Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / June 2007

Hi Michaela... being a worry wort is what makes you a good rat mom. ;)

All my females are spayed, not only is it to prevent accidental litters
but because it is of great health benefit to them. Spaying a rat reduces
the risk of mammary and pituitary tumours.
Only a couple of my males are neutered. This was due to some cage
aggression. I would only neuter a male if he showed signs of aggression
or having territorial issues.
My vet is an exotic specialist, she's done tons and tons of rattie spays
and neuters. She does not go by the abdomen. She does it the old fashion
way, through the scrotum. We've never had any problems with neuters or
spays. I have however read of a few rats having abscesses after a neuter
especially those done through the abdomen so I don't think that is the
"real" way to go. I trust my vet completely and that would be a very
important thing... you need to have a good exotic vet for any kind of
surgery on your ratties.

Female rats go into heat every 5 days or so. Sometimes they can change
their cycles to meet their needs. For example: all of a sudden they are
in contact with a male, they will go into heat even if it's not that
time yet.
So the intact male will bother the girls for about a week or so, then
they realize the spayed female no longer goes into heat and they will
leave them alone... well, not alone, they can be
seen sleeping together. ;)
If you have a male neutered, you need to wait three weeks before he is
safe to be put with a female. A spayed female can be put with a male
after recovering from her surgery which is usually 1 to 3 days.
Currently, I have 16 rats living together in one big cage. 6 spayed
girls, 2 neutered boys and 8 intact males. And I can tell you, the girls
don't let the boys boss them around. ;)