I'm a student and a bit short on time. I got the rat during exam time and she insists on chewing the bars of the cage. If I take her out she eventually bites me. I figure it's a boredome thing and as taking her out isn't going to happen what should I don to keep her stimulated?
2006-10-16 04:34:43 · 23 answers · asked by Moi? 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I had several pet rats when I was a kid, the more you take her out and handle her the friendlier she will become. You can't let her live in the cage for the rest of her life. Why can't you take her out when it is just you in the room? Having a pet means looking after it and entertaining it at well. I set up a rat olympics in my room. They would climb up my drawers using the handles, walk along a tight rope, had a scramble net for them as well. They are very intelligent creatures and will get very bored just being in a cage all day. If you are really worried about her escaping, which she shouldn't if you have trained her properly, buy one of those hamster balls so she can run around in it to exercise.
2006-10-16 04:46:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've had this problem before, too...
Rats are very social animals, so she is most likely bored and lonely. My first suggestion would be to get another female for her. The younger the rats are, the easier it is to introduce them peacefully, so you will have to be very cautious. Begin introducing them slowly, keeping them together only when you can monitor them. Occasional squabbling happens with most rats, but if they start fighting and draw blood, you'll need to take the new rat back.
If your rat does not accept a new friend (and even if she does), provide plenty of toys! Rats are very smart, and need constant stimulation. One great place to find good rat toys is the bird section of your pet store... Parrot toys are great for rats! Also, try hiding food in assorted boxes or crumpled paper. Some rats enjoy having things to dig in or crawl in, so throw some old towels or shredded paper in for fun.
Last, try some Bitter Apple spray on the bars of the cage. The spray has a bad taste and should keep your rat from wanting to chew the bars. However, one of my rats seemed to particularly enjoy the taste, so this might not always work!
2006-10-18 03:34:10 · answer #2 · answered by gryffin218 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to disagree with those who say that it is too late to get her a friend. I rescued a young female rat, she was about 1 1/2 before I got her a compainion and they are great friends. Females are good at accepting a new member to the 'pack'. Please consider getting another rattie for her. If you just can't do that, she will either need a lot of out of cage time or a new home. The less you handle her, the more likely she will be to bite out of frustration.
Yes, adding some toys and playthings to her cage will keep her from becoming overly bored, but rats are social and they need interaction. Chew blocks, treat on sticks, raw veggies, etc can provide great chewing activities. Be cautious though with what kinds of wood products you use, as some carry mites and you don't want the added problem of a rattie with mites, because she will just be more grumpy. A simple treat you can make for her: take a popcicle stick, dip it in molasses and then roll it in crushed nuts, seeds, granola, something crunchy. Allow to cool in the fridge, then put it in her cage for her to snack on. Make sure to allow some of the molasses to drip off before rolling. These are relativly inexpensive to make. Also check out trust-training. This will help her to trust you more, and not bite. Rats are very sweet animals, and I think that she is a good choice for a pet, you just need to be able to give her what she needs too. Good luck!
2006-10-16 08:13:49 · answer #3 · answered by Cyndi B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should not have got one rat only. Female rats are notoriously stroppy occasionally. Boys are best but all rats need time out every day being given attention. Unless you can give her this, I think you need to consider rehoming her since you cannot now introduce another rat to her. The largest cage filled with exciting things to do will still be lonely and boring to her. Had you done some research before getting her, you would have discovered that you needed to keep at least 2 rats together.
2006-10-16 04:42:05 · answer #4 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a lot of good answers and links here.
I'd like to add that the cages sold for rats are unsuitably small and sterile. Get an old wardrobe, take off the doors and make new ones out of wooden frames covered with galvanised wire of a thick gauge.
Put shelves inside, and make ramps. Add cuttlefish bone, an iodine lick, something to chew to keep their teeth down, hiding places, litter trays (you can litter train rats, just add some of their droppings to the tray), water and lots of food pots. Put different foods around the place. Try cat biscuits, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, carrot and apple, pecan nuts in the shell for treats.
The day before you clean it out (do that once a week) they can have a hard boiled egg, crack the shell to get them started.
Its a much better home than a small wire cage.
2006-10-16 08:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a range of toys, and swop them around every day. Build an aerial walkway from cardboard tubes and string (in the best Blue Peter tradition!), hide food around the cage (if you usually keep a pot of food in the cage remove it for a while). Put in a couple of ladders and a small cardboard box with food sealed inside. And make sure the cage is as large as space and money allows. The only cure for the biting is handling, every day and several times a day if you can.
If you cant provide properly for the rat, consider homing her with someone who can. I certainly wouldn't consider adding to the problem by getting another rat at this stage.
2006-10-16 05:01:36 · answer #6 · answered by huggz 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you want to spend the time socialising her, then you need to start with little and often. Take her out for a few minutes, during which she has some yummy bits to eat. She'll be so busy stuffing her face, she won't nip you. Then put her back before she gets fed up with you handling her. As she gets used to you, make the visits longer until she's happy to be out and play for longer periods of time. Keep up the rewards for good behaviour - if she's naughty, put her straight back in the cage.
Provide her with plenty of things to play with in the cage. Things she can destroy, like cardboard tubes, boxes etc. but make sure they don't have anything that will poison her. Get her pieces of fruit wood (from an apple tree is ideal) or those wooden chew toys you can get from the pet store. Give her wheels, ladders, ramps, balls, bells, hammocks, hidey holes. Don't leave everything in her cage all the time - rotate it around so that she doesn't get bored with her toys.
When you're out, leave the radio on for her. Maybe put a mirror beside her cage, so that she can watch herself play. Keep her diet varied - hide pieces of food inside her toys. Get creative and you can have as much fun hiding stuff as she has finding it!
If you're not prepared to do all that - then you MUST rehome her. Its just not fair on her and she would undoubtedly fail to thrive and die a miserable death way too early.
2006-10-16 05:07:34 · answer #7 · answered by PoshPaws 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to get her used to you by taking her out for just a short time each day and build up the time so eventually she won't bite you anymore. Make sure her cage is large enough and that she has lots of toys. If you haven't got time to keep an animal then its not fair on her so maybe you should think of rehoming her to someone who is experienced with rats and has enough time. Try goldfish instead - they require little handling!!
2006-10-16 04:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by philarena 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It might help if she had a female rat-companion to keep her company, although at this stage it may be too late and she would fight or attack any new companion.
Rats need an incredible amount of things to do, and they love company and activity. You chose the wrong pet, and unfortunately, it's her that's going to suffer as a result.
You have done the poor animal a great dis-service.
2006-10-16 04:44:09 · answer #9 · answered by Phish 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most peop,e are right who've answered. Female and male rats all need lots of attention and if you can't have them out for an hour every night they need company. I have 6 rats at the moment and my violin teacher has 18, she finds that female rats respond well to babies if you want to get her a cagemate get two female babies and mix them gradually. use vanilla essense just dabbed on their fur so they smell the same the first time they meet.
Failing that being an option just make sure she has lots of stimulants in her cage... mine like their small log cabin and it's great for them to chew... get treat balls to make her work for a treat and have tubes and things for her to run through (ferretrail tubes are good but you can get specific rat ones too).
Rats are very affectionate animals and they need lots of love from their owner. Handle her every day and let her have a run about in a room... you can rat proof it to stop her chewing cables/anything you don't want her to chew but it definately isn't too late for you to show her she's loved.
hope this helps.
Check out www.neratsociety.co.uk for links and tips. This is a rat club.
2006-10-16 05:37:15 · answer #10 · answered by authoritaaah84 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