Rat Awareness Week

04/04/2023

Happy World Rat Day, from everyone at Rat Awareness Week! 🐭🐭
Due to time constraints we are unable to run a Rat Awareness Week in 2023, but all of our materials from last year are still live on our page for you to browse.
Keep your eye on our page for us in future years! 🐀🐀
Love to all of you and your ratties x


Photo:Tyler Gaymer

17/07/2022

As we know in the UK, temperatures are going to hit 40 degrees C tomorrow and heatstroke will be a real danger for our ratties and other small pets. Get ready now to make sure all your small pets can stay cool tomorrow ☀️
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KEEPING SMALL ANIMALS COOL DURING THE HEATWAVE 🐰🐭🐹🐁🐀
Pet rodents (such as rats, chinchillas, and guinea pigs) and rabbits don’t tolerate high temperatures well - most are native to cooler climates and not designed for the kind of temperatures we are now seeing - so it’s more important than ever to make sure they stay cool during a heatwave. If you have small pets it's important to take action now to ensure they can keep as cool as possible over the coming days.
• SHADE: If your rabbits or guinea pigs live outside, make sure their accommodation and their run has shade cover, or bring them to a cool room indoors. Never leave them in a hutch or run in direct sunlight.
• ICE PODS: Ice pods are great for your small animals to lie on to keep cool. Scratch & Newton make good ones ( https://scratchandnewton.com/products/ice-pod ). Supervise to make sure they are not being chewed. Alternatively, you can fill up PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES and freeze them – just make sure to wrap them in a towel or cloth so the animals aren’t in direct contact with them.
• CERAMIC TILES: Frozen or chilled in the fridge first, ceramic tiles can be added to your small animals’ enclosure for them to lie on.
• UNDERGROUND BURROWING: In the wild burrowing animals like rabbits and rats would often spend the hottest part of the day underground where it’s cooler. You can recreate this opportunity by sinking wide pipes in your garden to create underground tunnels for your rabbits.
If you have pet rats, a dig box filled with coco-soil put into their enclosure offers them enrichment and helps them keep cool - the soil in the dig box has to be kept damp for this to work.
• FANS: Fans just move the air around and do little to lower the temperature. But by placing a bottle of frozen water in front of a fan you can provide a cool breeze. Make sure any wires are protected from being chewed, and don’t point the fan directly at the animals.
• LOTS OF HYDRATION: Offer your pets multiple clean water sources at all times – using both bowls and bottles is best as it offers them more choice.
• FLYSTRIKE: Flies love hot weather and it’s more important than ever to check your bunnies’ bums regularly (several times a day) to make sure they are clean and prevent flystrike.
It’s also more important than ever during hot weather to keep their living accommodation scrupulously clean. If you suspect your rabbit has flystrike, it is an emergency – make sure they get to a vet straight away.
• FROZEN VEGETABLES - RATS AND MICE ONLY: Rats and mice can be given frozen vegetable “ice pops” to eat, to help them cool off during hot weather. Freeze some of their favourite fruit or veggies and thaw slightly before offering them.
• PEA FISHING (FOR RATS): a shallow dish of cold water containing frozen peas is a great way for rats to keep cool, as they wade in and fish out the peas. Make sure the rats can voluntarily get out of the water, as being forced to swim is very stressful.
DON'T GIVE FROZEN VEG TO RABBITS, GUINEA PIGS OR OTHER RODENTS AS IT COULD CAUSE GUT STASIS, A POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION.
• If your small animal shows signs of HEATSTROKE (rapid breathing/panting, lethargy, refusing food, ears/feet abnormally hot to the touch, appearing wobbly and unbalanced or collapsing then bring them to a cooler place immediately. Do not rapidly cool them by using ice or dunking them in cold water, as the shock could kill them.
You can apply cool tap water to their ears and feet only, or place them on a cool damp towel. Offer them water but don’t force them to drink. If they don’t recover quickly after being moved to a cooler place they will need to go to the vets immediately, place a damp towel over the carrier to help keep them cool on the journey.
• For more information on rabbit care see www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
• For more information on rat care check out Rat Awareness Week on Facebook and Instagram Rat Awareness Week

KEEPING SMALL ANIMALS COOL DURING THE HEATWAVE 🐰🐭🐹🐁🐀

Pet rodents (such as rats, chinchillas, and guinea pigs) and rabbits don’t tolerate high temperatures well - most are native to cooler climates and not designed for the kind of temperatures we are now seeing - so it’s more important than ever to make sure they stay cool during a heatwave. If you have small pets it's important to take action now to ensure they can keep as cool as possible over the coming days.

