How Long Do Long Rats Live?

Rats are medium-sized rodents with long tails. They belong to the order Rodentia. The stereotypical rat belongs to the genus Rattus, but there are also several other genera, such as Neotoma, Bandicota, and Dipodomys.

When rats reach sexual and social maturity, they are considered adults. Their lifespan varies depending on external and internal factors. If they are not taken care of properly or have a genetic predisposition to premature aging, they may not live that long. Biological changes that occur in old age in rats are similar to those in humans. Female rats live for about four hundred and eighty-five days.

The lifespan of a rat varies depending on the breed, living conditions, and diet. Most rats live for two or three years. Some rats may live as long as four years. However, this depends on the type of diet and its genetics. However, the lifespan of a pet rat will not exceed two years.

Interestingly, coat type and origin did not influence the lifespan. Rats originating from Asia, Africa, and Europe had similar lifespans. For example, top ear rats lived an average of 25.2 months, whereas dumbos lived an average of 27.1 months. This could be a biased sample.