Games and Toys for Pet Rats
82Rats are very social creatures, and any time that you have to spend with your pet rats, is much appreciated. There are several safe games that you can play with your rats. And, there are many safe toys that you can provide them.
Just remember no matter what toys you provide your rat(s) or what games they play. Always, spend time with your rat and provide a clean setup for it (them).
If you notice any wear and tear on the toys such as chew bits, pieces missing, or excess strings, you need to throw them away and replace them. Your rat could choke on a stray particle from the toy.
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Wild Tail Moving Ball with Furry, Floppy Tail
Price: $13.25
List Price: $22.99 |
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Jw Pet Catmeister for Cats
Price: $1.49
List Price: $5.89 |
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Marshall Ferret Tumble Toy
Price: $3.26
List Price: $4.99 |
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Marshall Polar Ferret Toys Asst, 2-Pack
Price: $3.26
List Price: $3.99 |
Toys
- Cat toys without cat nip.
- Ferrer toys.
- Cardboard boxes and tubes. Be cheap, they don't care. Instead of throwing away the toilet paper rolls, give it to the rats.
- Bird ropes and ladders.
- Tubes and tunnels.
- Hammocks.
- Dog ropes.
- Nylabones (avoid the Healthy Edible Nylabones)
- Branches (bird perches work well. Never get branches from outside)
- Wine corks
- String
- Boxes of all shapes and sizes- stuff them with shredded paper and treats.
Give them a digging box. They'll love it from what I hear. I've never tried it, as it sounds a little messy to me. But, basically it's a small tub filled with sterilized potting soil. Plant grass seeds or put bird seeds in it, and let the grass grow. Don't water it a few days before you give it to your rats, and once you do, they'll have fun diggin up the sprouts and grass. To help minimize the mess, you can put the box in the bath tub lined with paper.
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Super Bird Creations Rope Curl Small 1/2in X 52in
Price: $9.99
List Price: $11.98 |
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Vo-Toys Amazonia 8.5in Heavy Duty Swing with Rope Bird Toy
Price: $6.84
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Treetop Perch - Large
Price: $7.29
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Vo-Toys Ferret Clear View Fun Tunnel Toy
Price: $6.78
List Price: $9.60 |
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Super Pet Simple Sleeper Play Tunnel
Price: $4.20
List Price: $8.49 |
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Super Pet FerreTrail Flex-E Fun-nels, Colors Vary
Price: $10.90
List Price: $21.95 |
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Super Pet FerreTrail Fun-nel Playground Tube Kit, Colors Vary
Price: $29.47
List Price: $50.95 |
Pet Rat Information
- Rats VS Mice
When deciding upon a pet rodent, make the proper decision between rats and mice. Make sure to know the true differences. - Signs of Illness in Your Rat
Make sure that you are aware of the signs of illness in your pet rat(s). - Rat Munchies
Proper treats for you pet rat(s). - Housing Pet Rats
Finding the perfect cage is a must for pet rats. Make sure you know what you're looking for in a cage and accessories. - Homemade Rat Diets
Make a healthy, homemade rat diet for your favorit pet. Find out about proper nutrition. What you can and can't feed your rats. - Homemade Rat Recipes
Find out more fun and yummy recipes that you can make for your pet rat(s). - Homemade Rat Treats
Make yummy homemade treats for your beloved pet rat(s). - How to Train Pet Rats
Tips for training your pet rat.
Games
As for games. Stay safe.
A rat friend- Rats are social, and like the interaction from other rats. Try getting your rat a friend.
Bean Bags- Get some old socks or fabric and dried beans or rice. Fill the sock or the fabri with the beans or rice and sew it up. You can use the in cool or warm weather. For cooler weather, heat the bean bag; and for warm weather put it i nthe freezer. These bean bags are, also, great for sick rats, as a temporary heat source.
