Contents

  1. Why Pet Rats?
  2. Introductory Materials
  3. Subject Headings
  4. Seminal Works
  5. Call Numbers
  6. Handbooks, Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries
  7. Bibliographies
  8. Abstracts and Indexes
  9. Journals
  10. Government information
  11. Internet Sources
  12. Associations

Caring for Pet Rats

By Robin Sanford



Image of a rat   Subject Headings in the Catalog

Your local libraries are likely to have books and other resources on pet rats (and rats in general) that are not mentioned in this Pathfinder. To find them, search in your library’s catalog under these subject headings. Many books on the care of pocket pets are kept in the children’s section of public libraries, however this does not mean that they are only for children: adults will also find these how–to care books useful. Searching for more general terms like "pets" can bring up books on pets in general or more than one kind of pet (such as all small animals).

  • Rats as pets
  • Rats
  • Rats -- Anatomy
  • Rats -- Physiology
  • Rats -- Training


Image of a rat   Seminal Works

These are books which are recommended in multiple places, or by well known authors in the field. Debbie "The Rat Lady" Ducommun founded the Rat Fan Club (see its entry in the Associations section) and is a well known advocate for rat welfare. She is considered an expert on pet rats.

  • Books recommended by the Rat and Mouse Club of America:
    • Ducommun, Debbie. Rats!: For Today's Pet Owner, Bowtie, 1998.
      • "The most accurate rat care book available."
    • Bucsis, Gerry and Somerville, Barbara. Training Your Pet Rat, Barron's Books, 2000.
      • "Basic rat care and training information."
    • Hodgson, Barbara, ed. The Rat: a Perverse Miscellany, Ten Speed Press, 1997.
      • "The editor capitalizes on the mystery surrounding the rat to present a sensationalized history of the rat: packed with rat facts, fiction, lore, maps, and even a glossary. She also examines the rat’s role in science, literature, and of course film."
  • Books recommended by the Rat Fan Club:
    • Ducommun, Debbie. Rats, Practical, Accurate Advice from the Expert, Bowtie, 1998 ( updated and reprinted in 2002).
    • Ducommun, Debbie. Rat Health Care 12th Edition, The Rat Fan Club.
      • This booklet has information suitable for vets and pet owners, and recommended by numerous rat groups and websites. Can be purchased directly from the Rat Fan Club website


Image of a rat   Call numbers in library catalogs

Books on rats can be found in both the Library of Congress Classification System (more common at university and college libraries) and the Dewey Decimal System. Look on the shelves of your local library under these call numbers.

  • Library of Congress Call Number: SF459.R3
  • Dewey Decimal Call Number: 636.9352 or 636.93233


Image of a rat   Page 3



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