What is a rat litter called? - briefly
A group of newborn rats is called a litter; the term “brood” is also used interchangeably. This designation applies to all pups born to a single mother during one birthing event.
What is a rat litter called? - in detail
A collection of newborn rats is termed a litter. The word applies to the entire brood produced in a single pregnancy, regardless of the number of offspring.
Rats have a short gestation period of approximately 21‑23 days. A typical litter contains 6‑12 pups, though size can range from 4 to 14 depending on strain, age of the dam, and environmental conditions. All pups are born altricial: blind, hairless, and entirely dependent on the mother for warmth, nutrition, and protection.
Key characteristics of a rat litter:
- Birth weight: 5‑7 g per pup.
- Developmental milestones: eyes open at 10‑14 days, fur appears at 5‑7 days, weaning occurs around 21 days.
- Maternal behavior: the dam builds a nest, nurses the pups continuously for the first week, and gradually reduces contact as they mature.
- Sex ratio: roughly equal numbers of males and females, though slight variations are common.
The term “litter” is standard in scientific literature, breeding manuals, and veterinary references when describing the offspring produced by a single female rat in one reproductive cycle.