Bob for Peas- This game is not just fun, but refreshing. Take a bag of frozen peas, and put a small handful (maybe 20 or so peas) in a small container of warm water. The water will thaw out the peas. Give the container to your rat(s), and they'll go bobbing for peas. It's not only refreshing but they get a fresh treat. And, it's entertaining.
Chase- You can take a ribbon or sort and slowly drag it in front of your rat(s), and watch them run after it.
Hide and Seek- If you're not a big fan of letting your rat run around on your bed, then you can alter it a little. What I like to do is put all three of my rats on my bed and just let them run in and out of hte sheets and pillows. They LOVE it. If you would prefer to leave your rats off the bed, you can set up a pinned in area, like a bath tub, and fill it with pillow cases and towels.
Swimming- You can fill the bath tub with lukewarm water, and let your rat(s) go. Make sure that they can still touch the bottom if they want to. Some rats love swimming, and some do not. Here's your chance to find out if your rat likes water.
Training- Rats can be trained. Spend time teaching your rats fun tricks like sit, roll over, and fetch. I've even seen rats trained to play basket ball. Let your imagination run wild with this one. The best way to train a rat is through positive reinforcement and clicker training.
Walks- Purchase a ferret harness and take your rat out for a walk.
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Comments
Your welcome. I hope you have fun playing with your ratty friend. They love attention!
i just got a 2 baby rats in this was a big help thank you
hi. I just got a rat and her name is Astrid.I am only 10 so the tips realy helped.
Ashlyn
My rat just died, but i'm getting some new ones. this should help.
won t your rat get taken buy a hawk outside if you take it for a walk??
J yes that is a possibility, but usually because you are there, the hawk won't come down. Also, that isn't for walking down the street like you'd walk a dog, it's more or less play under the carport or in the driveway kind of walk.
thank you much!!
im getting a rat and this will be heaps of help
should i get a lazer pointer?
For what? That's up to you and your rat. I know that mine could care less about the lazer.
what type of rat is the one in the picture?
She's a black berkshire. Why?
i might get one of that breed
It's not really a breed, just a coloration. A breed would be more like if it had different characteristics than an albino or hooded or whatever.
Like how chihuahuas and pomeranians have different physical traits as well as mental and health. Rats all have the same traits, just different colors. Similar to a long hair chihuahua and a short haird chihuahua and the hooded rat versus berkshire, rex, blue, hairless, or whatever.
i either want to get one like the one in the picture or the dove color rats
Those are considered blue or violet. The best place to find one is a rat breeder. Sometimes pet stores will have them, but not often, and with a breeer you can guarantee the health before you bring it home. I'd love a blue hooded and a hairless.
haha Whitney I have to ask- were you trying to build on your popularity by adding this hub hoping it would be as popular as the gecko hub?
No... I'm not sure why you would think that, honestly. I love rats and geckos and all other animals and have a variety of hubs on them. I happen to have a ton of rat hubs to help pet rat owners, so this is just one of many. Plus, I have other rat hubs that rank higher and get better traffic at times. This particular hub is a common question among many rat owners. I used to search all the time trying to find things to do with my rats and things to let them play with. I'm also not sure which gecko hub your talking about...
My apologies Whitney! Can I say "I misspoke" or would this conjure up all sorts of foul-play presidential candidate thoughts? It's a great hub, and I didn't mean to downplay that! Okay, I'll go hide in my corner now.
No, I really am curious what you meant.
:::comes out of the corner:::
Okay, I just re-read my first comment. sheesh no wonder it came across so poorly! I meant to not imply you (as a person) are trying to be popular. I meant to ask if you were writing this hub because you've had so many popular / successful hubs about geckos! Building upon the previous success of your gecko hubs. Does that help clarify?
Ah... Yes a little. And no, I did not write this because of my gecko hubs. This is actually a hub I wrote a while back, versus recent. I just have a passion for animals, rats and geckos just being two of them.
sometimes my rats fight and one of them sometimes bleeds what should i do?
