Baby Rats

dreamer • 12 April 2012 at 4:19 PM

A boy on my street found baby rats next to their house, the parents and the litter. They killed the parents and left the babies alone overnight.

Yesterday, my sister was outside, and they showed her the baby rats. There six, and one had died outside the night before, leaving only 5.

My sister brought them in the house and then we went back out on the porch. We fed them a mix of warm milk and cream and gave them a little cage with guinea pig bedding in it.

Two were dead when we checked them this morning, and when I came home from school I checked again. They ALL looked dead.

I picked one of the rats up (he was pretty squirmy and crazy the day before), and all of a sudden he started squealing and moving around in my hand. The other two babies that were in the cage with them were already long gone, so now the crazy one is the only one we have left.

Does anyone know how to care for the little guy? He's the only one left, so he can't snuggle up with his siblings. I'm guessing he's only a few days old because his eyes aren't open yet and he has no fur. All of the guides online talk about baby MICE, and they always talk about multiple rats. But now we only have one, so I'm guessing the care would be a bit different for him.

meixiaotian • 12 April 2012 at 4:22 PM

Keep him warm in blankets, find some milk for him, and check in with him as frequently as possible.
That's my unexperienced response.
Good luck!

Orderedchaos • 12 April 2012 at 4:24 PM

@dreamer Take it to the vet. Not only will they give you tips on how to care for it they will also make sure it doesn't have parasites, fleas, various diseases, ect. If you really want to keep it do not wait to take it to the vet either.

hay7199 • 12 April 2012 at 4:25 PM

go to the store and get a rat with a litter of babys and tell the pet store guy what happened so thats what i think!😊

dreamer • 12 April 2012 at 4:30 PM

@Orderedchaos I would, except there are no vets around here. 😱

It says online that you can use baby formulas and mixtures for them as well, but yesterday my mom wasn't willing to buy them anything. I tried using a heating pad to keep him warm because he seems cold, but my dad wouldn't let me. So I was reduced to filling up a water bottle with warm water, putting the bottle in a little fuzzy hat, and letting the rat rest on top of it. My little sister is so committed to making sure the baby survives and my parents are so... Unwilling to help.

I'll talk to my mom when she gets home, but until then I don't think the baby will survive unless she's willing to help care for him. 😱 Thank you though. Is there any way to check for disease ourselves, too?

armageddondoll • 12 April 2012 at 4:32 PM

Baby rats rely on their mothers milk and the warmth of her or siblings. If he is the only one left, and his parent are dead, then look up or ask your vet what you can give him as a substitute for the mothers milk.

In all reality he might not make it. Pinkie rats don't last very long with out their mother. :/
So your best bet is to take him to the vet and find out everything you can do for him, and the best things to give him. That should at least give him a fighting chance.

(Personal rat-owning experience 😋)

And so far as diseases, you really won't know unless there is a vet trip. Especially if his parents were un-domesticated rats, the chances of disease are higher. Wash your hands and arms up to the elbow after handling him just in case.

meixiaotian • 12 April 2012 at 4:34 PM

For checking at diseases, probably not. Unless it has fleas or something, then you can just comb through the fur.
Sounds like your parents are... Not willing to do anything about it.
And don't use the hot pad too hot.

Orderedchaos • 12 April 2012 at 4:39 PM

@dreamer Things like worms and other parasites are very hard to detect unless you know what you are looking for/do blood work. Fleas are easy. If it, or you, are scratching/itchy and see little black jumping dots, then it has fleas and a trip to the nearest vet/pet store to get a flea treatment can clear that up. As for diseases, that just depends on the disease.

Yeah, if your parents aren't willing to help, then it probably isn't going to make it for very long. It might be best to prepare yourself and you sister for the possibility that it might not survive.

Deleted • 12 April 2012 at 4:48 PM

@Dreamer Aww </3 I feel for the siblings. D:

I'd just say keep it warm and fed, but I'm no vet.

dreamer • 12 April 2012 at 7:26 PM

@Dawnie
@Orderedchaos
@Meixiaotian
@Armageddondoll


He died an hour or two ago. :/ Too bad. My sis was a mess. At least he didn't die out in the cold and rain...

meixiaotian • 12 April 2012 at 7:28 PM

@dreamer Aww... Oh well, it would've been hard before too.

cotton • 12 April 2012 at 7:30 PM

@dreamer Aw, I'm so sorry ☹️

yogurt • 12 April 2012 at 7:44 PM

That boy is evil. =3= Why leave them there and kill the parents? Some people are just.. arg. <.<