How to Breed Rats

Rats can be wonderful pets. They are intelligent and can be trained to do dog-like tricks such as coming when they are called. They are also good at mazes, which you can construct and let them figure out. Rats are prolific breeders, so the physical process is not difficult. It may be difficult to place them in homes, however. Many people buy rats not as pets, but to feed to their pets, such as snakes and lizards.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 cages
  • Paper towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the male and female rat together in a cage that did not previously belong to either one. They are less likely to fight in neutral territory. Watch for signs of heat in the female, which include an open vagina and a mating dance, which is performed if her back is stroked. The dance includes quickly darting around, spinning in circles and vibrating the ears. A female in heat is less likely to reject the male.

    • 2

      Leave the rats together for at least 10 days, as long as they get along well. This will cover two heat cycles, which occur every four to five days. Once mating has occurred, the female's vagina will be blocked by a mucus plug. The plug may fall out, so look in the cage as well.

    • 3

      Observe the female for signs of pregnancy about two weeks after the pair were first put into the cage together. The abdomen may swell at this point if pregnancy has occurred. If the abdomen has not changed, there are others ways to tell if your female rat is pregnant. The heat cycles will stop, and the hair around the nipples will fall out. According to the Rat Fan Club, pregnancy typically lasts 21 to 23 days.

    • 4

      Remove the male from the cage shortly before the birth of the babies. It is possible for the female to conceive within 24 hours after giving birth. If you have other male rats, give the expectant father a bath before reintroducing him to a cage with other males. This will wash off the scent of the female.

    • 5

      Provide the female with paper towels for nesting a few weeks before the litter is due. The mother may build and rebuild the nest several times to get it just right. Paper towels are absorbent, easy to change, and allow for monitoring of blood loss from the new mother.

    • 6

      Observe the female for bloody discharge around the time the babies are due. Labor will occur the day of bleeding or the day after. The entire birthing process typically lasts from one to two hours.