You may need to separate them. Are them males or females? It's not uncommon for two unrelated males to fight. It's territorial concerns.
Hey thanks! This is helpful! I don't have a rat yet though...So, um, question...Do rats like playing or being trained better? Okay...
Bye
If you make the training seem fun, then they won't know the difference.
hi i have an albino rat named cinnamon and another female rat named fudge they don't get along and the first day we brought home fudge the other female they fought what should i do? :)
Separate them. Keep them housed individually, and slowly introduce them. You should have separated Fudge for at least 30 days to quarantine her to ensure that she did not bring any parasites or health issues. I'd recommend letting them play outside the main cage and then slowly letting them in the cage to play. But, until you can get them getting along, you'll want to house them separately. You may be safe to housing them together as long as they do fight till one is hurt or bleeding.
thanks this will help alot can you recomend a cheap toy i can buy for both rats
toilet paper rolls. frozen peas. small balls of paper. and old rag with knots in it.
If you're looking at buying a toy then go with ferret toys.
thans a lot i can use that info to make my rats happy
fudge is a little escape artist is there anyway i can stop that and what kind of treats should i give and also what kind of food
Check out the following link, it'll give you tons of treat information. Just scroll down until you find the rat section.
http://hubpages.com/_rats/hub/Caring-for-Small-Ani
As for food, I find that Harland Tekland and Marzuri are the best brands. The rest are very fatty. Stick with a rat block and not a seed mix.
We just bought our rat, Reyna, 1 week ago...So far, she doesn't like to "play" with anything, she doesnt chew on the paper rolls, or the chew toys we bought her. She wont eat carrots, only thing she likes is white bread (as a "treat") and only a bite or 2. She just seems to want to sit on my shoulder, or in my shirt and be petted and sleep.... She is a teenager, as far as rats go... does this sound "normal" top you? Our 1st rat Oreo, died after 4 days of us having her, she was apparently sick when we got her... So I may be looking for something wrong thats not there.
Thanks
Leah
Usually female rats are very curious and "on the go," so to speak. I have 2 females the like to sit on my shoulder, but when the opportunity arises they'll jump off and play. You've only had her for 1 week, give her time to settle in. But on average females are much more active than males. You shold avoid white bread, it's fatty for humans much less animals. Stick with healthy treats. There are links on this page for healthy treat ideas.
Hello. I have just purchased my third rat, Max a Blue Hooded male. My last one a Berkshire male (Templeton) was an amazing little guy who lived 5 years and 2 months to the day I purchased him. Although he was never vet checked, he seems to have out lived the average life expectancy for these little guys. My guess is a healthy diet, love and affection gave him so much to live for, however can you tell me if you happen to know anything about prolonging life on a realistic level? Is this hereditary that Templeton lived so lng? My first rat died after only two years, and she was also a Berkshire. Also if I'm not pushing it, I have read that brown rats are quite the little escape artists as they prefer to be close to the ground, and that white rats tend to be more aggressive. Can you tell me if you know anything specific to my new little buddy Max? He is actually the first blue I have ever seen, and fell in love with him instantly. Thank you in advance for your help.
I'd say 3-5 years is pretty average. Unfoturnately rats do not have a prolonged likfespan. Some life longer and some life shorter periods. Kind of like people and other animals. All rats are escape artists the color isn't going to effect that any. White rats are also typically pretty sweet, just like all rats. The color of a rat isn't going to effect its personality. Blues are prettty common at pet stores where I'm at, as they're in high demand as to the "rarity" that people believe of them. There's no specific traits to a blue rat that you won't find in any other rat.
hi im samantha im 12 andi have two rats tweety and summer
do u no any ideas for decorating their cage
thanks
ttyl
Lots of wood stuff. a couple of hides, a large wheel, ropes, hammocks, wood bird toys (never any with plastic). ladders. That should help decorate the cage.
