The responsible owner can introduce and maintain the friendship between the predator and the rodent. How to do it?
✔ It is desirable that both pets be at a young age. And if it so happened that the cat is already an adult, what to do? It is necessary to make a comfortable stay for each of them.
✔ If you brought a rat to the house where the cat already lives, then for starters you need to buy a cage for a rat and equip it with everything necessary for a rodent to live. Do you know that rodents grow teeth during their life? That is why they need to grind them regularly. They themselves perfectly cope with this task if they provide them with solid food or put a stone in a cage.
✔ It is necessary to install the cage so that the cat could not lose it. In no case should you place a house in the feeding or resting area of \u200b\u200ba cat, so as not to provoke aggression and natural behavior of the predator.
✔ To prevent the cat from harming a small family member, keep your rodent house always locked.
✔ Do not scold the cat if she looks at the rat with interest. Better provide her with a place to rest and space for games so that the cat does not accept the rat as a competitor.
✔ Give your cat enough attention, as before. Play with your pet, let’s run, jump, so that she doesn’t feel changes in her life because of the new tenant of the apartment.
✔ The cat must not be allowed to be jealous of the rat. Better a cat spends energy on games, and then the interest in hunting a rodent will gradually disappear. You need to spend time with the rat while the cat is resting or sleeping. By the way, these rodents are very smart, affectionate and curious. In fact, the intelligence of a domestic rat can be compared with the intellectual abilities of other pets - cats and dogs. The rats are sociable, respond well to people, which is what the interest in games shows.
✔ Do not forget to pay attention to both favorites. At first, do not let the rodent run, especially where the cat sleeps and eats. The smell of a rodent will provoke aggression in a cat.
✔ First try introducing the pets.Take the rat in your hands and show the cat. Let her smell the rodent. Talk to the cat in a calm voice, stroking and calming her. Then the cat will understand that she is safe and does not threaten her, she is still loved by the owner. Over time, you can let the rat run, but if you notice that the cat is hunting it, be sure to prohibit and stop attempts to catch the rat. Just do not scold or punish the cat for hunting. This is an instinct! Just make it clear that the rodent is not a toy. Turn the attention of the pet to a ball or teaser for cats, to any other games. However, do not buy toys in the form of mice, including clockwork. Let the cat play better with various balls and feathers on a stick. But you need to know that the predatory instincts of a domestic cat will never disappear. An attentive and caring owner will be able to control the behavior of the cat, avoiding dangerous moments.
✔ Never feed animals together, even if the cat has long been calm in relation to the rat. Let the rodent always eat in its cage. Do not let a rat eat cat food. The cat should know that no one will eat her food. Each of the pets should have their own place for eating.
✔ If pets are left alone in the apartment, then better to close the rat in the cagewhile you are away. Cats are inherently very cunning creatures, and sometimes it is impossible to predict their behavior. With the owner, the cat can observe subordination in relation to the rodent, but as soon as you go out the door, the cat can feel himself in charge and will harm.
✔ It will be a long time before the cat can accept a new tenant. But do not forget that each cat has its own character. Sometimes even two cats cannot live together!
✔ If over time the cat still reacts to the rodent as an object of hunting, then it is better to divide pets into different roomsso that they do not see each other.
✔ The rat may be stressed by the constant aggression of the cat.It is better to think and decide in advance whether to bring a rat into the house to an adult cat with a severe temper.
✔ Great if the cat and rat can make friends. Only with the right care and attention will you ensure that the animals make friends. And then peace and rest will reign in the house!
In natural conditions, the purr preys on rodents, trying to protect its territory and the owner's house from pests. But now many people keep decorative rats at home, which, unlike the street ones, are very cute and funny. Like dogs or cats, rats have a huge number of breeds. And each in its own way is sweet.
Many, seeing a photo of a cute rodent, seek to get it for themselves. Someone begins to study thematic literature, communicate on forums, look for good breeders of the breed they like in their own or neighboring city. Others buy thoughtlessly the first rodent that comes across, without even thinking that in the bird markets far from always healthy pets are sold.
But still today we’ll talk about how a cat and a decorative rat get along, which are at odds in natural conditions. Will the rodent worry about the presence of purrs or is the cat more afraid of the rat? How to make friends with each other? And is it worth it to start a cute eared one if the cat already lives at home?