• SHADE: If your rabbits or guinea pigs live outside, make sure their accommodation and their run has shade cover, or bring them to a cool room indoors. Never leave them in a hutch or run in direct sunlight.
• ICE PODS: Ice pods are great for your small animals to lie on to keep cool. Scratch & Newton make good ones ( https://scratchandnewton.com/products/ice-pod ). Supervise to make sure they are not being chewed. Alternatively, you can fill up PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES and freeze them – just make sure to wrap them in a towel or cloth so the animals aren’t in direct contact with them.
• CERAMIC TILES: Frozen or chilled in the fridge first, ceramic tiles can be added to your small animals’ enclosure for them to lie on.
• UNDERGROUND BURROWING: In the wild burrowing animals like rabbits and rats would often spend the hottest part of the day underground where it’s cooler. You can recreate this opportunity by sinking wide pipes in your garden to create underground tunnels for your rabbits.
If you have pet rats, a dig box filled with coco-soil put into their enclosure offers them enrichment and helps them keep cool - the soil in the dig box has to be kept damp for this to work.
• FANS: Fans just move the air around and do little to lower the temperature. But by placing a bottle of frozen water in front of a fan you can provide a cool breeze. Make sure any wires are protected from being chewed, and don’t point the fan directly at the animals.
• LOTS OF HYDRATION: Offer your pets multiple clean water sources at all times – using both bowls and bottles is best as it offers them more choice.
• FLYSTRIKE: Flies love hot weather and it’s more important than ever to check your bunnies’ bums regularly (several times a day) to make sure they are clean and prevent flystrike.
It’s also more important than ever during hot weather to keep their living accommodation scrupulously clean. If you suspect your rabbit has flystrike, it is an emergency – make sure they get to a vet straight away.
• FROZEN VEGETABLES - RATS AND MICE ONLY: Rats and mice can be given frozen vegetable “ice pops” to eat, to help them cool off during hot weather. Freeze some of their favourite fruit or veggies and thaw slightly before offering them.
• PEA FISHING (FOR RATS): a shallow dish of cold water containing frozen peas is a great way for rats to keep cool, as they wade in and fish out the peas. Make sure the rats can voluntarily get out of the water, as being forced to swim is very stressful.
DON'T GIVE FROZEN VEG TO RABBITS, GUINEA PIGS OR OTHER RODENTS AS IT COULD CAUSE GUT STASIS, A POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION.

• If your small animal shows signs of HEATSTROKE (rapid breathing/panting, lethargy, refusing food, ears/feet abnormally hot to the touch, appearing wobbly and unbalanced or collapsing then bring them to a cooler place immediately. Do not rapidly cool them by using ice or dunking them in cold water, as the shock could kill them.
You can apply cool tap water to their ears and feet only, or place them on a cool damp towel. Offer them water but don’t force them to drink. If they don’t recover quickly after being moved to a cooler place they will need to go to the vets immediately, place a damp towel over the carrier to help keep them cool on the journey.

• For more information on rabbit care see www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
• For more information on rat care check out Rat Awareness Week on Facebook and Instagram

20/06/2022

17/06/2022

It's pretty hot in the UK at the moment, so in case you missed them, here are our top tips again for keeping your rattos cool during the heatwave 🐭🐭🌞

01/06/2022

This is set to be a truly amazing event! National Pet Initiative 🐀🐀🐀🐀

Free Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-pet-initiative-rat-day-tickets-350470525777

22/05/2022

We're so grateful to all the wonderful sponsors of Rat Awareness Week 2022, and we can never thank these brilliant small businesses enough for making RatAW so special!

But we wanted to do one more special shout out to the amazing Ratirement Home. When another of our sponsors dropped out unexpectedly at the last minute, Rachie's Ratirement Home, along with Creative Critter Co, Heartrat Homemade and Rattus Rachie, stepped in and offered this lovely prize package for the lucky winner. Thank you so much guys you are all amazing!

