I just got a hairless baby rat under a month ago. He will sometimes run around his cage like an idiot but doesn't really seem to do rat stuff...like chewing on things or exploring. All I have in the cage right now is a plastic cup that he likes to lay in (a lot, he's pretty much in the cup anytime I look in the cage day or night), a little wooden block, and a mouse tunnel (which he is about to outgrow anyway), then of coarse things he needs to survive.
When I get him out of his cage he just sits on my shoulder and doesn't try to look around (from what I have read rats should want to explore). So, is there something wrong with him or is this just something young rats do?
2006-07-14 22:21:40 · 9 answers · asked by laetusatheos 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Ladymaggic, um...thanks for your opinion..but that wasn't what I asked. I already do have numerous other critters which we breed. Rats are actually fun pets...kinda like a tiny cat.
I came to own the cat because my bf was going to use it for snake food but I saw the poor creature before he was able to feed the snake. The snake needs to eat, but I don't like to see things get killed.
To the other answerers...thank you...looks like I should get him a friend and more fun stuff to play with.
2006-07-14 22:36:40 · update #1
typo "I came to own the cat" should be ...rat
2006-07-14 22:37:33 · update #2
a friend might help. also..your cage sounds boring! he's not exploring because it's not fun!
you need a multi-level cage. with all KINDS of things..tunnels, balls that make noise when they roll, rat hammocks, rat sleeping bags, LOTS of things he can chew up, fresh veggies and some fruits. a rat is a great deal more intelligent than people realize...they need stimulation or they just sit there, bored.
here are some sites about rat toys and cages...also look at the diet and other things...LEARN about the animal! they are amazing pets!
http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/toys.htm
http://www.ratwarehouse.com/shop_view.php?cat=6
Ignore the last post! she doesn't know a thing about rats...and so she speaks from no experience...i swear if ppl that hate an animal would take the time to learn about what they "hate so much" perhaps they wouldn't find them so horrible. and SECONDLY...you should NEVER let a pet rat loose...they are breed to be pets not wild rats..that would be like letting a dog loose into the wild with wolves!
2006-07-14 22:30:59 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has both female and male pet rats. The females are all pretty active and like to explore when they are out. The males are kinda like little couch potatoes and don't explore as much, but they are also nicer than the females (they lick your fingers when you put your hand in their house). The posts above are correct too, rats are very social animals and your pet is probably lonely. It doesn't take much more to have 2 pet rats..... just make sure they have enough room and make sure you don't get a male and female together, they breed at a young age and have on an average of 8 babies at a time.
2006-07-15 04:25:07 · answer #2 · answered by WenckeBrat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ummmm...YOU NEED to get him/her a friend!!! Rats are VERY SOCIABLE critters. I had three rats....and until we lost 2 of them, my last surviving rat became very depressed!!!! no matter what we did to help her get happy....it just wouldn't do...she wanted her sisters. I truly believe she died of a broken heart....that is how closely social they are. They need each other to groom one another...and play, and sleep together. Even laugh together...you will definitely hear that one...no kidding!!! A change of environment can do this to a rat to...make him kind of just sits there...not knowing what to do. rearrange his/her stuff in the cage...make the hideout boxes bigger...give him some yoggies to help cheer him up. take him on the bed...and gently put him/her on her back...and tickle her on the stomach or give raspberry kisses...you might get her to laugh squeak...and she/he will realize you want to cheer her/him up. Then it might come around better. ?? Maybe it isn't feeling well either...look on line about Rats and possible illnesses. I am sure other rat lovers will share you their input about what they might think is wrong. Hope the rat comes around....I miss my rats terribly!!! I just lost my third one about 2 weeks ago. I had such a great time with them...personally they are the best pets to have!!!! Better than hamsters, Guinea pigs...and even better than Ferrets(they stink!) Ciao!!
2006-07-14 23:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by d4wn4j3sus 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sure animals get bored too. and that they arrive ask you on your interest. Al least:my pets do:A parrot a cat and a canines. They even play jointly,yet could desire to warn the cat to no longer harm the chicken or any opposite direction around.One chew can harm the cat actual sturdy. Sky.
2016-11-02 02:33:59 · answer #4 · answered by holliway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a young bride, I went up north and got a flat that was invested with mice and the smell and the sight of mice send me crazy...I cannot see why people keep them as pets...they eventually get out, and breed in the houses too.
One guy I knew had a house infested with mice that had interbred with brown mice.
You can breed fish or birds and sell them to your friends or a pet shop, you can even keep beetles and ants or even bees.....
I am sure he is bored in which case you should set him free in a nice country aea so he can lead a mice life...
2006-07-14 22:28:00 · answer #5 · answered by Maggi 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Check out this blog. It talks about rats and how to prevent them from getting bored. http://discoveranimalstoday.wordpress.com/
2014-08-29 22:11:46 · answer #6 · answered by Askquestion101 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get him a friend or a bigger cage.I am not a mouse expert but if is a girl rat and she is getting bigger and bigger every day she might be having mice.
2006-07-14 23:55:50 · answer #7 · answered by ♥PolkaSpotPrincess♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take him out and play with him. Add more things in his cage to play with.
2006-07-14 22:53:26 · answer #8 · answered by Cristy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get him a friend, rats are social animals.
2006-07-14 22:25:52 · answer #9 · answered by LifeOfAgony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