How to get along with a cat and a rat
Much depends on the nature of the pets. If the cat, as usual, is calm and completely indifferent to any inhabitants of the house, then there should not be any problems. She can be afraid of a rat, but only because she had never seen such a cute Mickey Mouse before. There will certainly be a first interest. A cat comes up and sniffs a cage with a rodent. And if the cat is really afraid, then she will not approach the cage anymore. To attack all the more, it will just keep as far as possible.
If the cat is initially aggressive or from the genus of the Pied Piper, then it is better to insure. Such a purr will always be ready to attack and strangle the rodent. Here, the owner needs to think: either do not take the rat, or protect it from predator attacks (put the cage high, out of the reach of the cat, do not leave animals alone even for a short period of time). No need to rely on chance. You will be responsible for both the baby and the cat. In any case, it will be stressful for both pets. Only for one “duet” will it end quickly, the animals will make friends. And for another alliance, this stress will last as long as both animals live on the same territory.
However, you should not think that it depends only on the nature of the cat how the predator and the decorative rat will get along. Believe me, this cute rodent is far from defenseless. He is armed with tenacious paws with sharp claws and strong sharp teeth. And if someone encroaches on the territory or life of the baby, then he will fight for them. And it doesn’t seem enough.
A lot of useful and interesting information about decorative rats is on the website http://ratmania.ru
There were cases when domestic cats became “victims”. Some rodents kept a purr in fear, fearlessly attacking them or bullying (pulling at a mustache or coat, trying to bite by their nose or paw, if the cat came too close to the bars of the cage). And then the owners have to think already about how to protect the cat from the attacks of cutie eared. But such badasses do not come across so often. And even if you have just such a fearless mischief, this does not mean that you can leave him alone with a cat. Yes, he stands up for himself, but what can it cost him?
Cats that are afraid of everything, even their own shadow, are much less likely to come across. And such pets will stay as far as possible from the cage with the rodent. Do not impose acquaintance or communication with animals with animals. This will be stressful for both. And do not forget that the baby rat rat has a tiny heart, it pounds much faster than a cat. And because of fear, it will even flutter, which is very bad.
How to understand whether it is possible to get a cat and a rat at the same time?
Many try to make friends of a predator and a “prey” for the sake of beautiful photographs. But this is a huge risk. This is equivalent if you are planted near a trained tiger. Here is the real “Russian roulette”. Either everything will be fine, or they will bite you, despite the trainer. In any case, the fear will still be one. So is it worth it to do with the rat? It is one thing if the pets themselves reach out to each other and become interested. Another thing, if you will be the initiator of this "friendship."
In any case, think well in advance: are you ready for such responsibility? It is not easy to get yourself a new animal. You take responsibility for his life and health. Can you provide him with a dignified and peaceful life? Do you have a place in the house where the cat will not get? Only this place for the cage should not be in a draft or in a cold / damp room.
Also, think about how your cat will react to a new member of the family. You know her character, you noticed how she reacts to guests or other animals. A jealous pet or is ready to share you with at least the whole world.
Pets are not toys. It is extremely important to think over everything in advance, and not grab the first animal you like, drag it into the house, and then wonder if the cat and rat will get along or not?
Another thing is when you already have a rodent, and you found / bought or presented to you a cat. It is a little simpler with the baby, although his curiosity and craving for games can hurt the whisker rodent. All the contacts between the animals will have to not only be controlled (so that the kitten does not play too much and does not harm or the frightened rat does not harm him), but also to dose. Kittens are more fearless than adult cats. This is due to the fact that they still know the world and they are all interested and new. Although in the first meeting almost all the little purrs are scared, they become an arch and try to bounce. Although then it still takes its interest, and the kitten reaches out to smell and touch the stranger. In any case, you cannot leave these 2 cuties without your control. Even if they are not afraid of each other and make friends from the first second, anything can happen. These are animals, and it is impossible to read their thoughts.
And remember, if a cat (or its relatives) belong to the genus of mousetraps or rat-catchers, then it is better not to keep rodents at home. Genes sooner or later take their toll.
It’s not enough for us). And then I decided to go to the trick and offered my daughter the condition that we will have a rat in the event that during the summer she perfectly learns all the English words that were passed in the second grade.