To find out more about the vital rescue work that goes on at RRH, check out their website and if you'd like to help their rattoes by making a donation you can do this at https://rachiesratirementhome.com/donation

Thank you so much again everyone for your support! 🐭🐭

16/04/2022

Hello everyone, it's Tamsin (aka tamsin.digital.art / tamzodrawsthings).
Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to for all of their effort putting this week together for everyone!
As for the drawing competition, I absolutely loved seeing all of your entry photos and the cute names of your rats 🥰 You have all made this a very hard decision!

The winner is: Zoë Lumour
I think this really captures rats‘ cheeky nature when caught red pawed as they continue to try and shovel food - it is just perfect!

I want to give special mentions to a few others -
Phoebe Phillips
Hayley Wainwright
Mary Ann Huecker
Laura marx

I adore how much character these show so would like to offer these entries 50% off if you'd like me to draw them 😊

Anyone who entered this competition can make use of a 20% discount on any commissions for the next month as a thank you for all the love and personal stories you shared, they were really heartwarming.

Thank you to everyone that took part.
Zoë please message me on one of my art Instagram accounts to discuss the details of your prize! 🙌🎊

16/04/2022

Congratulations to the winners of the giveaways and competitions that ended yesterday!
The winners are:

The Rat Warehouse givewaway:
Winner: Michelle Louise Blackburn (Facebook)
Winner: Ann Morrison Nicholas (Facebook)
Winner: Elissa Thompson (Facebook)

Tamsin Brierley Art Poster competition
Winner: Zoe Lumour
Runners up: Phoebe Phillips, Hayley Wainwright, Mary Ann Huecker, Laura Marx (PLEASE SEE ORIGINAL POST FOR DETAILS)

Ratwise 6 months' free membership
Alison has kindly decided to give away 3 prizes instead of 1!
3 people have won 6 months' membership
Winner: The Rat House Rescue Perth
Winner: Mitzi Levine Schepps
Winner: Kendra Rabbits

Critters of Oz giveaway
Winner: (Instagram)

The Rat House Rescue Perth giveaway
Winner: Erica Lee (Facebook)

Winners - we or the sponsor of your giveaway will get in touch shortly.

That's really it from us now - thank you so much again to everyone who entered our giveaways and competitions, and a really massive thank you to all our amazing sponsors of Rat Awareness Week 2022!
Thank you all for making it such an incredible week ❤️🐭🐭🐭

10/04/2022

There was a fledging idea, about a year ago...the idea that we could spend an entire week telling the world about ratties, how much we love them, how to care for them, the delights and the challenges.

A whole week to raise awareness and the profile of ratties across the globe.

But something like this needs a leader, a dedicated being who will pour hours of attention, research, design, connection and love into it.

Every single post, every video, every resource you have seen this last week is the result of many hands and one leader.

Those many hands were led, encouraged and coordinated by one person...

Rowana

To our fearless leader...

To the one who spent many an hour planning and creating...

To the one who scheduled days of content...

To the one who ensured we could have prize winners across the globe...

To the one who pushed through every challenge to see this thing through no matter how dark the nights got or how late the hour.

You are a rattie guardian angel and we are so grateful that your passion and enthusiasm came to fruition in such an incredible week of learning and fun!

Everyone who has benefited in some small way from Rat Awareness Week, please drop a thank you for Rowana in the comments below...

From all of us behind the scenes, from the participants and from Ratties across the globe

THANK YOU ROWANA ❤

*this is the ONLY post Rowana knew nothing about...we had to have one trick up our sleeves :p*

10/04/2022

That’s a wrap!
We hope you’ve enjoyed Rat Awareness Week. Drop us a comment and let us know what you thought!

There was lots of information on our page all this week, so if you haven’t had time to look at it all yet, we’re going to leave everything on the page for you to read in your own time.

There are more winners to be announced next weekend, so keep following.

Goodbye for now from all of us here! 🐭🐀🐭🐀

10/04/2022

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

🐭GIVEAWAY!!! 🐭(UK only)
Today’s giveaway is from The Critters of Oz!

Show off your love of rats with this assortment of cute rat-themed accessories!
The winner will receive this gift pack comprising: 2 bookmarks, a keyring, 2 badges, a print and 6 stickers!
⭐️ To be in with a chance of winning, simply
-like this post
-comment saying what you have thought of Rat Awareness Week! ⭐️

One entry per person please.
Closing date: 12 noon (BST - British Summer Time) on Friday 15th April.
The winner will be announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages at 6pm (BST) on Saturday 16th April.

