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This page is devoted to these wonderful odour free little gems - NATAL RATS!

What is a natal rat? The natal rat is the most common rat in Africa. Often they are called odour free mice, since they are small like mice and hardly smell anything at all, especially compared to rats and mice.

Praomys natalensis is small, maybe twice as big as a mouse, odourfree!, and the behaviour is like the behaviour of the common rat - Rattus norwegicus (in captivity). The appearance is more like a mouse. These rats can be housebroken and are very friendly and social. Males can be kept together as with the common rat (R. n.).

Keeping Praomys natalensis as pets:

• These rats lives for 2 - 3 years medium, i.e. they can get older than this.
• They smell less than mice (since it is not a mouse!) but they also smell less than the common pet rat (Rattus norvegicus)!
• They need a rather big cage, at least 60 cm (24") long, preferably an aquarium or a big bird cage.
• They like to climb, and have really good balance, better than common pet rats.
• This rat species is omnivorous, but really likes vegetables.
• This rat should never ever be kept alone!