Pocket Puppy Rattery

04/04/2025

Happy World Rat Day, everyone!
📷 photo credit:

10/03/2025

HOW LARGE SHOULD A CAGE BE?

Despite numerous experimental studies, there is no consensus on minimal or optimal cage space for small rodents. There are several rat cage calculators available on the internet, but how the space is used and the amount of outside time the rats will receive per day, plays an important role.

Instead of calculating the cage space volume, plan the cage according to the following;
• The cage area should be three dimensional, comprised of the floor area as well as vertical climbing space. Rats should be able to turn freely, run or walk for short distances, stand on their hind legs and stretch.
• A large cage is desirable but an enriched environment allowing the rats to express natural behaviour is of an even higher value. You need enough space for accessories, dividing the cage in the following areas:
• An area for sleeping, nesting or hiding away, especially during the day. Many rats are very sensitive to light and need a darker area where they can sleep. If possible, provide more than one sleeping area to allow a rat to get away from the other rats if needed.
• An area to eat or forage. Either provide a bowl or scatter feed food. Scatter feeding is advised to promote natural behaviour.
• Enough space for manipulating, carrying and hoarding objects and food. This includes nest building. Supply interesting new objects to the cage from time to time. This need not be expensive. A cardboard box, hay or a few mulberry branches will keep your rats more than happy.
• An area to exercise, explore and engage in social activities like running, climbing, digging or burrowing. If your cages don’t allow this, you will need to give your rats time outside the cage to exercise. If you don’t have a dedicated rat room, a bathroom, table top or playpen can work well.
• An area to defecate like a litter box. This is one of the most important must haves for a rat cage. Rats using a litterbox will not only keep the cages cleaner for longer and easier to clean, it will also help with ammonia control which is not only smelly but also harmful to the rats’ sensitive respiratory systems.
• Allow space for accessories that can be chewed like cardboard boxes or rolls, wooden chew toys or hay. Rats are rodents. It is part of their normal behaviour.

05/03/2025

We have pups available! Feel free to contact us on Whatsapp or messenger if you'd like to adopt. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
Green frames are males, purple frames are females.

05/03/2025

We have pups available! Feel free to contact us on Whatsapp or messenger if you'd like to adopt. Our adoption policies and procedures are pinned to our page. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Green frames are males, purple frames are females.

03/03/2025

WHY YOU NEED TO KEEP A MINIMUM OF THREE RATS

Rats are highly social animals that thrive in the company of their own kind. While many sources suggest that keeping a single rat or a pair is sufficient, experienced rat owners and breeders often recommend a minimum of three. Here’s why:

THE SINGLE RAT
A single rat will quickly become lonely and depressed without the companionship of its own kind. While they enjoy human interaction, it cannot replace the deep social bonds they form with other rats. Rats rely on their companions for grooming, play, warmth, and constant communication. They build strong emotional connections with specific cage mates, and without them, they can become withdrawn, anxious, or even develop health issues due to stress.

A PAIR VS. A TRIO OR SMALL GROUP
Rats in Pairs
Although many sources say that keeping rats in pairs is acceptable, it can be just as problematic as keeping a single rat. If one rat passes away, the remaining rat is left alone, which can cause significant emotional distress. Some rats even die within days of losing their companion due to grief. In addition, some pairs experience dominance issues, where one rat may bully or isolate the other, leading to stress and an unhealthy social dynamic.

Rats in Trios or Small Groups
With three or more rats, social balance is more naturally maintained. They can groom each other, play together, and establish a stable hierarchy, preventing one rat from being overly dominant or another from being excluded. A group setting also provides more variety in social interactions, which keeps them mentally and physically engaged.

The Benefits of a Larger Group:
- Eases Social Tensions: In a pair, if conflicts arise, there is no buffer to ease tension. In a group, disputes are naturally diffused, and rats have more opportunities to form friendships.
- More Play and Stimulation: Rats love to wrestle, chase, and groom each other. In a small group, they engage in a wider range of social activities, preventing boredom and behavioural issues.
- Easier Transitions After Loss: Since rats have short lifespans, losing a companion is inevitable. In a trio or larger group, the remaining rats provide comfort to each other, reducing the emotional impact of a loss. This also makes introducing new members smoother and less stressful.

CAN A GROUP BE TOO LARGE?
While having multiple rats is beneficial, an overly large group can create challenges. In large colonies, dominance struggles may become more frequent, leading to fights. There is also a greater risk of resource competition, meaning food, water, space, and sleeping areas must be carefully managed. Overcrowding can cause stress, so it’s important to provide a spacious cage with enough enrichment and hiding spots to maintain harmony. A well-managed group of 3-7 rats is ideal for most pet owners, striking a balance between social interaction and easy management.

While keeping a single rat or a pair might seem manageable, it often leads to loneliness, stress, and behavioural problems. A trio or small group ensures a healthier, happier, and more socially fulfilled life for your rats. If you’re considering pet rats, remember: the more, the merrier, but within reason.

