My young female rat isn't in heat, but her sisters are. Is it normal?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dogs. I suspect Phoebe will start her heat cycle within the next 1-2 months. There is a natural variation between on the onset of sexual maturity in dogs. Being the runt should not affect her in this area. I hope this information helps!

Some cats may have a delayed first heat cycle and still be normal, however if you are concerned, an exam with your vet or theriogenologist (animal reproductive specialist) can determine if there is any issue. I am also including some articles on cat heat cycles for you! https://www.petcoach.co/article/faqs-on-reproduction-heats-pregnancy-in-cats/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/female-cats-may-seem-to-always-be-in-heat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/hormone-levels-determining-breeding-times-and-whelping-date/

Rats have a gestation period of 21-23 days. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating pocket pets. He or she may be able to confirm pregnancy or diagnose illness or injury. Check her teeth to rule out overgrowth or malocclusion. Either could cause her to go off her food. The antibiotic (Baytril?) may also cause some GI upset.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your new pets are so precious! Female rats do tend to be a little smaller than males, but I agree that your girls are a little bit thin. I’m not sure how old they are, as juveniles can be a little smaller. I recommend making sure they have plenty of pelleted food formulated for rats and plenty of water. There are many supplements available in pet stores for rats and mice, some of which can be added to the water or food as well as separate gel type diets. In my experience, rats tend to love Cheerios as treats. You should also keep an eye on their stool to make sure it is consistently formed. I hope this helps!

Is he the only baby rat shivering? At 13-14 days of age rats are usually still nursing their mother with litter mates...rats sometimes shiver if they are scared or nervous. If he is nursing well, the same size as his littermates, active and alert when not nursing, I would remove any possible stressors such as loud noises, other pets, being picked up frequently. In addition providing enrichment in the form of cardboard huts or other opaque hiding spaces, as well as food enrichment may help. If he also appears lethargic, dehydrated etc. I would recommend bringing him in to a veterinarian that sees pocket pets/rodents for an exam.

Hi and thanks again for your question. I think in this case there are basically two possibilities: either she did not go into heat (that can happen anytime up to the 18th month or she went and she showed few signs. It is not common to observe vaginal bleeding from a cat in heat. The most notable signs of estrus in cats are behavioral. Most cats become very affectionate, even demanding; they persistently rub against their owners (or objects such as furniture), constantly wanting attention. They roll on the floor. When stroked along the back or spine, they raise their rear quarters into the air and tread with the back legs. They also become very vocal. These behavior changes often become annoying to owners, and sometimes owners think their cat has some unusual illness.

Hi there, Those babies are very cute. In the future, I would recommend breeding your female rats at 4-5 months of age when they are a bit older and have matured more to better carry the pregnancy. Good planning can also prevent accidental incestuous breeding. Rodents are prolific breeders and everyone makes mistakes. I wouldn't feel too badly, just learn from it and move forward. Here is a link for more information on rodent breeding: https://www.petcoach.co/article/rat-reproduction-mating-gestation-birthing-and-growth/#:~:text=The%20Rat%20Mating%20Process,the%20female%20is%20in%20heat. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach. Have a good afternoon.