The breeders register is a free service run for NFRS members and aims to put buyers in touch with breeders. It is maintained by Estelle Sandford.
The NFRS receives approximately 30 enquiries from people looking for rat kittens every week via the Breeders List e-mail address. It would be helpful for us to have as many breeders on the list as possible to help these people out. The register is updated regularly and aims to cover all areas of the UK.
The service is advertised in the Pro-Rat-a, the NFRS magazine and also on the NFRS website.
From August 2006 the register contains only a Breeders Register. This section lists individual regular breeders across the country. It also lists which varieties they breed.
If you are an NFRS member and wish to advertise available kittens to members, you can do so on the NFRS members forum – www.nfrs.org/forum
To be included on the 'Breeders Register' you first
must register as a breeder with the NFRS. See Rattery/Stud
Registration. The required information for the breeders list
is as below:
Name, Address, Telephone, (mobile, e-mail and Web site optional
if you have them.)
Also a list of the varieties you currently breed, some people chose
to have 'various pets' as they do not necessarily breed particular
show varieties.
Breeders are expected to follow the NFRS General Guidelines for Selling Rats.
The registration form is here. Below is general advice on breeding and selling rats.
Please keep Estelle updated with any changes of personal details once you have registered.
You can keep me informed via E-mail, post or telephone (contact details available in Pro-Rat-a.)
Further Breeding advice is available by request if required.
If you are breeding and selling kittens to members of the public, we would suggest the following guidelines:
- Kittens should not leave your home until they are at least six weeks old
- It is advisable to separate doe kittens from buck kittens between 4-5 weeks to avoid unwanted pregnancies
- Rats are social animals and it is therefore kindest to keep them in small groups of two or more of the same sex. It is recommended to sell kittens in a minimum of pairs, unless they were due to be introduced to other similar aged rats at their new home.
- Always give the new owner your contact details so that they can reach you if they have any questions or problems. Also provide them with the date of birth of the rat. Some members provide a family tree as this can be particularly useful if the rats are to be used for showing or breeding
- When breeding rats, it is important to select healthy and fit parents. Avoid using wheezing or snuffly rats and rats with obvious defects. If the rat is temporarily unwell, give the animal plenty of time to recover before choosing to breed with it.
- Temperament is a very important factor in breeding and selling rats as pets. If bad tempered or biting rats are used to breed from, then this is likely to produce bad tempered offspring as temperament problems can be hereditary, so choose a pair of friendly, pet-able animals.
- Age is necessary to consider. It is suggested for a first litter to choose a doe between 5 and 7 months of age. The older the doe is, the more problems she may encounter with pregnancy or birth. We would advise never mating a doe that is over a year old. If you intend to have two litters from the one doe make sure to give her some resting time in between the litters.
- If you are a younger rat owner, you will need to ask permission from your parents before starting any rat breeding programs.
- The average cost of kittens is usually between £7 to £15, but is at the discretion of the breeder.
- When selling privately some people will wish to come round and see the rats in advance, this will give you a chance to 'vet' the new owner and for them to 'vet' your rats. Don’t be afraid of saying no if you do not feel that the person will be a suitable new owner.
- Some breeders choose to use ‘application forms’ to assist in vetting potential rat owners. These are quite an efficient way of handling the basic questions on rat care and knowledge but should not replace good communication and questioning via other communication methods instead of or as well as.
- If anybody wants to buy the whole litter or a large number of kittens in one go, beware! They may want them for reptile food rather than as pets.
- You cannot sell rats at the NFRS shows but there will be an advertising board available at shows where breeders can advertise availability of kittens.
- When selling to any juvenile make sure that they have permission from their parents and that you speak to them. Sometimes children will try to buy a rat with no conception of housing or feeding the poor thing, and you will end up with an angry parent on your doorstep!!
- Always make sure your new owner knows how to house, handle and feed the new rats, you can advise that they give the new babies extra supplemental food to begin with. It will take time for the new owner and baby rats to get used to each other as generally they are a little nervous of each other to begin with!
Please note:-
Estelle Sandford and the NFRS Committee cannot accept any responsibility
for the breeders and buyers who use this list as in many cases they
do not know the individuals concerned. Please ensure you have asked
plenty of questions of the breeder if you have specific requirements
in any area.