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Rats are some of the most fascinating animals.
To many people, rats are pesky pests that should be eliminated at the earliest opportunity. Yet to others, they’re adorable pets that can liven up an otherwise boring household.
If you belong in the latter category and are considering adopting a rat or already own one, you must have wondered at some point how long these animals live. As you may have guessed, rats don’t live for so long. But their lifespan is surprisingly longer than most people imagine.
Read on as we share more insights into a rat’s life expectancy and what you can do to make your rat live longer.
What Is A Rat’s Average Life Expectancy?
House rats live for an average of two – four years. Note that the phrase ‘house rats’ here mostly denotes rats domesticated as pets. However, it might also imply those who have made themselves comfortable in our homes uninvited, especially if their activities go undetected or if we’re not actively trying to eliminate them.
Why Do Rats have Such a Short Lifespan?
Most small mammals have a shorter lifespan than their larger counterparts. Although there may be other factors at play, this phenomenon mostly comes down to metabolism and heart rate.
Rats have a very high metabolism and heart rate. These cute, little furballs can achieve a heart rate of 300 – 500 beats per minute.
Do All Rats Live For An Average Of 2 – 4 Years?
Absolutely not. While most rats will achieve a modest lifespan of two – four years, some pet rats may live up to six or seven years whereas others may not even be old enough to celebrate their first birthdays.
A rat’s actual lifespan comes down to several factors, as explained below;
1. Whether Wild or Captive
It’s common knowledge that domesticated animals live far longer than their wild cousins. And rats are no exception.
House rats will live longer because they have higher access to basic resources like food and water.
Pet rats are also less likely to die from common rodent ailments. That’s because their caring human owners will do everything to cater for their treatments.
Besides, indoor conditions make it almost impossible for rats to be affected by dramatic fluctuations in weather patterns. The warm weather indoors is particularly beneficial for rat pups who could otherwise succumb to the chillier outdoors.
Most importantly, there are lower risks of predation for pet rats than their wild cousins. Unless coyotes or feral cats stray into your compound, your house rat will have nothing to fear. Even the rat’s mortal enemy – the cat – will not hunt him down if they were raised together in the same household. On the other hand, wild rats face predation from wild cats, serpents, birds, and much more.
2. Genetic Makeup
Genetic composition can play a major role in determining a rat’s actual lifespan.
Most domesticated rats are in-bred while wild rats generally experience crossbreeding. Both inbreeding and crossbreeding may affect a rat’s life expectancy in terms of eliminating undesired traits, such as congenital abnormalities and hereditary illnesses.
For instance, a 5-year-old male and female rat pair would be ripe for inbreeding. The offspring resulting from this pair is also likely to clock five years or even longer. On the flip side, inbreeding might introduce deformities and mutations, both of which shorten the average lifespan. That’s especially where there’s inadequate information on the parents’ medical profile.
3. Health Conditions
All animals, including rats, demonstrate some susceptibility to diseases. Common health problems in rats include respiratory infections, tumors, and gastrointestinal complications.
As we already mentioned, wild rats are more susceptible to health problems than rats in captivity. The same is true for certain rat breeds, such as hairless rats.
4. Diet and Lifestyle Choices
Pet rats living in the same household can have different lifespans depending on what they eat. Obviously, rats that enjoy high-quality, balanced diets will live longer than those who mostly feed from trash cans.
In terms of lifestyle choices, rats that receive adequate exercise and socialization will live longer. Regular exercise is especially useful in combatting stress and lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
How Long Did The Oldest Rat Live?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest documented rat was named Rodney.
Rodney was a domesticated rat from the Mitchell family in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The rat lived from January 1983 to May 25, 1990, clocking 7 years and 4 months.
What Is a Rat’s Life Cycle?
a) Newborns
Rats are born entirely reliant on their mothers. And like most little mammals, rats are also born without the ability to walk or use any of their senses.
Rat pups will typically start to walk when they’re one week old. A week later, these animals will be able to see. They’ll then experience exponential growth over the next couple of weeks.
b) Juveniles
Rats are in their juvenile stage from the ages of six months to one year. During this period, the animals can consume up to half their body weight daily. They’ll also chew on objects to prevent their teeth from overgrowing.
c) Adults
Rats hit adulthood at the age of one year. They’ll remain boisterous for the first few months of their adult life and then start to mellow down from their second birthday.
How to Increase a Rat’s Lifespan
Although rats typically live between 2 and 4 years, you can implement the following tips to make them live much longer;
• Take your rat for frequent veterinary checkups (typically once every 6 – 12 years)
• Feed your rat a high-quality, balanced diet
• Exercise the animal regularly
• Do not let your rat roam outdoors unsupervised
• Keep track of the animal’s weight weekly using a gram scale
• Monitor the rat for changes in behavior, skin, and/or fur
• Consider spaying or neutering to minimize the risks of mammary cancer
• Keep your rat’s cage clean at all times
• Offer the animal enough toys to combat boredom and anxiety disorders
• Offer chew toys to prevent the teeth from overgrowing
• Have more than one rat as these animals are social creatures
• Maintain ideal indoor conditions, which entails a temperature range of 65 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 40 – 70%
Final Word
Rats have a shorter lifespan than most pets. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to increase your rat’s life expectancy and enjoy many more years together.