How Long Do Rats Reproduce?
WouterIf you have rats in your home, you may be wondering how long it takes for them to reproduce. Usually, female rats give birth every five to 10 minutes, with litters averaging six to thirteen pups. They reach sexual maturity after about three to four months, and the female is able to reproduce more than five hundred times during the six-hour period of receptivity. Rats can produce up to two thousand young per year if their mating cycle is unchecked.
Rats may reproduce by themselves, but they may not be able to reproduce in captivity. Rats can mate six to fifteen times a year, depending on the species. In the wild, the male and female will not mate with only one another. Instead, they will mate with many individuals.
Rats have paired ovaries, which release egg cells into the oviducts. The oviducts attach to the ovaries and receive the mature egg cells during ovulation. Fertilization occurs in the upper third of the oviduct and in the uterine horn. The uterine horns are designed to allow multiple fetuses to develop at the same time. After fertile zygotes are produced, the rat develops its nervous system.
Rat reproduction is possible, though mating is still a major responsibility for the rat owner. The female must be observed during her heat cycle to maximize the chances of successful mating. Usually, it takes one to two hours to give birth to a litter of seven to twelve pups. However, if the female rat is older than six months, parturition can be difficult. In such a case, the female may suffer from shock.
