Subject 1: Handling-  When handling a new rat, be cautious. To pick your new buddy up, easily, grap their tail and pull up ever-so-slightly, and put your hand under their bottom.(holding them) Then pull your rat toward you(including your hand) and there! See you are a natural!

But beware--- DO NOT pinch there tail, it is sensitive!

Subject two: feeding- Your little buddie's diet is important. I suggest a mixed blend of seed(bought from the pet store) and any dry cat or dog food that you have in the house. You may also include fruits and veggies, but not to many! It may give them runny stools! Do not give them treats such as yogurt drops as supper! They will eat the treats and not the other food.

Water- Make sure there is a water supply in their cage. I suggest changing their water at least once in one or two days.     

Subject three: Bedding-  You really shouldn't use pine bedding! It can cause respiratory problems. I use shredded paper some of the time but be careful, they may pee and the ink may get on themselves.

Subject four: Bathing- My rat's LEAST favorite thing! For a bath, check and make sure the water is not too cold or too hot. Put your little buddie in the water(in tub, sink, whatever) If they like it wash them in there. But beware-- Do not get water in their ears. It could cause an infection and then get them sick! If they try to climb out, let them. Instead of putting them in water, use a wet and soapy handtowel.

Choking: One of the worst things for a rattie parent to watch! If your rat can breath don't freak out! Let your rat handle it if he/she can breath o.k. Speak to them in a calm, soothing voice.(Hard to do!) If your rattie cannot breath you will need to syringe it's mouth out with water and try to soften up what they are choking on. You can also do the rattie fling. PRACTICE THIS BEFORE DOING IT ON YOUR RAT, UNLESS IN AN EMERGENY! First thing you do is look in
their mouth to see if you can remove the obstruction yourself (don't tip the
head back, lift the rat above your head with the head lower that it's body and
look up into it's mouth).  If you can, grab what's causing the problem, but if
you can't grab it or if you can't see anything then you have to "fling" the
rat.
You hold the rat in both hands, firmly, in a normal position (paws towards
the ground), with the head slightly lower than the rest of its body and head
away from your body (ie you get to view the backside) and lift your hands up
above your head and slightly to one side and then as quick and hard as you can,
bring your arms down in a diagonal so that they are near your opposite hip.  The
jerking movement dislodges whatever is stuck and because the rat's head is
lower than it's body, it brings it into the mouth (not further down the
windpipe) where the rat can spit it out.
Check your rat's mouth after each time.  If after doing this two or three
times nothing is happening, you will need to get your rat to a vet where they
will have the special instruments necessary to remove the blockage.