Signs of a Pregnant Rat

Rat breeding takes time and patience, and it also requires a bit of research before taking on the challenge. Choosing which rats to breed, ensuring their health and taking care of the babies can be daunting tasks. Once you̵7;ve decided to start a rat breeding program, you may find yourself anxiously wondering if your efforts have been successful. While there are no over-the-counter rat pregnancy tests, there are some signs that can let you know if your rat is pregnant.

  1. Early Signs

    • During the first week of the 22- to 24-day pregnancy, there are almost no early signs of pregnancy. If you are able to, weigh your female rat before mating occurs. If she gets pregnant and you weigh her daily, there should be weight gain as early as the next day. This weight gain, sometimes as little as 1/10 oz. each day, will continue throughout her pregnancy.

      Because pregnant females don̵7;t ovulate, you may also notice that your female doesn̵7;t go into heat anymore (which usually occurs every four to five days). Also try to see if she̵7;s interested in objects with the scent of male rats. Pregnant females will show no interest.

    Mid-Pregnancy Signs

    • If you missed the early clues, you still may have no idea if your rat is pregnant. At this point of her pregnancy, the female may begin to behave differently. She might be hungry more often and she might be more aggressive than normal, but this varies for each rat. More noticeably, her waistline and stomach area will start to expand during this time.

    Late Pregnancy Signs

    • By the third week of pregnancy your rat will begin to look like a pear. Her abdomen should be quite enlarged, and you may even be able to see the baby rats moving inside of her. Her nipples will become more pronounced as the hair around them decreases. Most females will build a nest, and it̵7;s important to provide materials for her to do so. Her appetite will continue to increase, and she should be sleeping a lot as well.