How to Breed Rats in a Kitty Litter Pan

A kitty litter pan should be used with caution to breed rats, as rats can have as many as 30 kittens at once. Housing cages for rats should be the permanent home for kittens until they are sold rather than a kitty litter box. Rats have a gestation period of 21 to 25 days. They breed quickly. Consider your true desire to breed rats before beginning, because the animals will suffer otherwise.

Things You'll Need

  • Cages
  • Water
  • Food (rat pellets)
  • Shredded paper or cedar chips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consider the kitty litter box a starting point for your rat breeding career. If you must use one, ensure it is deep enough or has tall enough walls so the rats and their kittens cannot escape.

    • 2

      Place water, food and shredded paper or another form of matting, like cedar wood chips, in the kitty litter box.

    • 3

      Allow the doe and buck to spend time together in the makeshift home in the kitty litter box. Every five to six days, she should be ready to mate. She will show this readiness by lifting her rear, arching her back when petted and wiggling her ears. Let them mate.

    • 4

      Allow the 21 to 25 days for rat gestation. When the doe is giving birth, you will notice her restlessness. The act of giving birth will take a couple of hours. Look for signs of distress or excess bleeding if the birthing process takes longer.

    • 5

      Relocate the doe and her kittens to a larger cage several days after birth, as the growing litter will require more space.