Each rat has it's own behavior, it's own personality, and it's own activity habits. But there are a few traits that almost all rats share.
Socializing: Rats are very social creatures and enjoy cuddling, playing, and even bickering with fellow animals. They get along well in groups and bond very easily with their human parents. With a lot of love and a little bit of respect you and your rat can become the best of companions.
Chewing: Rats chew... everything. They chew wooden bits and shred paper and pull apart almost anything they can get their mouth around. You can stimulate this behavior by offering them chew toys. Any toys for a small dog breed- make a good toy for a rat. Unlike other rodents they don't really enjoy chewing wood. Rather they would happily tear into rawhide or shred a rope bone.
Playing: Eat, sleep, and play. Those are the three main parts of a rat's day. Rats love jumping and pouncing and chasing and playing with almost anything. The littlest things can keep a rat busy. They can be entertained by a ping pong ball for hours. Offer your rat lots of toys and tunnels and play gyms to play with and on.
Climbing: You wouldn't think that rat's make the best of climbers, but rat's truly are magnificent climbing animals. They can scurry up tree bark, furniture, and even kitchen cabinets. That's why it's really important to supervise your critter while they're free from their cage. It's also important to inspire this natural climbing behavior by offering a cage with multiple levels and having a 'playgym'. You can make a play gym with a variety of things- but we've learned that a pile of tree branches make an excellent climbing area of rats.
Scavenging: In the wild rat's search for their food. They have excellent noses that lead them right to crumbs of food. And they enjoy finding food- so leaving snacks around your rat's habitat is a great surprise for them. Bits of dried sweet potato, a pilot bread cracker, or some fresh greens are all great 'scavenging snacks'.
Hunting: Many people forget that in the wild a rat will hunt about 40% of it's food. They will eat mice, birds, chicks, even fellow rats. And although domestic rats loose their hunting habits- they still have their hunting instincts. They enjoy chasing things down, stalking, and tackling their prey. You can inspire this behavior by letting them play with feather cat toys or chase toys made for ferrets.
Nest Building: Rats build nests out of soft materials. Nests aren't just for breeding- they also build them for comfort and to create a place of security in their home. Some rat's are more prone to nest building than other's. But it's still important to let your rat build nests and give them bits of paper and cardboard that they can shred and create nests with.
Hiding: People often ask, "Why are tunnels and tents so important for rats?". Rats hide! It's an instinct that is bred into them. They feel safest when they are in a confined small area. Tunnels and tents provide this sense of security for a rat and you should offer them lots of places to 'get away'. It helps calm them down and gives them their much needed alone time.
Nocturnal Activity: Rat's love the dark! They are typically awake during both the day and night. They will take frequent naps, with their most active times being around dusk and dawn. So morning and evening are the prime times to let your rat outside to play. But remember, even in the darkest hours your rat will be up eating, climbing around it's cage, and playing (sometimes noisily). So if you're not a huge fan of moonlight noise-making, you may want to look for a rodent that is awake in the day (like a gerbil).