Although rats seem like a hardy species, domestic rats don’t adjust very well to extreme temperatures. They don’t sweat like we do, or pant like dogs. Instead, rats regulate their temperature through their tails! For the most part, though, rats rely on their environment to keep them warm or cool.
Rats thrive the best in environments between 59-77°F (15-25°C). Because major temperature shifts can be stressful for them, the most important thing is to keep the temperature of your rat room as steady as you can.
Rats can succumb to hypo- or hyperthermia pretty quickly, so it’s important to monitor your rats’ behavior during extreme weather, and when the seasons change.
Inactivity and lethargy are two of the biggest signs that your rat is either too hot or too cold, but we’ll go into more depth below.
Best temperature for pet rats
🌡️ Keep your rat room between 59-77°F (15-25°C).
The best temperature range to keep your pet rats in 59-77°F (15-25°C). I have seen recommendations up to 27°C, but personally I think that’s a bit hot.
Your particular rats’ ideal temperature will depend a little bit too on the climate you live in and the temperatures your rats are used to living at. Avoiding any drastic changes in temperature from one day to the next is the most important thing.
Under 50°F (10°C) or above 86°F (30°C) is a danger zone for pet rats, where you might think about giving them extra heating and cooling options, or just relocating them somewhere safer.
How do rats regulate their temperature?
Rats lose heat through their tails, ears and feet. For this reason, hairless rats have a harder time staying warm than their furry counterparts, and tailless rats have a harder time cooling themselves off!
In the winter, rats will keep themselves warm by “rat piling” with their cagemates, burrowing if their substrate is deep enough, and building cozy nests in their hammocks and hidey houses. They tend to eat more so their body can produce more heat.
When it gets warm, they will drink more water, sit out in open spaces, and seek out cooler temperatures when they can. Rats will also stretch themselves out or “pancake” in an attempt to cool off.
A well ventilated cage kept out of direct sunlight and away from any drafts, like open windows and air conditioner vents, can also help your ratties regulate their temperature year round.
Keeping your rats cool in the summertime
☀️ In the summer, make sure your little friends are staying cool and well hydrated. Extra water and frozen treats can help!
- Air conditioning and fans work great! Just don’t try not to blow cold air directly at them or their cage.
- Multiple water bottles or dishes ensures that your rats always have water in case one gets blocked or empty. Changing the water out for cooler water several times a day can help too.
- Keep them in a cooler room of the house, like the basement or a dark room.
- Put several frozen water bottles or ice packs in the freezer so you can rotate them throughout the day. Wrap them in a towel and place them inside the cage for your rats to sit on or near.
- Give them cool water to swim and fish for peas or corn in. Not all rats enjoy water, but they might appreciate it more when they’re really warm!
- Mist them with water out of a spray bottle. It doesn’t need to be super cold water – as it evaporates, it will cool your rats down. Again, some rats may appreciate this more than others.
- Give them ice cubes or chips to chew on and play with.
- Give them frozen fruits and veggies to eat and play with. Rats absolutely love frozen peas! (If you give them things like berries, you may notice staining later on their fur and tails, so don’t panic!)
- Avoid treats like ice cream and popsicles except for in very small quantities. They have too much sugar, and could cause diarrhea and dehydration.
Warning signs your rats are too hot
🚨 Signs of heat stroke in rats include a hot tail, stretching out flat, lethargy, open mouth breathing, drooling, and loss of consciousness.
During the summer time, monitor your rats for any signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, especially if the temperature is over 86°F (30°C).
- Rats laying on their back when they wouldn’t normally
- Their tail is hot when you touch it
- Stretching their body out flat in an attempt to cool off
- Lethargy or sluggishness
- Open mouth breathing. Rats don’t really pant the way dogs do, so this is a warning sign they’re overheated.
- Drooling (wetness around their mouth when they haven’t recently taken a drink) is a very bad sign.
- Becoming limp or losing consciousness is a medical emergency.
If you notice your rats starting to overheat, take them somewhere they can cool down slowly and steadily. Try not to cool them off too quickly (i.e, don’t dunk them in ice cold water!) because too drastic of a temperature change can make the situation worse.
Like us, rats might need electrolytes when they get dehydrated. If you notice that your rats are really hot, a drink like apple juice, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or just water mixed with sugar and salt can help them replenish lost fluids.
Emergency care for heat stroke in rats
💧 Room temperature water, electrolytes, and gradual cooling can help an overheated rat. Seek emergency vet care if necessary.
In an emergency, you can dip an overheated rat in room temperature water. You don’t want to use cold water because the sudden change in temperature will just worsen the situation. Encourage them to drink water and eat a little bit to address dehydration.
If your rat is unconscious, or having trouble recovering from heat exhaustion, take them to an emergency vet. Rats can succumb to heat stroke very quickly.
Tips for keeping rats warm in the winter
Like with keeping rats cool, the most important thing is to keep their room temperature steady if you can and avoid drastic changes. Keep an eye on your rats if the temperature might dip below 59°F (15°C).
❄️ To keep rats warm in the winter time, maintain a steady room temperature, provide bedding, hiding places, and fleece for nesting, and use heating pads or blankets (on low heat) only if necessary.
- Heating pads and space heaters can work. Just be mindful of not heating your rats up too much.
- If you use a space heater, keep it from blowing directly at the cage.
- If you provide a heating pad, keep it on the lowest setting and make sure your rats are able to step away from it if they get too warm. You could try placing it under half or a third of the base of their cage so they can sleep near it if they want to.
- Give them lots of bedding. Rats love to dig, and they enjoy a thick layer of substrate that they can burrow under to stay warm.
- Include hiding houses, hammocks, and strips of fleece for rats to shred and make cozy nests out of. Fleece is one of the best materials for nesting boxes because it doesn’t fray.
- Place an old blanket or towel over their cage to keep the heat in and drafts out. Rats will probably try to drag it inside the cage and shred it, so you might have to get creative about this.
- A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, so that they don’t touch it directly, can work in a pinch.
- Snuggling with your rats and keeping them close to you can help warm them up. You could let them ride around with you in a pouch or hoodie, or watch some movies together.
Signs your rat is too cold
Being too cold can trigger and aggravate respiratory illness in rats. Most rats already have the bacteria present in their lungs, but it doesn’t cause them problems unless they get stressed out. Drastic temperature changes can be especially stressful for them.
🥶 Signs of hypothermia in rats include shivering, sneezing, lethargy, slowed breathing, muscle stiffness, huddling together, and feeling cold to the touch.
These are some signs of hypothermia in rats:
- Shivering
- Sneezing (respiratory issues)
- Lethargy, sluggishness
- Breathing is slowed down
- Muscle stiffness or weakness
- Huddling together with other rats
- They feel cold when you handle them
Ideally, you wouldn’t let your rats get to this point! Try some of the tips above so that your rats can keep themselves warm.
Emergency care for hypothermia in rats
🚑 Emergency care for hypothermia includes warming the rat up slowly and seeking vet care if the rat is limp or unconscious.
If your rat has gone limp or lost consciousness, this is a medical emergency that needs vet care as soon as possible.
If your rat is cold, it’s important to warm them up slowly and steadily. Holding them close to your body is a great way to do this.
You can also use a heated blanket at the lowest heat setting with a towel on top, or heat up a bottle of water and wrap it in a towel for them. Try not to let them touch the heat source directly to avoid burns, and make sure they’re able to move away from it if they get too hot.
Conclusion
Rats are very sensitive to temperature changes. By keeping your pet rats at the right temperature, you’ll help prevent illness and ensure that they live long and happy lives.