🐀🐀 Remember to keep following our page so you don’t miss out when we announce the winner! 🐀🐀

You must be resident in the UK to enter this giveaway.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
*****
"The Critters of Oz is an Etsy shop specialising in rat artwork, with rat-themed art prints, stickers, badges bookmarks, keyrings and more on sale!"
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCrittersofOz

*****

10/04/2022

🎊🎉 Congratulations 🎊🎉 to the winners of the giveaways which closed on Saturday: [drum roll please]

Rat Rations Giveaway 1
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: .pea (Instagram)
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: Fiona Milton (Facebook)
Winner: (Instagram)

Rat Rations Giveaway 2 (Oldies & Ailing Rats)
Winner: (Instagram)

The Natural Rat starter packs
Winner: Denise Kline (Facebook),
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: (Instagram)

The Natural Rat Gift Vouchers
Winner: Mitzi Levine (Facebook)
Winner: Emma Baltic (Facebook)
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: (Instagram)

The Gnaw Store
Winner: Victoria Barnette (Facebook)

Small Pals and Co
Winner: Natalie Maradin (Facebook)

A Rat's Tail
Winner: Ryan Evans (Facebook)

Tic Tac Wheels
Winner: (Instagram)

Rats n Bird Funbox
Winner: Lene Henriksen (Facebook)

More winners to be announced next weekend!

***Be aware of scammers. Remember we will never send you a friend request or a message where you have to click a link or "register". If you receive anything like that, it's not from us, so please report it.***

10/04/2022

Show us your photos of your lovely rescue rats! We’d love to see them and hear their stories 🐀🐀

10/04/2022

In today’s Rat Chat Alison Campbell talks to Rachel Greenfield all about rat rescue. Including life in an Australian rat rescue - what to look for in a rescue - how you can help - and all about rescue rats. Definitely not to be missed! 🐭🐭

10/04/2022

Find out more about the current rescue crisis, why it's more important than ever to research thoroughly before getting any new pets, and why there has never been a better time to adopt 🐭🐭🐀

Here's those rescue resources again:
Download a list of rat rescues here -
UK: https://bit.ly/UKratrescue
United States: https://bit.ly/USAratrescue
Australia: https://bit.ly/AUSratrescue

Rat Rescue Network UK
https://www.facebook.com/groups/221503514671430

10/04/2022

Where are the best places to get your rats - and what to avoid 🐀🐀

10/04/2022

What’s so great about adopting rats?
Here are some heartwarming rescue and adoption stories to get you thinking 🐭🐭

10/04/2022

Don't miss this exclusive tour of 🐭Rachie's Ratirement Home🐭, a national award winning, dedicated rat rescue in Brisbane, Australia.
Find out more at https://www.rachiesratirementhome.com/

10/04/2022

It’s Rescue Day!
Join us today for a fascinating tour of a dedicated rat rescue, some heartwarming rehoming stories and a look at where are the best places to source your rats from (and what to avoid).

In today’s Rat Chat Alison Campbell talks to Rachel Greenfield about life in an Australian rat rescue - what to look for in a rescue - how you can help - and all about rescue rats. Definitely not to be missed!

Today we’ll also talk about the current rescue crisis in the UK and you’ll get a chance to share your photos and stories of your own rescue rats too.
We hope you enjoy today

09/04/2022

That’s it for today! We hope you’ve enjoyed it and we’ll see you tomorrow for Rescue Day! 🐭

09/04/2022

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

🐭COMPETITION TIME!!! 🐭(International)

Win 6 months’ free membership of Ratwise!
Want to go deeper into the wonderful world of rats? Ratwise membership enables you to be part of an amazing rat focused community, with an explorative approach to rat behaviour, enrichment, health and so much more. This is definitely the membership subscription your rats would choose! https://ratwise.co.uk/

⭐️ To enter this competition, simply
-like this post
-comment to say why you would like to win this! *this is important - the winner will be chosen based on their answer! ⭐️

One entry per person please.
Closing date: 12 noon (BST - British Summer Time) on Friday 15th April.
The winner will be chosen by Alison Campbell, the owner of Ratwise, and will be announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages on Saturday 16th April.