hi whitney05 i just got new rats and i NEED some help i dont know how old they r but they r both females and i need to know when i can start training,bathing,walking and letting them swim in the water
You really shouldn't walk them for extended periods. I would just stick with free playing. A lot of rats don't like water or swimming either. It's like a dog, there's not set age that you should start training and playing with them.
my rat ginger a female I got her about 3 weeks ago she lives in a aquarim does she have to move to a cage as she gets older? thanks
YES! she needs a bigger cage now. You shold never house a rat in an aquarium If you do you need a rather large aquarium. Read this article about houseing pet rats:
http://hubpages.com/_rats/hub/Housing_Pet_Rats
You will find that if you want to continue using an aquarium, you will need to spend more money buying an appropriately sized one than if you were to just purchase a wire cage. Rats need stimulation. You can't leave them in an aquarium like a mouse, hamster, or gerbil.
Thanks i have 2 guineapigs and they need a bigger cage so could i use there cage?
i wouldn't. you should get a multiple level cage, and most guinea pig cages are single level.
i have 2 rats,and they love these ideas.just anouther idea is to get a net matirial;sew/weave string through,leaving some extra string.fill the bag with treats,and pull it around and your rats will follow.make sure to eventually give them the treats.my rats love it!
heh I just got my rat Alice today shes an american blue berksire dumbo rat. I have o say she is the sweetest little rodent I've ever had. Judging by her size shes no more then 4-5 months old thqanks for the tips!
My name is kylie i am 12 and i just got a male fancy rat yesterday. His name is Templeton and he is tiny but i dont know how old he is. how can you tell???? I know he isnt full grown becauser my mom had rats before but hers were girls. Also- how do get them to come out of the hiding hut to play?
kylie, you can't really tell unless you know when the rat was born, sometimes you can estimate, but reats grow at different paces. I have one that was nearly fully grown at 4 months, and I know wthe lady who had her mom when she was born so I know that her age was accurate when I got her. I'm not sure what you mom having rats before yours has anything to do with age and size, but rats do vary in size. Males are typically bigger but that doesn't mean that you can't have a small male rate. Because you just got him, you need to leave him alone for at least a few days to let him adjust. Use treats to get him to come out after the first few days. If you force him to come out you can tramatize him into not wanting to ever.
My rat chews carpet how can I stop her?
Don't put carpet in the cage and watch her when she's out of the cage.
I've heard that wire floors are bad for rat feet...should I cover the wire floors in the cage with wood? Thanks!
Wire bases are bad, wire levels are ok, just as long as there is solid floors to walk on such as the floor where the bedding is. You can cover the shelves and ladders if you want, but the main concern is the floor where the bedding is.
Nice advice! We have rats too and its pretty cool but they actually surf and they love it! its pretty fun for them, they love the water!
I just took in two rats that my friend bought for his snake. i dont really know anything about rats but i wanna give them a good life.. they really dodged a bullet.. they are med size and i named them jose and willie. i was just wondering if i could tame them so they arent so jumpy when i hold them. Any advice you could give me, would be greatly appreciated.. thank you
Just keep working with them. Rats are very social. Take your time with them. Get them to come to you through the cage door and work from there. Use treats if you have to, but typically rats are very curious by nature and will come to you without the treats.
hi im jenica. im 12 and i have 3 females: a black hooded rat named mei-li, a brown hooded named eevee and an albino named angel. I'm getting chrsitmas and birthday ideas and you are SO helpful! thank you very much!
So, I know this isn't completeley related to the article (which was very well written and easy to understand by the way! Yeesh, I sound like a critique...), but one of my rats just died. My other one is slightly skittish and seems lonley and withdrawn. I've read that I should get two young ones, get another cage, and take a few days getting them all used to eachother. They're both females. I'm trying to gather a few opinions before I do anything--
Thanks.
My rat is a little bit fat =[ is this going to affect her from having babys?