30/01/2025

With our first puppies of 2025 coming in just over a month, please take note of our adoption policies and procedures, and see a link to our Whatsapp group below. We are excited to help you welcome your new furbabies soon! ❤️

Link to our Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IBFMe72snSwLFVg7MB94up
Adoption policies and procedures:
- First-time rat owners must adopt a minimum of 3 same-s*x rats.
- For owners with existing colonies, we adopt out a minimum of 2 same s*x rats at a time. No single rats or mixed s*xes.
- When reaching out to adopt puppies advertised on the group, please tell us 1. Which substrate you plan to use. 2. Which diet you plan to feed. And 3. Please send a picture of your setup.
- Pups are advertised on our Whatsapp group first and are adopted out to the first home with a suitable setup. We do not keep waitlists.
- Pups are adopted out at 6 weeks old.
- Our current adoption fee is R200 per rat. This includes parasite treatment and 1kg of dry food mix.
- We may open specific pups for bookings in advance. If you book pups, you must pay a 50% non-refundable booking fee for said pups.

WhatsApp Group Invite

24/01/2025

We are so excited for this incredible opportunity. SARBU's ethics, as well as its focus on, and dedication to education for pet rat owners, and the betterment of pet rat health, temperament and longevity has always been an inspiration. We cannot wait to see what the future holds as we continue to work with the other incredible SARBU breeders to improve and grow!

We’re happy to welcome Abigail from Pocket Puppy Rattery as an official SARBU breeder! Her commitment to ethical breeding, hard work, and contributions to the pet rat community are greatly appreciated.

Congratulations, Abigail—we look forward to seeing the positive impact you’ll continue to make! 🐀

Pocket Puppy Rattery

05/01/2025

We had so much fun with this photoshoot today!

Our first litters for 2025 are coming soon!

Thank you to / for all your patience taking such beautiful pictures of these busy bees.
And thank you to / for your help managing mischief and blowing bubbles.

18/12/2024

Don't get pets for Christmas

Every year, thousands of pets are abandoned right after Christmas. Animals that were adopted as gifts without the proper research and preparation. Every year, while people celebrate New Years, these animals are left in shelters, betrayed by the people who promised them a home.

Pets are not disposable. These are living creatures YOU committed to caring for. They are dependent on you. They trust you. They offer you their unconditional love and expect nothing in return. It is your responsibility to do the research and know what goes into your chosen pet's care before you adopt them. You can not dispose of them when they become invonvenient to you because "you got busy" or "you can't give them the time and care they deserve." If you can not provide an animal with the care they need, do not get a pet.

Having animals means sacrifice. They will not always do what you want them to do. They will require you to give up time, money, and effort to care for them. If you are not willing to do that, do not put an animal through the trauma of getting comfortable in your home, bonding with you, and learning to trust you, only to be abandoned.

A pet is forever. Not just for Christmas. This Christmas, unless you've done the research and know you can provide your chosen pet a forever home, opt for a Playstation instead.

29/11/2024

Deknackered and loopy, but he's awake, and everything went well! Sleepy boy will be staying close by my side for the next few hours while the anesthesia wears off.

20/11/2024

It’s heartbreaking to see how many rats are being rehomed recently. I am contacted almost weekly—sometimes even twice a day—by people asking me to either help rehome their rats or take them in.

Unfortunately, there simply aren’t enough good pet homes available.

Before getting rats, please consider the following:

1. Female Rats from Pet Stores: If you buy a female rat from a pet store, she is most likely already pregnant. Be prepared with a backup plan for her babies.

2. Mixed-Gender Housing: If you keep male and female rats together past five weeks of age, you will most certainly have babies on the way. You deliberately bred your rats and this makes you responsible for the offspring—don’t shift that responsibility onto someone else.

3. Time Commitment: The most common reason rats are rehomed is, “They don’t get the attention they deserve.” If that’s the case, take action. Rats are surprisingly easy to please:
🐀 Allow as little as 30 minutes a day in a play area like a bathroom or spare bedroom,or on a couch/bed under supervision.
🐀 Make sure they have a friend or two for companionship.
🐀 Prepare simple foraging toys weekly, giving them a new one daily. For example, a box stuffed with treats and nesting material, a digging box, or a splash pool can keep them entertained.
🐀 Rats don’t need as much attention as a dog or cat. Even 5–10 minutes of quality time daily can make a difference.
🐀 Rats don’t live long, and rehoming can be very stressful for them as they bond strongly with their owners and cage mates. Consider this before deciding to give them up.

Finally, please remember that rescues are overwhelmed. They’re already caring for dozens—or even hundreds—of rats, focusing on animals in genuine distress. They can’t take in pet store rats or pets simply because owners are unprepared.

If you’re thinking about getting rats, plan responsibly and ensure you’re ready to commit to their care. They deserve it.

18/11/2024

Our photoshoot for our Lucky Packet Litter went so well! This litter also adopted out very quickly (no surprise considering how cute they are!).

We got some beautiful rats from this breeding. Mink, Mink Pearl, Dove, Ess*x, Variegated and so many adorable blazes!

Remember to join our Whatsapp group to be the first to know about available pups.

As always, thank you to Petrus van Wyk for the incredible pictures!

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween!

22/10/2024

A small litter, but a good one. Some of the best temperament we've ever seen. These puppies are so outgoing! These are from our experimental breeding with Mr Marble. Three pups will be staying with us, and the other two have already been adopted!

But keep your eyes peeled. Our Lucky Packet Litter is coming in just a few short weeks, and we have plenty of pups available with some gorgeous varieties!

10/10/2024

Send a message to learn more

04/10/2024

Pepsi, our OG Queen ❤️ Mother of our Pepsi Co. line and my first ever heart rat. Her legacy lives on even after her death.

02/10/2024

Our stunning recent litter. These are the 11 pups from POP Pepsi Co. Cheetos and POP Queen Elinore. They have all been adopted, but we will have more pups available soon!