Climate Control
Australia is a land of scorching summer days and icy winter nights. The heat and cold can really affect your pet, so you should always have a plan to keep them comfortable in extreme weather.
Beating the Heat
Summer heat can be devastating for rats, who thrive best in temperatures below 25°C. If it gets above this temperature you need to act out a plan to keep your rats comfortable and alive. You can provide relief in many ways. One method is to place frozen water bottles or ice packs filled with water in the cage wrapped up in cloth. These act like mini air conditioners, cooling the area around them as they defrost. Another way to keep them cool is to give them a wading pool. You can also cover the cage in cool wet towels, which create a 'bush fridge' atmosphere. Of course, you can also have a fan on the cage to keep the air flowing and an air conditioner running in the room if you have one.
If you find that your rats are still suffering, they may experience heat stroke and potentially die. It is extremely important that you get them to a cool place as soon as possible (take them for a trip in the car with the air con on or to a friends place or your work if they have air conditioning) or even take them to the vet if they exhibit extreme distress.
Warming Up
Rats don't need to be exposed to warm conditions like a heater in an Australian winter, as they are often comfortable in temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. If they don't seem to be handling the chill all that well, you can always provide them with ways to warm up. A warm (not hot!) hot water bottle with a cover on is good for days when the temperature drops very low, or for rats that are old or ill, as they may have trouble keeping their body temperature stable. For less extreme cases, providing them with towels, fleece and other thick fabrics to snuggle up in should suffice.
Beating the Heat
Summer heat can be devastating for rats, who thrive best in temperatures below 25°C. If it gets above this temperature you need to act out a plan to keep your rats comfortable and alive. You can provide relief in many ways. One method is to place frozen water bottles or ice packs filled with water in the cage wrapped up in cloth. These act like mini air conditioners, cooling the area around them as they defrost. Another way to keep them cool is to give them a wading pool. You can also cover the cage in cool wet towels, which create a 'bush fridge' atmosphere. Of course, you can also have a fan on the cage to keep the air flowing and an air conditioner running in the room if you have one.
If you find that your rats are still suffering, they may experience heat stroke and potentially die. It is extremely important that you get them to a cool place as soon as possible (take them for a trip in the car with the air con on or to a friends place or your work if they have air conditioning) or even take them to the vet if they exhibit extreme distress.
Warming Up
Rats don't need to be exposed to warm conditions like a heater in an Australian winter, as they are often comfortable in temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. If they don't seem to be handling the chill all that well, you can always provide them with ways to warm up. A warm (not hot!) hot water bottle with a cover on is good for days when the temperature drops very low, or for rats that are old or ill, as they may have trouble keeping their body temperature stable. For less extreme cases, providing them with towels, fleece and other thick fabrics to snuggle up in should suffice.