🐀🐀 Remember to follow our page during Rat Awareness Week to take part in our other great giveaways and so you don’t miss out when we announce the winner! 🐀🐀

This competition is international.
This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

09/04/2022

🎊🎉 Congratulations 🎊🎉 to the winners of the giveaways which closed on Friday: [drum roll please]

Wirewratty rat pendant
Winner: (Instagram)

Oh The Mischief gift set
Winner: Michele Eaken Jakutowicz (Facebook)

Rachie’s Ratirement Home gift set
Winner: Zoe Young (Facebook)
Winner: Jen Electra Kemp (Facebook)
Winner: .n.family (Instagram)

Ratbliss gift set
Winner: Mary Goertzen (Facebook)

In2Rats gift set
Winner: .aux (Instagram)

Furrykind Creations rat shaped bed or bag
Winner: Su Oakley (Facebook)

Amy Kellaway hammock set
Winner: Sarah Robertshaw (Facebook)

Hammock Land cube bed
Winner: Nicole Mengel (Facebook)

Pepper Roo’s cube bed
Winner: Rachel Phillips (Facebook)

Hudson’s Hammocks hammock set
Winner: (Instagram)
Winner: .want.it.rat.way (Instagram)

WINNERS: PLEASE CONTACT RAT AWARENESS WEEK BY SENDING A PM TO OUR PAGE!

More winners to be announced tomorrow!

***Be aware of scammers. Remember we will never send you a friend request or a message where you have to click a link or "register". If you receive anything like that, it's not from us, so please report it.***

09/04/2022

Check out these really beautiful photos of wild rats taken by some brilliant wildlife photographers - we hope you enjoy looking at them! 🐭🐭💕

Thank you so much to all the wonderful photographers who have contributed to this gallery.

09/04/2022

Are you having a problem with wild rats in your house, garden or business? Or do you just want to know more about the wonderful world of wild rats?
In this illuminating talk, Kevin Newell from Humane Wildlife Solutions explains that there are humane, non-lethal and kind ways to deal with wildlife ‘problems’. Not to be missed!
***
The award-winning company Humane Wildlife Solutions is your 100% humane, vegan, non-lethal and ethical alternative to pest control. They can offer you a service where they can help you overcome wildlife conflict on your properties both domestic and commercial. They do this by repelling and deterring rather than the current methods offered by pest control services of trapping and killing.
They believe we can all live side by side, humans and wildlife. If there is conflict they will help you overcome this by using humane methods only. International consultations. Find out more at https://humanewildlifesolutions.co.uk/

09/04/2022

Wild rats - is it time to rethink our relationship with our pet rats’ wild cousins?🐭🐀

09/04/2022

🐭Gooby and the Chocolate Cake🐭

This video of what happens when a rat gets into your shopping by mistake is one of our favourite rat videos!

Please share your comedy rat videos with us, in the comments below!
🐀

Video by Tyler Gaymer

09/04/2022

Rats are fun and engaging, clever, empathic and their eyes can look in 2 different directions at once!! In today's Rat Chat, Alison and Lloyd chat about why rats are amazing! 🐭🐭

09/04/2022

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

🐭COMPETITION TIME!!! 🐭(International)

Would you like to own a beautiful, original artwork poster featuring your own rats?
The amazing artist Tamsin Brierley is offering just this for one lucky winner today! The poster can feature up to 3 of your rats and can also include their names.

⭐️ To enter this competition, simply
-like this post
-post a photo of your rat/s in the comments! ⭐️

3 photos per person are allowed.

Closing date: 12 noon (BST - British Summer Time) on Friday 15th April.
The winner will be announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages at 6pm (BST) on Saturday 16th April.

🐀🐀 Remember to follow our page during Rat Awareness Week to take part in our other great giveaways and so you don’t miss out when we announce the winner! 🐀🐀

This competition is international.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
*****

Tamsin Brierley is UK based hyper-realism artist specialising in people and pets. Check out her amazing work on Instagram and .digital.art!

*****

09/04/2022

Show us your boggling rats videos! 🐭

Remember that though rats often brux and boggle when they are happy, they can do so at times of any intense emotion, so it can sometimes also be a sign they are unwell. Always check for any other signs of physical or emotional discomfort.

09/04/2022

It’s Raturday Saturday! 🐭🐭
We thought you all needed a bit of light relief after yesterday, so today we’ll be having some fun.

In today’s Rat Chat Alison will be talking to Lloyd Allington about why rats are amazing!

Keep your eyes peeled today for 2 really exciting competitions and the chance to win an original artwork poster featuring your rats!

This afternoon we’ll be looking at our pet rats’ wild cousins in our gardens.

We hope you will enjoy today!