Can a rat have just one baby?

[capslock]

I was asked today if a rat can have just one baby, and I have no idea.
I have never heard of a litter smaller than three, do they ever have just one?
How likely is it?

 

[eagle]

Very rare but it could happen anything is possible.

 

[lilangel]

i would think so.

A Spca rat that i have here had only 2 babies.

 

[SQ]

Litters range in size from 2 to 25 or 26.
I guess it would be possible to just have one.
Average size litters are 12 to 14 babies.

 

[rat.charmer]

I would think that most of the time in a situation where a rat only had 1 baby, it was because the others died/were stillborn. Otherwise, it's quite rare for a rat to only have 1 baby gestating.

 

[Scandalous]

If it happened, it'd be because genetic defects caused most of the babies to be re-absorbed. I can't imagine just one egg being fertilized to begin with.

 

[Maple]

This would be a rescuer's dream.....good question.

 

[Cigar]

I once delivered a single puppy.. that was a miracle. Poor dog wasn't even a year old herself.

In any case (sorry for rambling lol) I've never heard of it happening but anything can happen!

 

[capslock]

My cat had just one baby after we adopted her, we didn't even know she was pregnant!
We did keep her kitten though, and now they are both spayed.

 

[littledevils]

Yes, a rat can have a single baby and it recently happened to a reputable breeder I know.