Yes, it could. Also the age of the rat can be fatal as well because after say 9 months females should not be bred. The bones start to fuse and shrink, forming a smaller hole which will cause problems when the rat tries to give birth.
Thank you. That was very helpful. I breed rats and i have quite afew over 9 months but i also have younger ones. Thanks alot!!!!!! =]
Hi,
I have had my to female rats for a week. They are very friendly toward me and each other however hey seem to fight every now and then. I am not to sure if they are playing or not as they some times squeak when they are doing it. Is this normal?
Bree, if you breed rats, wouldn't you know...
Buttercup, it's seems normal. Just keep an eye on them. My rats wrestle a lot too. If you start to notice scratches, you'll want to separate
Hey, I was wondering if you could tell me, is there a larger breed of rat then an other, or are they all generally the same size? thanxs
For the most part, they're all the same. There are some larger rats, but they're not another breed necessarily.
u heave the great knowlage about rats... great..
just a comment I ahve 2 hairless and they are great i also have a black and white hooded and she is also great none of my 3 like water so it is funy with them being so different but each has her own personality and i find it amazing. have fun with your rats what ever you get or have.
I was wondering...I'm planning on getting a rat soon, the cage I have has a plastic base, is that OK? Also, is it ok to use newspaper as a liner for the cage, or even shredded up regular paper? Thanks....
I know this is a little off topic but, how young will your rat start breeding?
Rebecca, I wouldn't use newspaper or shredded paper. I would stick with aspen or a recycled commercial bedding. The shredded computer paper may be fine, but definitely don't use newspaper as you dont' want your rat eating the ink. Yes a plastic bottom is fint.
Anthony, If I remember correctly males will attempt to breed around 4-6 weeks if left with the mother, but I could be thinking of hamsters. Females should not be bred that early though. They should be no older than 6 months, as after 6 months they're pelvis will actually shrink a little if not bred, making breeding for the first time after that point fatal in some cases.
another brilliant hub, i could spend all day reading your work! I am a huge fan of rats, and currently have two lovely boys! Thank you for another brilliant read
xxxxx
What would you say is the best gender of rat to have? I had a male when I was younger, but I was like five at the time. Planning on getting a rat soon, so just wondering. I'm not planning on breeding them. Thank you ;)
That will depend on you. Males are typically more laid back, and females are typically more curious. But that doesn't mean that you won't have active males or laid back females.
I have two males, and am about to get two females from a lady that can't take care of them anymore. I'm planning on keeping them completely separated, in different cages- but in the same room. Will this make my boys "uncomfortable". I know the females go into heat quite a bit, and I just don't want this to bother my boys.
It would be better to have the boys separate from the females. I'm not sure if the females going into heat would make much of an effect on the males, but definitely separate cages is a must.
my female rat keeps making funny noises i think it's calling a mate but I'm not sure and how do you tell if a female is on heat please tell thx love Samantha
Typically, females don't act any different when on heat. Mine never did anyway. I'm not sure what it could be. What sort of sound is she making?
Im trying to train my female to roll in an exercise ball. And all she seems to be doing is sitting in it.....What can I do?
There's really nothing you can do. Most rats just don't like the balls.
I had two female rats both from the same litter and one of them died. Is it normal that the living rat tried to eat the dead one? It has been like five months since then and I really want to get another female but I am afraid that the same thing might happen? Can you tell me if this is normal behavior and if it is safe for me to get another one?
Rats can be canabals, so to speak. Typically they have such a bond that they mourn over the lose of a cage-mate. I would be iffy about introdcing another rat. You would need to quarantine to make sure it's healthy and then slowly introduce them to see if hte pre-existing rat starts to bully the new rat.
