How to Keep Your Rat Warm During the Winter

Rats tend to get very cold during the winter. They have a higher body temperature than humans, meaning that even if you do not feel it is too cold, your rat might. This makes it important for rat owners to take several steps to help prevent their rats from suffering during winter months.

Things You'll Need

  • Hammock
  • Nest box
  • Fabric
  • Heating pad
  • Warm food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your rat has a hammock in its cage. Rats love hammocks because they are warm, dark and very comfortable. Hammocks are great for cold days because they act as a burrow.

    • 2

      Look into getting another rat if you only have a single rat. Rats love to cuddle with each other to get warm. If getting another rat is not ideal, you can try filling a water bottle or closable container with warm water and wrap it in a towel. This makes a nice little warm buddy for your rat to snuggle up to.

    • 3

      Ensure that there is a nest box in your rat's cage. This can be made out of small plastic containers or one bought at a pet store. Nest boxes provide warmth, darkness and privacy. You can also put paper towels inside your rat's nest box to help keep it warm. Rats will enjoy tearing up the paper towels as well as snuggling in them.

    • 4

      Provide your rat with lots of strips of fabric within its cage. It may pick these up and take them to its nest box to cuddle with or even use them to play. Either way, fabric is very dense and will provide your rat with lots of warmth.

    • 5

      Look into putting a heating pad into your rat's cage. This works well when put on only one side of the cage. This way, if the rat is cold it can go to the heated part of the cage, and if it is warm it can go back to the unheated part of the cage.

    • 6

      Feed your rat warm food. Everyone knows that something hot on a cold day makes makes everything better. Rats like vegetable soup as well as warm milk and warm creamed corn.