So. The words were learned, I took the exam and we went to the pet store.
Only 150r.
What you need and can buy for a decorative rat?
- Cell. We remade the old bird cage.
- Feeder. It must be ceramic and heavy, because a grown rat will turn it over. 150 rub.
- Drinking bowl. We chose the drip version with two balls, to avoid leaks. 250 rub
- Feed. Grain mix with vegetables, fruits or vitamins. From 40r. for half a kilo, enough for two weeks of feeding.
- Rodent. Cretaceous or other mineral stone for grinding a tooth. 10 p.
- Filler. Any wood version (even cat filler) will do. 1 kg. from 35r. Enough for three tray changes.
That's all the main points that a rat will definitely need for life.
But there is an important nuance, if you want to diversify your pet’s life and make it brighter, you should equip the cage well and purchase additional accessories for the rat.
- Hammock. My daughter and I made it ourselves (we will redo it, because we need to sew on loops with carbines, so it’s more practical to remove the hammock for washing).
- House. Also homemade, in our case.
- Ladder for climbing to the upper floors of the cage. We made a rope for a rat from a clothesline.
- Bag for walks. I ordered it in the online store.
- Harness for walking. It is worth buying when the rat becomes an adult.
- Toys We made the chain with beads ourselves. You can purchase balls or a running wheel.
How to determine the age of the rat?
The main methods for determining the approximate age of a rodent is the weight and size of the teeth. The sellers in the pet store said that Alice was about 4 months old, but after weighing it, I realized that the rat was not even 2 months old. It weighs only 80g.
I weighed Aliska in the bag, minus after that the weight of the empty carry.
How did Kryska-Aliska when moving into a new house.
In a zoo store, a rat was put in a box. On the way home, the rat “did things”, this is a normal reaction in case of fright.
The animal is scared, he was torn out of the usual environment and taken away from the congeners.
Upon arrival home we immediately released Aliska into a new cell. In the first few hours, she examined only the bottom of the cage, ate a little and immediately hid in the house.
On the second day the rat began to actively explore the new home and bite everything (absolutely everything).
Alice was not given into the hands, but began to take food from her hands without biting.
On the fourth day Alice got used to the new house and new family, began to lick her palms to everyone who would not feed her).
How to teach a rat a hand?
The animal must perceive the hand as a friend. It is necessary to feed the rat giving it food from the fingers, forcing it to step on your palm for a treat, then it will have the most pleasant associations. It is absolutely impossible to take a rat from above (like a bird of prey), you need to take it from below, as if planting it in your palm.
What does Rat Alice like? How to feed a domestic rat?
Cereal mixes- This is the main ration of the animal. We feed Alice morning and evening, pouring in a bowl one tablespoon of food. Alice ignores everything except gray pellets from feed and sunflower seeds. Everything else goes either for germination or for chicken feed, to the village. By the way, Alice eats sprouted grains of oats and wheat.
Fruits and vegetables.He likes apples and green grapes, nectarine. I give everything without stones, in order to avoid poisoning. Sometimes he eats carrots, fawn. Likes melon, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Additives and goodies.Alice loves fish oil capsules. As a treat, it is allowed to give seeds of watermelon, melon and pumpkin, but so far we have only experimented with melon seeds (eats). Also, once a week, I give boiled chicken egg protein, it does not eat actively.
Dill greens also remain without proper attention.
Boiled meat and fish can also be given to rats. Rats love gammarus, but Aliska is not yet familiar with him.
Snacks for training. What dry food can a rat give? For training, I bought for Aliska dry food for cats of a premium class. I chose several species at once (I bought by weight), but the rat liked only Royal Canin fit 32. I didn’t buy dog \u200b\u200bfood for rats. I think that cat dry food is enough for grinding teeth.
It is important that the rat always has fresh water in a drinker.
Total. The food in the bowl must be completely replaced twice a day, all the leftover food left in the bowl is removed. Water changes completely once a day.
Games with a rat.
Rats are very social rodents, they need contact and frequent communication. My daughter and I do not let Aliska get bored. I take her for a walk in the evenings. First, I invite her into a carrying bag, and only then, if Aliska wants, she walks on the sofa (she constantly strives to get away). Daughter lets Alice go for a walk on the desk where her cage is standing, and also makes labyrinths for her from obstacle boxes.