Thanks for your help, we bought another baby rat yesterday and they get along GREAT!! I was woried at first, but nothing went wrong, the older rat grooms and sleeps with the younger one. But I am woried about a disease called mycoplasm, the baby rat sneezes a lot but I am not sure if it is because it is sick or if it is because I rubbed vinilla perfume from bath and body on it to mask its sent. I read that masking a rats sent when introducing two rats would help. I looked at the baby and did not notice any red discharge coming from it's nose or mouth, which i read is common in a rat that has mycoplasm. Could you tell me if I am just being paranoid or if their might be somthing wrong?! thank you
You should have quarantined the new rat, as I said to do initially. I would worry about upper respiratory concerns transfering to the existing rat. Also NEVER EVER rub any perfumes or sprays on your rat AGAIN!! Rats have sensitive respiratory systems, not as sensitive as chinchillas, but sensitive enough that sprays can affect their respiration and cause serious problems. If the rat has a smell, bath it in warm water and a mild small animal pet shampoo that you can purchase at pet stores. Although, the warm water is typically enough to clean the rat without the shampoo.
Hi i am 12 years old and on monday i am going to an RSPCA shelter to get 2 baby female rats. i have already bought a cage it's called "Freddy 2" By savic. I have bought an edible log, jingle ball, nut knot nibbler, cooling tile, large water bottle and a bowl. What esle should i add to the cage? This will be my first time having pet rats but i have been researching them for a few months. Please could you give me some advice on anything else to put in the cage and if the cage is suitable. Thanx.
I looked at the cage that you purchased, and it is going to be too small for two adult rats. For now, it may be fine, but they will quickly grow out of it.
Otherwise, it sounds like you've got most things. Just make sure that you have a good rat block (rat food). Check out my other rat hubs:
Thanx for the advice it was nice to know, Urm could you also answer this, When will i know when my rats have grown out of their cage and would the "Ferplast Jenny Rat Cage" be worth getting when the time comes.
P.S.: The Freddy 2 cage looks tiny on the pictures but the cage measurements are 80x50x63cm.
There isn't that much difference betwee the two cages. Bigger is always better. I did go and convert the deminsions, and that sized cage would be ok for one adult rat, two pushing it.
How do i know when my rats have grown out of their cage.
P.s: I got my two rats from the shelter one was the runt of the litter i have named them Daisy and kiwi. What exactally is the runt of the litter?
PPS: The RSPCA lady said the cage is more than big enough!
Runt means the smallest of the litter. This can sometimes mean health problems in the long run. As for if the cage is large enough or when it's too small, that's hard to tell exactly in words. Hard to describe anyway, it's something that you should just notice.
Thanx for everything Whitney, you have really helped me, i know i can realy on you for future answers, Kiwi and Daisy send their squeaks of thanks too!
hi, i have recently bought two female rats and they were very skittish now they are more confident, there is a chew cube, wooden log and a wooden hideout inside their cage but they don't ever chew or nibble it, when i stroke under their noses i can feel the edges of their teeth. Is this normal and what can i do to get them chewing?
hi again, sorry to bother you, but in my first ever comment when i told you what i had put into my rat's cage well they would nivvle or chew anything!Today is the sixth day i have had them i have noly seen a few little chips in the log hut. This is concerning me because their teeth can be felt when you touch their chins, what should i do?
Have you opened their mouth and checked out their teeth? I'm not sure what you mean by you can feel their teeth when you touch their chin. Where are you touching the chin? Are the teeth overgrown and overlap?
Hi Whitney ~ Thanks for the fantastic info! I was wondering why you recommend cat toys without catnip? Will it make them ill?
Thanks!
Great hub, i have two female pet rats, Sickle and Scythe. They are so cute, I'm going to try the bobbing for peas :D
Newbie, yes there is a high risk that it'll cause them to become ill.
Eternal, definitely try it out and let me know how they like it. Mine didn't particular care for it much, but I've heard many love it.
What i mean about the teeth is that when you touch just below the nose where the mouth is you can feel the tips of their teeth without even opening their mouthes. this morning i have noticed some more little nibbled areas on the wooden log.
If the teeth are touching, they should be fine. If you could get a picture and post the link here, it'd be easier to tell. It's hard to determine from your description.
