Pet rats live an average of 2 to 3 years. In rare cases, they might even make it to 4 years. That’s the exception, not the norm, so please don’t feel bad if your rats don’t live that long!
I’ve definitely seen stories on the internet about rats living to be 5 or 6 years old, but I find that pretty suspicious.
If you’ve kept fancy rats before, you’ve probably noticed them starting to slow down when they reach 24 months of age. If a rat is lucky to make it to 3 years old, they are definitely showing the signs of old age.
Still, there are lots of different factors that affect a rat’s lifespan. Their genetics, diet, level of activity, and access to experienced vet care are especially important.
In this article, we’ll cover all the things you can do to make the most of your rat’s lifespan, and help them enjoy a great quality of life along the way!
Why is a rat’s lifespan so short?
Rats naturally have a short lifespan for a few different reasons:
- Small rodents have a super fast metabolism. This is true for mice, gerbils and hamsters as well. Their little hearts can beat 330-480 times per minute!
- In the wild, rats are prey animals. Their species has adapted to long term survival by having lots of babies, but a relatively short individual lifespan.
- Domestic rats are often carelessly overbred in unhygienic and overcrowded living conditions to be sold in pet stores, or as reptile food. As such, they aren’t bred for longevity and suffer from a lot of health problems.
Experienced breeders are often able to successfully diminish health problems (like tumors) in their lines by only choosing healthy parents. With that said, they don’t have much control over the natural lifespan of rats.
Growth stages
Pet rats go through the following growth stages:
Baby (0 – 6 weeks): Baby rats are called “kits” or “pups”. They’re born blind, deaf and hairless. Because their skin is pink, some people call them pinkies! Baby rats are teeny tiny, usually less than the length of your finger. Kits depend completely on their mom for food, warmth and stimulation. Unless you breed rats, you probably wont see rats when they’re this small.
Juvenile (6 – 12 weeks): Rats are ready for adoption by the time they’re around 6 weeks old. At that point, they’re still pretty small, like mice. Rats can already have more baby rats by the time they’re 4.5 – 5 weeks old, so it’s important to separate males from females early on! Young rats are extremely curious, fast, and interested in everything! They’re usually not super cuddly at this age, because they want to run around and sniff everything. Growing rats can benefit from a little more protein in their diet than adult rats to help them reach their full size.
Young Adults (4 – 12 months): This isn’t really a scientific life stage of rats, but if you keep them as pets you’ll probably notice certain things about them at this age. Rats continue to develop, reaching their full adult size around 6 to 8 months. Male rats fill out and get sturdier than the females, while their fur gets coarser and oilier. If your males are going to have hormonal problems, they usually develop around this time, as they learn to assert their dominance.
Adult (1 – 2.5 years): Adulthood is generally considered to be between a year and two and a half years for rats. Their personalities and characteristics are usually established by this point.
Senior (2.5 years +): As rats age, they tend to become less active, sleep more often and may develop age-related health issues, like hind leg degeneration. Some elderly rats get along just fine, but others may need your help with grooming as they develop weakness in their limbs. Older rats can also choke more readily than a younger rat. Their need for protein is much lower, as too much protein can cause kidney issues. For more information, see our guide on Caring for Elderly Rats.
Ways to help extend your rat’s life span
Select a healthy rat from the beginning
Sadly, a lot of pet store rats come from careless conditions and often already have respiratory illness. Feeder rats suffer from the most problems, as they’re not bred for longevity.
Though breeders aren’t a possibility everywhere in the world, if there are good breeders in your area, that’s your best chance for getting healthy rats! A good breeder will be able to tell you about the health of their lines, and will often check in with you about your rats and give you advice on vet care, etc.
When you do go to pick out your rat, select a healthy individual. Try to pick out a rat who has bright eyes, smooth fur, and no porphyrin around their face or other obvious signs of illness.
Certain varieties of rat, like dwarf rats, are said to live a little longer than standard rats. On the other hand, varieties like hairless rats often suffer from more health problems. On average, female rats tend to live a few months longer than males.
For more:
Should I Get Boy or Girl Rats?
Companionship
Rats are social animals without a doubt and thrive the best when kept with other rats. Having companionship can contribute to their overall well-being and potentially extend their lifespan. Introducing babies to older rats can give them a little boost and a reason to live longer!
Feed them a good diet
Providing a balanced and nutritious diet is crucial for a rat’s overall health and longevity. A diet that includes fresh organic fruits, vegetables, occasional fats and proteins, and avoids toxic foods and processed foods is ideal.
Because rats are so small and have such a fast metabolism, the effects of their diet shows up a lot sooner than it does in humans! Obesity can cause all the same problems in rats that it does in humans, like arthritis, limited mobility, and even diabetes.
There’s also some evidence that a calorie-restricted diet (i.e, only feeding them once a day, instead of giving 24/7 access to food) can extend a rat’s lifespan. Of course, it’s still important to make sure they have all of the needed nutrients to power their little bodies.
If your rats are eating well, they will be lean but muscular and energetic, with shiny fur and bright eyes. A good diet gives them the best chance of living a long, happy life.
Habitat
A cage with adequate ventilation is a necessity for rats. Keeping rats in plastic bins and aquariums is definitely a no-no! They need a cage with bars, so that the air can flow out and they aren’t trapped in the smell of their own ammonia.
Guide to Buying Your First Rat Cage
Giving them a large enough cage with lots of opportunities to express their natural behaviors like climbing, digging, and nesting keeps them active and engaged throughout their life.
Creating an Enriching Rat Cage Setup
Choosing a good bedding that isn’t toxic to rats, and absorbs their pee is another very important consideration.
They also need to be kept somewhere out of direct sunlight and drafts, because they can be very sensitive to temperature changes.
Finally, keeping their habitat clean is a must! Built up ammonia can really irritate their lungs and worsen respiratory problems. Removing soiled bedding from their cage each day can really help, along with a deep clean of their cage once a week.
Vet care
I always recommend finding a good vet before you need one. Rat health issues can come on suddenly and develop very quickly. You don’t want to be scrambling for a vet in an emergency!
Make sure the vet is familiar with rats and has treated them before. Some vets will agree to treat rats, but aren’t actually that knowledgeable about them. If you find your vet saying “well, rats don’t live long anyway…” instead of treating them, they probably aren’t a great vet for rats!
Be aware of common rat health problems. Understanding what to look for will help you catch things like respiratory problems, head tilts, etc. early and get vet treatment that can prolong your rat’s life. Rats tend to hide illness quite well, so the sooner you notice any changes, the better.
Why the short lifespan shouldn’t discourage you from getting pet rats
Many rat owners will start with two rats, and introduce another pair partway through their life so that they aren’t left with a lone survivor. It’s a little bit like succession planning for your pet rats!
Although rats have a short lifespan, they are such fun, personable and rewarding companions. Most rat fanciers agree that the enjoyment they get from their little friends makes it so worth it!
