Most species of rat look similar and it can be difficult to tell between a roof rat and the common norway rat but there are some telltale ways to distinguish between the two.
Roof rats as pets.
For effective pest control you need to determine what type of rat is scurrying around your attic.
A large wire cage is best especially one with horizontal bars that allow the rat to climb on the sides.
Rats as pets are known to be able to climb wire cages ramps and ladders explore tunnels balance on ropes and even jump impressive distances in relation to their small size around 3 feet.
These bites or scratches can cause what is known as rat bite fever or even tetanus.
Both roof rats and norway rats a stockier variety of rat can infest homes.
Pet rat facts.
Roof rats pest control team will evict them clean up after them and install measures to prevent further intrusions.
Thick greenery lush landscapes fruit trees and pet dog areas will all bring in roof rats.
Other names for a norway rat are common rat brown rat street rat sewer rat hanover rat norwegian rat or wharf rat.
Roof rats are long and thin rodents that have large eyes and ears a pointed nose and a scaly tail.
Housing the rat.
A norway rat body is typically nine to eleven inches long.
At a minimum a cage with 12 by 24 inches 2 square feet of floor space is okay for two smaller rats as long as the cage is tall and you provide shelves and or hammocks for extra living space.
They will also build globular leafy nests in trees and get in buildings by tree branches and energy lines.
From rat bites and scratches to saliva and urine rats can cause many diseases.
Average lifespan of a pet rat is 18 to 36 months.
Roof rats have soft and smooth fur that is typically brown with intermixed spots of black.
The roof rat is smaller than a norway rat growing to be between 6 and 8 inches in body length with an additional 6 to 8 inches in the tail.
Roof rats can climb.
Like squirrels they enter houses and are found in attics.
Roof rats are known by a variety of other names including palm rats fruit rats ship rats and alexandrian rats.
Roof rats get ferocious and tend to bite or scratch when threatened or cornered.
Norway rats are typically larger than roof rats they can grow to be up to 18 inches long while the roof rat typically has bigger ears and longer tails than its cousin.
Roof rats have smooth fur pointy noses and large dark eyes.
We also get rid of cockroaches flies fleas and ants.
Adult roof rats measure 6 8 16 20 cm when combining their head and body length.
Roof rats are a health hazard being one of the oldest transmitters of diseases.
Don t be surprised if your pet rats have a blast scaling furniture and racing up your arm in order to perch on your shoulder either.
A tall cage with ramps and platforms is ideal for providing room for multiple rats.
Most pet rats are actually a type of rat called a norway rat rattus norvegicus.
