Rat Care Guide

Whether you are preparing to adopt or simply researching proper husbandry, this guide is designed to walk you through the essentials of responsible rat ownership.

You can use the navigation links to jump directly to specific topics such as housing, bedding, diet, enrichment, and health. If you prefer, you are welcome to scroll down and read the full detailed articles below.

My goal is to make sure every Sundae Morning rat goes to a home that feels confident, prepared, and informed

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Best Bedding for Your Pet Rats

Best Bedding for Pet Rats | Safe Substrate Options for Respiratory Health and Enrichment

Bedding is more than just something that lines the bottom of the cage. It directly impacts your rats’ respiratory health, enrichment, and overall quality of life.

When choosing a substrate, there are two major priorities to keep in mind:

1. Supporting Natural Behaviors

Rats are active foragers and natural diggers. Their bedding should allow them to:

  • Tunnel

  • Dig

  • Burrow

  • Forage

One of the easiest ways to provide enrichment is by scattering food directly into the bedding and lightly ruffling it. This encourages natural foraging behavior, increases mental stimulation, reduces stress, and can even improve overall temperament.

Deep, loose substrate allows rats to express instinctive behaviors that are essential to their wellbeing.

2. Ammonia Control and Respiratory Health

Ammonia control is critical.

Rats have sensitive airways, and most pet rats carry Mycoplasma as a normal respiratory bacteria. When ammonia levels build up from urine, it irritates the respiratory tract and can trigger flare ups.

High ammonia exposure can lead to:

  • Chronic respiratory irritation

  • Increased susceptibility to infection

  • Permanent lung damage

The difficult part is that ammonia damage often develops slowly. Symptoms may not appear for months, and by the time you notice signs of respiratory distress, irreversible damage may have already occurred.

Your bedding must be highly absorbent and effective at neutralizing ammonia.

What to Avoid

Certain bedding types and additives can do more harm than good.

Avoid:

  • Scented bedding

  • Products with added fragrances

  • Anything containing sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

Scented products can irritate sensitive airways and may react negatively with ammonia in urine. Baking soda should never be used, as it produces carbon dioxide when introduced into the stomach, which can lead to blockages or intestinal rupture if ingested.

The following bedding types are not recommended:

  • Fleece or fabric as a primary substrate

  • Shredded newspaper or Yesterday’s News

  • Carefresh

  • Corn cob bedding

These options either lack proper ammonia control, do not support natural digging behaviors, or pose safety concerns.

Recommended Bedding Options

The following substrates are appropriate and support both health and enrichment:

  • Kiln dried pine

  • Aspen

  • Hemp

  • Flax

Compressed wood pellets can be used in litter boxes if desired.

For dig boxes or additional enrichment areas, you can use:

  • Cocopeat

  • Shredded paper

  • Hay

Providing the right bedding is one of the most important ways you can protect your rats’ respiratory health and improve their daily quality of life.

If you are ever unsure about a bedding choice, I am always happy to review it with you before adoption.

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