A rat can (and should) be trained. Persistently and so far unsuccessfully engaged in this).
How often to clean up after a rat? Does the rat smell?
Both rat boys and girls mark territory. Why did we choose a girl when buying? Just because of the aesthetics of the type of rat, the boys have too expressive external sexual characteristics.
Rats smell. Like any creature, let alone a rodent, they have their own smell (not like the hamsters who hide food in reserve and it spoils). But the stench will be discussed only when there is a mess in the cage, everything is saturated with excrement. This applies not only to the filler, but also to hammocks, houses, shelves.
This is what the tray of the rat looks like three days after filling with fresh filler.
In addition to the filler, we change the litter in the house (a box without a bottom), the role of which is a napkin folded in several layers. Since Alice in the house not only sleeps, but also eats, the litter, on the third day, looks shabby.
Can a cat and a rat get along together?
The first days, our cats showed increased interest in the rat, sat near the cage for hours and watched it. Then Cox’s interest increased, and he decided to sniff the rat through the bars, Alice also did not deprive the cat of attention and decided to sniff him in response, but something went wrong and the rat showed aggression (maybe instinctively defended) and tried to grab the cat’s nose . Since then, cats have been watching Aliska from afar and not often, but nevertheless, while the rat is walking, I isolate the cats in another room.
Rats are funny animals. They are not expensive, not fastidious in food (in comparison with cats, the rat has a low budget), but at the same time, rats have a short lifespan (about 3 years).
Should I have a rat? There is no definite answer. I, for myself, decided "Yes."
But I can definitely say one thing: do not buy a rat for young children who cannot properly care for a rat and pay attention to it and do not start a rat as a resident of a cage; it needs a certain will and walks.
A rat is not a guinea pig, which is "just beautiful," it is more mobile and contact.
***** Update from 09/11/18. Alice scored 30g. per month. Now weighs 110g.
For us, Kryska-Aliska became a little toothy friend, rustling at night in a cage and licking our palms.
Before you try to understand how harmonious the relationship between the Cat and the Rat pair will be, you should consider the characteristics of each of them, because, as a rule, it depends on the temperament of a person not only to people, but to life as a whole.
Despite the fact that the characteristics of the Cat and the Rat are completely different, these people, entering into a romantic relationship, are quite capable of complementing each other. The horoscope of compatibility calls the Rat and Kota a too versatile pair, but harmony in their relationship is still possible, but only if these two strive for this.
A rat, as a rule, is an active and energetic person, who is in dire need of a stormy social life, recognition in society, admiring views, she is used to being in the spotlight and will never agree to become a homebody. She really does not like mediocre life, for the Rat it is better to walk along the edge of the abyss, along the edge of a knife, danger and risk - this is her element, but she will never make unjustified sacrifices.
Beauty often goes beyond what is permissible, but this is precisely the life for her that she dreamed about, if circumstances make her become a homebody, then the Rat will become isolated or start looking for adventures on the spot.
Oriental astrologers claim that the Rat is a sign of charm and aggressiveness at the same time, thanks to its charm it will not leave anyone indifferent, but God forbid to do anything bad to them, as they instantly turn into insidious and vengeful persons.
From the outside you might think that Krasa is an incredibly strong and powerful person, but no one knows how difficult it is for her, in fact she dreams that a loved one could understand her and allow her to relax.
Rats are very fond of spending money, so their companion must have a good starting capital, or be able to earn money, otherwise the relationship will end quickly.
The dignity of this sign in its affection for the family, the Rat will never betray the chosen one and will not do anything to harm her loved ones. The rat is sentimental, it is very important for it to maintain family ties, some representatives of this sign throughout their lives study the history of the family to learn more about their pedigree.
To live together, the Rat needs a man who would surround her with care and love, but she is doubting and fussy, so her chosen one will still need to convince the Rat of her sincerity and desire to be around.
Initially, the relations of the Rat and the Cat, despite the fact that they are completely different in nature, are excellent, but there is no special passion and romance in this couple, everything in this family is built on mutual respect, friendliness and trust.
The cat is also not so simple, at first it may seem too soft-bodied, but this is only the outer shell of the representatives of this sign, at the right time it will certainly show courage and courage, especially its qualities are manifested in times of danger.
