Keeping Pet Rats Cool During the Summer Months

Rats are very susceptible to hot weather and humidity, they do best when kept in a room with a temperature between 60F and 77F but in the summer it might be harder to keep temperatures from going up. Rats can have heart attacks, heat stroke, and are susceptible to heat stress.

How To Prevent Rats From Becoming Over Heated
Pet rats should always be kept in doors and in the air conditioning. They should never under any circumstances be left outside in the cold or the heat. If you do not have air conditioning and you live in a place that routinely gets very warm, you should either not adopt rats or think about installing a window air conditioner in the room you keep the rats.

Pet rats should never be kept in cellars, basements, attics or rooms where there is no ventilation or air conditioning because they will get sick and they could die if they over heat. Pet rats need fresh air and human interaction during the day to stay healthy.

Signs A Pet Rat May Be Over Heated
If your rats tail, nose and ears are hot to the touch.
Heavy panting with mouth open.
Lethargy
Laying sprawled out in the open with their feet stretched out behind them, Rats will do this so they can try to lose some of the heat they are feeling through the bottom of their feet.
Very slow and not eating much.

How To Keep A Pet Rat Cool During An Emergency
Emergencies happen, the power might go out from a thunder storm or a car might crash into a power line and you are going to be without power for a day or so. There are ways to keep your rats cool in a short term situation like this one.

Letting them play in cool water in the bathtub for a little while, will help to keep them cool. Sprinkling water on them while in the cage will also help.
Freeze water Bottles filled with water and put them inside the cage so the rats can sit next to it and keep cool.
Take them to someone's home who has air conditioning.
Take them for a drive in your car with the air conditioning on.
Buy several bags of ice and prop the ice up against the sides of the cage.
Always try to keep the room you have your rats in at the same temperature. Constantly changing temperatures can stress pet rats and make them more susceptible to becoming sick.

Sources:
http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm

More from Mary
How To Introduce Your Pet Rat To Water
Health Benefits of Pet Ownership