At Misty’s Mischief, we believe that good health starts with good habits. While you’ll often notice any obvious signs of illness or injury during your daily handling, it’s still a great idea to do a gentle, systematic health check on a regular basis. It helps you catch subtle changes early and gives you peace of mind knowing your rats are thriving.

Personally, I do a weekly health check for each of my rats right after a deep cage clean—it's the perfect moment as I return them to their fresh setup. If you’ve adopted from Misty’s Mischief, you might remember the “look, listen, feel” method I walked you through. It’s a simple but powerful way to stay in tune with your rats’ wellbeing.

If you haven’t visited our rattery, don’t worry—this guide is a great starting point. Whether you're new to rat care or just looking to build a more consistent routine, we’ll walk you through what to check, how often, and what to watch out for.

On this page is a checklist you can use to regularly monitor your rat’s health—just a few minutes each week can make a big difference in catching early signs that a vet visit should be scheduled.