Pet Rat Challenges?

Question

Do pet rats like to be challenged? Like lets say, a hammock that they need to climb the bars of their cage to get to. or like, a strong smelling treat inside a cardboard box that would need to be torn open?

i don't have any rats, YET, but i was just curious? also, what other things would a rat enjoy doing? and one last thing - do rats like to climb on the horizantal bars of their cage?

Answer 1

Definitely! They need things to do in their cage to keep them occupied. There are lots of good suggestions already. You'll often find the simplest things are the best like a toilet roll with the ends folded over and a treat inside or nuts in their shells.

Hammocks and hidey places which are a challenge to get to are fun. A big cage is really essential so that there's enough space for your rats to climb around and so you can fit lots of bits and pieces in to entertain them - the bigger the better. A wire cage is best as they can climb up the sides and it's much easier to attach hammocks and other hanging things.

While outside of the cage they need things to do too. They will enjoy a digging box (bird seed grown in a large-ish bowl), pea fishing (frozen peas in a bowl of water - especially good to cool down in hot weather), a rat castle made from old cardboard boxes, treats hidden all over the place, and of course they love to explore anywhere they are not allowed to go! They also like collecting bits of paper or tissue or card to take into their cage and make a nest. And sharing any food you're eating either from your fingers, plate or even out of your mouth!

There are lots of websites with great rat toy ideas including:
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/play/
http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm
http://www.ratsauce.com/toys_games/index.php
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/toys.htm
http://www.ratfanclub.org/cages.html
http://www.supertrolley.com/ratstuff/articles/free_toys.html

Answer 2

Ooooh yes- especially when it involves food. The other people here have made some great recommendations, but try dapperrat.com. They have a bunch of great DIY rat toys. The best toy? Another rat. Make sure you have two. And yes, they love to climb on the cage walls. I actually had a rat that would lift up the cage (it's non-weighted wooden cage that didn't lock) and drop it. Just to make noise.

Answer 3

rats need to be mantally stimulated all the time. they need lots of toys and lots of time to play with you. they do love to do puzzles like figuring out how to get the treats out of the box and climbing into a hammock. they will climb on the bars of the cage but make sure that the bottom of the cage isn't made of bars as this will cause bumblefoot which is sores on the foot that most likely will require antibiotics or surgery. i have the balls with the bells in them that you cna buy for cats for my rat and he just loves them.

Answer 4

Rats love to be challenged. They are such intelligent animals that they will become bored if they don't have anything to challenge their minds, or their intellect. If given the opportunity, scientists have proven that rats can achieve the same intelligence level as a 3 year child.

I love your challenge ideas so far :)

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
Specializing/Educating Others in the care of pet rats for 10 years

Answer 5

Oh they certainly do love to be challenged. There are many things you can do to entertain them. If you are able to let them roam in a secure room you have many choices. You can create a maze for them to walk through, leaving a treat at a certain point, then reward them as they reach the end of the maze with another treat and give them lots of kisses and hugs. By my having many rats through the years you see that they have their own personalities and are amazing to watch. Some have the serious attitude where there are others that will interact with you if you run your hand underneath their two front feet to tickle their belly, they come back after you and want more attention, they actually feel the tickle. They also love the scratch behind their ears, like dogs do. My guys love when I do that. They definitely are social animals and crave attention from you. But it is helpful if you have at least two so when you can't entertain them, they have each other to entertain. They can do anything, You can train them to beg for their treat. They wil walk a rope for you. I had one of my girls jump up and grab the top of the cage cover and walk upside down. She looked like a bat! lol. They also know when they are doing something they are not supposed to do. If you let them out, be sure to keep an eye on them if you have plants. They love dirt, I don't know why but that's where my girls always head straight to. They can learn their name and understand commands like "stay", "come", "beg". It's helpful when they are out and about if they know their names. They will come to you. They are very close to being as smart as a dog. When my "Big Daddy" is out and about my living room with his son, they wrestle each other and when he wants to seek comfort from his son, he runs to me, cowers from him and actually wags his tail. He does this when he is extremely secure and content. It's an oddity but "Big Daddy" does it. I love it. They are amazing pets to have and bring so much joy to you or even a small child's life. They are much better than a hamster who, by the way, smells. Rats do not have any smell so long as their cage is kept clean. They don't poop where they eat. Good luck with your pet rat and enjoy him/her. The most unfortunate thing about these little guys is that they don't have a long life. I can never get my guys to live past two years. They are so susceptible to cancer and respiratory problems.

Answer 6

Just ignore those people, rats make awesome pets. Start playing with it when it's young. My last rat would come when you called her, she would play fetch on occasion. As for climbing in their cage, mine wouldn't really climb so much as jump from level to level. We didn't cage her much, she never got lost and was totally comfortable around us and if she had to go to the bathroom, she'd return to her cage. She loved being handled. My husband and I traveled quite often and she went everywhere with us. As for the challenge, I don't see why not, they are naturally curious and love to chew. Get your rat when it's still a baby and you'll have a friend for it's life.

Answer 7

RATS ARE AWSOME!! i have 4 of my own and i love them. rats are clean animals, cleaner than most. anyhow, yes, rats need to be challenged. i personally have a 6ft. tall wire cage (nonwired floor... it can cause foot problems) i have ropes and ladders for them to climb, a litter box (yes rats can be litter trained!) a hammock, empty tissue boxed (they stuff it with bedding ^_^) my boys LOVE LOVE LOVE food! so i take food and wrap it in either tissues, layered paper towels, cardboard, or the cardboard egg cartons. (put stuff were the eggs used to be and tape it shut, keeps em busy for hours! i also have a small bin on a chain, it hangs from the top of the cage and then i stuff food in it. then the rats try to get the food out, but its moving all around and so its tricky and fun for them. you can also take the rodent blocks(rat food) and put it on one side of the cage and their hideout on the other (or even in a rat proofed room) and they will run back and forth storing all the food.(its hysterical to watch^_^ ) or sometimes i take pie crust dough (left over from a pie,lol) and i take lil pieces and hide them ALL over the cage (the six foot one) and they run all over trying to find and eat as much as they can before their cagemates do. even having more than one rat is a bordom buster. rats are social animals who love (same sex) company. in the summer a shallow dish of water with floating peas or food is a fun way to cool down. Check out some rat sites on the internet. type in mouse and rat club of america in google. there is TONS of info there on rats. and type in rat toy ideas in google and zillions of sites with toy ideas and bordom busters.
most of all, dont listen to anyone who hasnt owned a rat, rats make awsome pets. they are nicer than hamsters and gerbils and cleaner too! make sure you do your homework and do lots of research before you bring one home though.

good luck! (email me if you want to see some pics of my hairless rats)

Answer 8

i think that they make really great pets as i have a few myself.they love hammocs and i also find that they like to lay in bowls. I got them off of this nice woman.

this is her website.
www.sc-pets.piczo.com

Answer 9

Rat poop stinks. Get a gerbill - much nicer pets.

Answer 10

you really dont want a pet rat!