My name is Kylie.. I've been a Rat parent for almost 4 years now.. in that time I've realized it takes a lot of time, energy, & money to care for a Rat.. 'cause they have nutritional needs meaning they need meats, grains, fruits, & vegetables.. I like mixing up their diet 'cause they frequently get tired of eating the same thing like you or myself might.. sometimes I feed them Senior Dog food(Purina One, Innova, or Iams) mixed with their Rat food(I also use several types such as Sun Seed Sunscription, Kaytee Fiesta, or LM Animal Farms Vita-Vittles), sometimes I feed them Lab Blocks 'cause they're supposed to contain all the necessary nutrients in appropriate quantity in order for your Rat to remain healthy(The main ingredient in most block food is typically corn or soy), and sometimes I feed them their Rat food along with a nice bowl of fruits and vegetables mixed in with some trail mix &/or cereal such as Cheerios or Cream of Wheat... but apart from having nutritional needs they have bathing needs and cage cleanliness needs... as far as bathing it depends how badly your baby needs to be bathed.. sometimes a sponge bath is good, sometimes a quick tail cleaning works, and then other times putting a little soap & warm water(always make sure the water is warm but not too warm) in either a sink, baby bathing tub, or the bathtub is needed just make sure to scrub with a soft soapy sponge.. I like using Dawn, Palmolive, Joy, Ivory(the best Washing-up Liquids), Kitten Shampoo, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, or sometimes just a regular Small Animal Shampoo(usually Rodents only) for washing them depending on how dirty they are 'cause the dish soaps are for when they're really oily &/or dirty looking.. as far as cage cleaning make sure you wash everything in their cage with a mild unscented dish soap 'cause Rats can be very sensitive & make sure you get rid of any towel(s) you may have let them use 'cause those need to be washed before your Rats reuse them.. they also have socializing(need to be held daily), exercising(you can buy them a playpen), nail clipping(it's better to file them down with an Emery Board), & teeth trimming(you can buy wood chews) needs but if you're really willing & able to put all that time, energy, & money into the love & care of your Rat(s) then it's highly rewarding 'cause they're loving, affectionate, & smart(easily trained) companions