Cats have an exquisite refined taste, like to arrange social events, in his house everything is always at the highest level - both the atmosphere and the treat. The representative of this sign is not particularly boastful, however, if you manage to show off your erudition or show guests a cozy, chicly furnished house, then he will definitely take this opportunity.
The cat is incredibly sentimental, if some of his relatives or friends have a misfortune, he will without hesitation extend a helping hand and do everything in his power, even if this act will harm him himself.
The cat is very careful, it will never act at random, and will calculate every step, these people rarely go on the offensive, more often they try to confuse their tracks and slowly hide from the enemy.
In financial matters, Kotu, as a rule, is lucky - he knows how not only to work, but also to calculate his own profit and will never get involved in a dubious deal, therefore they are financially independent and always firmly on their feet.
In a female-male-male-male couple, to a greater extent, everything depends on the character of the fair sex, the more compliant she becomes, the more harmonious the relationship will be. If the spouse will constantly arrange scenes for her husband and provoke conflicts, which he always tries to avoid, then there can be no question of any compromise. In this union, a man often takes all the worries and chores around her fragile female shoulders, of course, this is not very pleasant for her, however, for the sake of the financial well-being of the family, she is ready to endure some inconvenience. The only thing the Rat cannot be limited to is in communication with friends, without it she simply will not be able to live, and then this relationship will very soon exhaust itself.
If the man is a Rat, and the woman is a Cat, then according to the horoscope of compatibility, everything can turn out well with them, unless the spouse begins to demand from her chosen one some incredible actions. The man is engaged in the maintenance of the family in this, in principle, he is not lazy, however, it is difficult to call him a workaholic, moreover, he occasionally needs rest where he can enjoy solitude.
A huge cat-woman will make a big mistake if she decides to restrict the freedom of the male Rat, in this case the relationship can end without starting. However, as a rule, female Rats are very far-sighted persons and avoid such oversights, therefore, more often than not, consent and love reign in this pair.
In conclusion, we can say that with this combination of signs, reaching harmony and harmony in the family is possible only if the partners themselves want to and try to at least give in to each other, otherwise this union is unlikely to last long.
Some pet owners do not want to be limited to one pet. There are daredevils who are not afraid to contain completely different animals.
Now rarely anyone will be surprised to live together a cat and a decorative rat. The responsible owner is quite capable of maintaining peace between the predator and its potential prey - the rodent.
First of all, it is worth taking care of the comfortable living of each of the pets. Settle your beloved rodent in a spacious cage. Fill it with various accessories for small animals. It is advisable to place the cage higher and strengthen it so that a curious cat cannot drop it.
Do not place the rat’s dwelling in the feeding or resting area of \u200b\u200bthe furry pet so as not to provoke aggression. Keep the rodent's house always locked, otherwise a long paw and sharp teeth of a cat can harm the pet. Give a home predator a place to rest and play, to realize its natural needs. Personal territory is necessary so that the cat does not perceive the rat as a competitor.
Avoid jealousy in cats. Give her enough attention, play with her, let her run and jump. In this case, the cat will spend energy on games and will not hunt the rodent.
Chat with the rat while the cat is resting. Try to find time for both pets. Do not let the rodent run in the place where the cat sleeps and eats. A foreign smell can trigger aggression in a cat.
Do not punish the cat if she is interested in a younger companion. Remove the rat from the cage and show it to the cat, let her gently sniff the pet. Speak in a calm voice to calm the furry predator, gently pat it on the head. Thus, the cat will understand that its safety is not in danger.
Prevent cat attempts to catch a rat. Do not scream or punish her for hunting a baby. Make it clear that the rodent is not a toy. Turn her attention to a ball or teaser. Do not buy rat-like toys. Pamper your pet with various feathers, balls and balls.
Natural instincts will never disappear in a domestic cat. A competent owner should be able to adjust the behavior of the cat and smooth out the dangerous moments. Differentiate the feeding area of \u200b\u200banimals. Try not to let the rat eat cat food. The cat should know that nothing threatens her food. In no case do not feed your pets from one bowl. Each of the favorites should have its own place.
It’s great if the cat and the rat can make friends. It is important to remember that hunting needs do not disappear in predators with age. Ensure that animals are neutral towards each other.