This article is from the WSSF 2015 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

Did You Know?  Isolated rats can have permanent effects on their behavior and physiology. Play is important for a young rat’s development.

It is vital for baby rats to have a same-age playmate. Those selling or purchasing weanling rats to be cagemates for old rats, must get at least two so they have someone to play with. Since rats are social animals, they must have friends. Ed.

Article The impact of light, noise, cage cleaning and in-house transport on welfare and stress of laboratory rats in Laboratory Animals, October 2009 vol. 43 no. 4 311–327.