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The NERS Longevity Award

The Longevity Award scheme was set up in 2005 to reward rats that live well beyond an average lifespan. The average lifespan of a pet rat in the UK is between 22 and 24 months. This information is based on two surveys. The first was taken from lifespan data as published in ProRatA - the NFRS magazine - over a number of years. The second was taken from information supplied by members of the Fancy Rats Forum and is under review. In view of these surveys and records kept by breeders, NERS has set the age that a rat must reach to be awarded the Longevity Award at 28 months.

Increasing numbers of applications for the NLA prompted us to rethink the way in which we rewarded longevity, especially as a number of applications were for rats well over the 28 months currently rewarded. As a result, in 2010 we added a range of rewards in an attempt to ensure that breeders (and owners) continue attempting to ‘raise the bar’ in terms of health and longevity, to the benefit of everyone in the fancy.

The rules governing the award are as follows:

  1. A NERS member owning a rat reaching the age of 28 months may apply for a Bronze Longevity Award for that rat.
  2. A NERS member owning a rat reaching the age of 32 months may apply for a Silver Longevity Award for that rat.
  3. A NERS member owning a rat reaching the age of 36 months may apply for a Gold Longevity Award for that rat.
  4. A NERS member owning a rat reaching the age of 40 months may apply for a Platinum Longevity Award for that rat.
  5. The application for a Longevity Award can be made from the day the rat reaches 28 months up until 6 months after the rat dies. Multiple awards may be claimed as the rat reaches the milestones, but only the maximum award reached will be awarded retrospectively (after death).
  6. A certificate will be awarded to the owner of any rat earning a Longevity Award at the next available show, if possible. The award will also be announced in Rattitude and on the online forum.
  7. Rats awarded a NERS Longevity Award may have their names suffixed with NLA28, NLA32, NLA36, NLA40.

If you would like to apply for a NERS Longevity award then please email the awards co-ordinator at awardscheme@neratsociety.co.uk. To enable us to process your application, all of the following information must be included with each application:
  1. Your full name
  2. Your address
  3. Rat name
  4. Date of birth (can be approximate)
  5. Date of death if posthumous
  6. Origin - breeder's name (if known) or rescue, petshop etc:
    7. and if your rat is from a breeder
  7. Dam's name
    8.
  8. Sire's name (if known).