacious cage, which will be equipped with everything necessary

The litter you choose for your cage is also important. Many people are not aware that woody ones are not desirable for use in rat cages. This is due to the content of essential oils in the tree, which can cause allergic reactions or diseases of the ENT organs.

When buying a new pet, you should isolate it from other pets for a month so that the animal undergoes adaptation and adapts to foreign bacteria. To do this, it is worth placing the cage in a room where other animals will not have access.

Conditions for keeping rats and cage hygiene

Life expectancy is closely related to the hygiene and living conditions of decorative rats, for example:

size of the home - the more animals, the larger the area should be

Females require tall cages, while males, on the contrary, prefer a larger area; accessories - ladders and shelves are necessary to maintain physical activity; couple - it is important not to forget that in the wild these animals live in packs, and it is best to keep several individuals at once (of the same sex - unless you plan to become a breeder); walks - by purchasing a walking ball, you will provide the opportunity for even greater activity of the rodent, and besides, it is safe; care - rats are social animals, they become attached to household members and require attention and care. If you can provide the rodent with all the necessary conditions for a comfortable life, you will contribute to its long and happy life

If you can provide your rodent with all the necessary conditions for a comfortable life, you will contribute to his long and happy life.

Proper nutrition

Life expectancy in the wild directly depends on the nutrition of the rodent, often this is insufficient or poor nutrition:

1. Foraging for food in landfills.
2. Feeds on small animals and insects.
3. The predominance of plant foods.
4. Cannibalism - in conditions of hunger, rats often eat their relatives.

Settling in cities or near them, many rats die from the poison that people spread to fight animals.

For a long and healthy life, a rat should eat about 80% grains and about 20% vegetables/fruits/greens. There must be constant access to clean, usable water.

Young rats should be fed boiled meat and eggs at least once a week. Sometimes you can pamper them with nuts. Sprouted grains have a tonic effect and prevent many diseases, so they are also recommended to be added to the diet of decorative rats.

Why do animals suddenly die?

If your pet roams freely, its life is at risk, the rodent can eat something and get poisoned, it can also get stuck somewhere or be accidentally crushed by household members. You need to watch the animal so that it does not fall from a height, fall out of a window or from a balcony.

Rats that live in a cage all the time can suddenly die from suffocation with food or water, get stuck between the bars of the cage, or suffer from some kind of genetic diseases

In any case, you need to show attention and care, this way you can avoid many dangers

Dangers of a tame rat

Often, decorative rats die due to the fault of the owner; this can be either an accident or insufficient safety.

The most popular causes of premature death:

1. Other pets - attack by a cat, dog or bird.
2. Eating inedible items, poisonous plants, detergents.
3. Fall from height, etc.

It is important to remember the truth: we are responsible for those we have tamed. Responsibility for the life and health of the pet falls entirely on the owner

How long do pets live?

Decorative rats Even wild rats, having settled in a person’s house, significantly extend their lives despite people’s desire to destroy them. Several factors contribute to this:

• constant availability of food;
• comfortable living temperature;
• decreased sexual activity;
• absence of predators, especially if there is no cat in the house.

Genetics

In addition to living conditions, heredity has a great influence on the lifespan of rats. It is better to take a baby rat from breeders who not only receive offspring from healthy parents, but also provide competent care for newborn animals. Matings of decorative rats in nurseries always take place according to plan, and not randomly. To obtain offspring, healthy adults are selected that do not show aggressiveness or other undesirable character traits. Females in nurseries typically have no more than two litters in their lifetime. Too frequent pregnancies are undesirable because they exhaust the rat. In addition, as a result of multiple or too early pregnancies, small rat pups with poor health are born.

Tame rats sold in pet stores are often born from unplanned matings. Usually no one monitors the health of parents. Rats of both sexes live together in cramped cages, which is unacceptable. Under normal conditions, a male and female rat are placed in the same cage only for planned mating. The rest of the time, domestic rats should live in same-sex packs. In most pet stores, these conditions are not met; rats mate uncontrollably and too often, which, naturally, does not have the best effect on the health and vitality of the offspring.