If it is just for the weekend, I mean 2 or 3 days, then it is just good, but if you are going for a week, you just need to make a plan ahead, not just leaving like that. The best thing you could do is to have a sitter to look after.
Look into pet boarding places. The ones that board cats and dogs. Ask your vet if they know anyone that will board them. Take the rats with you or don't go away on holiday.
Rats are social creatures and need the company of other rats. They use their sense of smell to recognise others, finding out about where they've been and what they've been doing. As rats are social animals, they can get depressed and develop abnormal behaviour if they live on their own.
Rats are very social with people and other rats. To keep them mentally stimulated and physically fit they should be allowed out of the cage daily for at least 1-‐2 hours of play-‐time. Rats are highly social animals and do best when housed in pairs or groups.
One of the most commonly asked questions by homeowners is, 'do they ever leave on their own? ' Unfortunately, these invasive creatures will never leave on their own. This is especially true if there's a continuous food source on your premises.
But they do need lots of attention, so you'll need lots of time to care for them. They'll need daily social interaction and at least an hour of exercise outside their cage every day, so it's important that everyone in the family is keen on the idea of keeping rats as pets.
Rats are social animals.
They enjoy the company of others, much like humans and other animals do. While it's true that a single pet rat can often live a healthy life and won't exactly pine for another rodent, it's been shown that rats with a playmate or two are happier animals.
Rats Are Social Creatures
It is possible that you have a single rat or just two that are beginning their own pack. It is much more likely, however, that you have a full pack and will need to make plans to deal with a larger group.
You would probably get bored pretty quickly, which is why you should keep your pet rat's environment engaging and stimulating. Many people confine their animals to small cages, but rats are inquisitive and can become bored and stressed quickly.
Unlike most small pets, rats love being picked up and handled by their human owners. While rats do enjoy human interaction, they'll need to be picked up and handled from a young age so they're used to it. Rats rarely bite and their larger size makes them easier to pick up.
They don't need to feed as often as mice, but they need to eat much bigger meals when they do. Rats can't go more than four days without food and water. If they have access to water, they can last a bit longer, but they will die within a week at the most.
The lifespan of a pet rat depends on its diet and the environment it is kept in, as well as the amount of care it is given. Without water, a rat can survive for up to four days, although it is recommended to provide them with fresh water daily to ensure optimal health.
Rats can only survive without water for 3-4 days.
Like any other mammal, a rat needs water to survive. About 70% of a rat's weight comes from water. A lack of fresh water will cause some problems such as: salt loss, dehydration and kidney damage. Rats need around 50ml-60ml of water a day.
If your remaining rat is lonely, you may notice changes in appetite or activity level. Sleeping more and/or playing less can also be indications of lonesomeness.
They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples' shoulders or in their laps. They will even try to groom their human companions as if these people were other rats in their “rat pack.” Pet rats love the warmth and contact of their caretakers and are actually very cuddly!
Rats are typically gentle, intelligent, and fun pets. While they are generally low maintenance, they do have certain requirements to keep them happy and healthy. There are many breeds and 40 recognized colors and markings of rats.
Rats can build strong bonds with humans (and even high-five!) As well as interacting with their cage mates, pet rats can build strong bonds with their owners too.
They become attached to each other, love their own families, and easily bond with their human guardians—returning as much affection as is given to them. Many rats will even “groom” a human companion's hand and would appreciate a massage, a scratch behind the ears, or even a tickle in return.
Rats are afraid of human activity, mostly because humans are so much larger than they are. Rats also fear predators such as hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. Other animals that rats are afraid of include your cat as well as rat terriers and other dogs that hunt rodents.
In fact, many rats mourn the death of their friends; my rat Fidget cried for a week after his cagemate Bubonic (“Boo”) died. - Yes, I said he cried! Rats can cry tears just like humans, and, like humans, they do so when they are sad, upset, stressed, or sick.