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Rats are meticulous groomers, of both themselves and their human companions. Grooming is part hygiene, part social activity. However, occasional help from their humans can make everyone's lives more comfortable.
The second most common question I receive is "Don't rats smell?" No, they don't. If you hold a mature buck up to your nose you may be able to detect a faint whiff of grape soda and corn chips - really! - but that's the worst of it. The ammonia released by the breakdown of rat urine is what creates the infamous rodent smell, and that can and should be avoided by regular and zealous cage cleaning for the health of your pet. See the Bedding section of this web site for more information.
If your white rat grows dingy, or for some other reason you feel he or she needs a bath, use tearless kitten shampoo, which is extra mild and generally safe for animals that lick their entire bodies clean. Everyone has a different method for bathing their rats, but generally a sink, some very warm running water, and quick hands makes it a speedy process. Some rats love bathtime, others hate it with a firey passion. Acclimating them to the process while relatively young is an excellentidea.
If a rat's nails grow too long and sharp, a sharp-eyed human may clip them using baby nail trimmers and carefully avoiding the blood-rich "quick." The rats generally don't like it, and neither do the humans. The Wodent Wheel discussed in the "Exercise" section comes with an optional running track that safely trims nails for you; I've had very positive experiences using it.
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