I’ve had several people ask me how old do rats live till… the average lifespan is quite shocking and a reality check.
Rats have an average lifespan of 2 years. If you do everything well as in healthy diet, clean and proper habitat and lots of mental and physical stimulation then you might get them to reach 2.5 years to 3 years.
And if you are really lucky and your rat has some amazing genetics, then you can have them live to 4 years.
I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had a few rats reach 38 to 45 months old. It’s a bittersweet blessing having them with you so long. When they reach a certain age, most rats require special care. Most lose their hind end mobility, some more severe than others. Some develop what can only be described as dementia. Some develop cataracts and kidney disease… but these strong rats with their strong will to live certainly makes you see the world in a different light.
My Davis will soon be 38 months old on June 23rd. He’s the last of his litter, a little guy with good strong genes.
