Cool Ratties

Rats are particularly susceptible to heat and humidity and should be kept in conditions below about 25*C. Rats don't sweat or pant to cool themselves. Instead they use their tails as heat releasers, sending more blood to the skin surface to help radiate excess body heat

For healthy rats, temperatures above 32*C will be uncomfortable, those above 37*C can cause distress, and temperatures above 40*C can be fatal.
In hot weather, it's important to keep an eye on your rats for signs of heat stress. In particular, any of your rats who are overweight or sick as they will be more affected.

Some signs your rat is over-heated:
- Slowed movement, lethargy
- Apathy (even for treats)
- Tail, feet, ears and nose hot to touch
- Sprawled position, often with feet stretched out behind them (so they can lose heat through the soles of their feet)
- Mouth gaping open or panting
- Drooling
- Lying on their backs, feet in the air, mouth agape and not very responsive (dangerously hot!)

Some ideas for keeping rats cool:
- Fill a spray can with water and wet the rats down (make sure you don't spray it in their eyes).
- Soak their hammocks in cool water, ring them out so they are damp and hang them in your cages.
- Stick some value bathroom/kitchen tiles in your fridge overnight and place them in your rats cages so they can lay on them. You can also buy terracotta pots and do the same thing.
- Fruitsicles - Cut up fruit or vegetable pieces and freeze. Good choices are watermelon, grapes, banana, honeydew, peas, corn, blueberries, etc. Ice cubes made of fruit juice, or containing frozen peas are a welcome treat too
- Paddling pool - Use a heavy shallow food bowl (or a pot plant drip tray), fill with water and toss in a few ice cubes. The rats will sleep beside it to cool off, dangle their tails in the water, and lick the ice cubes.

I would advise against the use of an air con unit. Whilst they are very good at keeping things cool if it should break, you may find that you rats are unable to cope with the heat and this can then become fatal very quickly. I use a tower fan in my rat shed, to keep the air flow moving, and if it is really hot, I tie frozen ice blocks to the front of it.

Warm Ratties

In general rats best handle temperatures from 10*C to -5*C. Although they can cope with colder temperatures much better than hot. If it is cold in your rat room during winter, there's lots of ways to provide warmth for your rats in their cage:

- Pocket Hammocks - They're warm, dark and comfy...
- A nest box is essential in all rat cages... for warmth, darkness and privacy.
- Give your rats lots of paper towels in their nest box. They'll have fun shredding them and this creates a very warm and cosy environment. I give mine a loo roll or a box of tissues to play with.
- Provide your rats with lots of fabric strips ... old T-shirts, socks, fleecy off cuts, towels, etc. Apart from being fun to burrow in and build nests with, they also provide warmth.
- More rats! They can keep each other warm in big furry cuddling sleepy rat piles.
-Warm foods... soup, mashed potato, warm milk, etc.
- Heating mat. If it's really cold during winter, you can provide a heating mat (ones used for reptile/fish tanks are good). Only use on the low setting and place it under only one end of the cage. That way the rats can move to a warm position that is just right and not overheat.

Wherever possible, try to keep the temperature in your rat room consistent. Large variations in temperature can stress your rats and make them more susceptible to illness.