Rats: Complete Care Guide

by Debbie Ducommun

In some cultures they're believed to bring good luck, but rats make good pets, too. From basic care to fun games, this book shows rat owners the way out of a maze of questions

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Complete Care Guide to Rats by the one and only Debbie Ducommun.

Debbie Ducommun was better known to the world as the Rat Lady. She went on the talk-show circuit, ran the Rat Fan Club, and eventually even consulted Pixar studios for Ratatouille to ensure they depicted rat movements and behavior as expertly as possible. She did wonders for de-stigmatizing rat-ownership right up until the day she died. Her husband continues to honor her legacy by selling her books & collections of her Rat Fan Club newsletter to all interested, for as long as he has copies of them.

This Complete Care Guide is indeed just that. It's still quite up to date, and details everything that anyone interested in rat ownership would need to know to care for their little critters. A brief history of rats, how they show emotion, how intelligent they are, what to feed them, and how to keep them healthy. It even breaks down the costs of rat ownership and how to find appropriate vets.

I liked this guide so much that I gave it to a friend of mine's daughter who is interested in potentially getting rats in the future.

All of this guide is well illustrated with actual pictures of Debbie's rats and their cages, and even examples of them doing a variety of tricks (more on that in a future review.) I think this is the best book of rat care that I've yet read, and if you pair this with her trick guide and health guide you are well on your way towards being the best possible rat owner.

[ChristiCat Annatomic]

If you are or are thinking of becoming a rat momma or daddy, this is THE book to read and keep as a reference. Very thorough and easy to read. I refer to and re-read parts of it often. Also contains a great recipe for a rat food mix. I haven't tried it yet, hopefully soon. I actually read most of it way before May of '09 but I don't remember when. That is the last time I read it all the way through.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best rat handbook out there for novice pet owners. It recommends a good, healthy diet instead of those old, stale seed mixes with alfalfa bits found at petstores. It also emphasizes the importance of interaction and roommates for rats, as they are very social and smart. Debbie is a reknown rat expert and is known in many rat message boards. I love this book and refer to it often.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really just basics. Debbie D. also was kind of enough to revise some of the things, she had agreed with a few myths and checked her facts and re wrote them. She is a good rat advocate though I do have some mixed feelings about her .

[Amhveggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rat Lady has done it again! Full of practical advise for rat introductions, fun & games, and even nail clipping! If you own a rat, or even NEAR pet rat YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK!!

[The Wandering Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the older edition of this book and gave it 4 stars because of some of the outdated information. I'm thinking that the newer edition is probably worth 5 stars.

[Jamie]

Good book on rat care.