I will try my best to get a pictures but they are stll slightly shy, i think the runt, Kiwi will be easier because she stays still for longer and trusts me more! What else can i do to get them chewing things, it seems very unusual for a rodent not to chew anything.
Thanx
They generally will chew when needed. My rats never really chewed that much either, but with the rat block they typically kept their teeth short. I also gave them the Hamsteroids Cosmic Chew Balls
Urm.. i know it might be a little early to be thinking this but as i have a pair of rats from the same litter what should i do when one of them dies? I hate to think of it but i know it is reality.:(
That is something you will have to decide when the time comes. I'm not sure what you want me to tell or suggest to you. They will grieve, yes, but there's nothing that you can really do.
Dasiy, one of my rats is biting me every time i offer her my hand, even with food and twice she has made my finger bleed, i can't even stroke her without her taking a bite at me! My other rat, Kiwi, the runt, is the tamest creature i have ever met what can i do to stop or prevent Daisy from biting me and is there a way of taming her?
Sorry to be such a bother but you seem like the only one i can rely on for answers!
I'm not really sure what to tell you. I've never really experienced a rat that fiesty. I would just say work with her slowly. You haven't had them that long, and they're still pretty young.
Thanks, it's just that when i actually brought them home over two weeks ago Daisy was really tame, over the last week she has turned into a really aggresive rat. By the way at night i have heard them both nibbling at wood in their cage. Can you feed female rats tangerine? I have heard that it is really bad for male rats?
I wouldn't feed citrus period; not even to females. There could be something wrong as to the behavioral change.
Hi again,
since your latest answer i have monitered daisy's behavior and it has imroved, i think the reason why she was biting me when i was putting her into the cage was because she felt uncomfertable, now i take out their hammock-igloo and let them climb onto it then i transfer that to the cage. This method seems more suitable for her.
Since before getting my pet rats i have been debating wether to buy them a plastic wheel like the pets at home "Rolly Giant Rodent Wheel" i have heard some rats totally ignore it and that others (Mostly females and yong rats) love them. This wheel is £16.99 and i am worried that if i do buy it and they don't use it at all it will have been a waste of money. What can i do? And should i bother getting one, on average both my rats spend about 2 and a half hours every day with me out of their cage running about so they do excercise quite a bit.
That is good that her behavior is improving.
Out of 3 rats, I only had 1 who obsessed of the wheel. She loved it and ran on it so much that her tail started to curl to the shape of the wheel. It's really your call.
Can rats be fed small bits of cheddar cheese or low fat natural yoghurt once in a while as a treat?
What are the signs of a tumor in rats?
Thanks, once again, YOU ROCK WHITNEY!
I'd stick with very little if any cheese, and only no fat no sugar plain yogurt., again at very little amounts. You won't finish the cup of yogurt before it goes bad.
You'll notice the tumors by visible growths.
My friends are about to buy me some rats for my birthday.
For the first week they will be with my friend not me.
Will this make them less affectionate towards me when I get them?
Hi! I have 2 male rats. Spongebob and Patrick.Lol wierd right? anyways, I'm only 7 and these tip realy helped! I'm gonna favorite this page!
NewRatty, no it will not cause them to be any less affection, as it will only be for a week.
Brynna, I'm glad that the page was able to help you.
Hi again,
when my rats pass away what would be the best way to dispose of their limp bodies. :(
Burry them.
Hi!!
I really liked this article because it gave me good advice on games and toys for my pet rat. I just got my first rat on Sunday. I know it has only been a few days since I got him, but I'm afraid he doesn't like me. I read that I should offer him treats to show that I'm good and won't hurt him. But he won't take them. He just crawls up my arm and hides behind my neck. Then he crawls around underneath my shirt and makes this noise like he is gritting his teeth.... Does this mean he is nervous? I know I should get another rat for him, but my mom won't let me... will he be okay just by himself?
He's better in a pair, but if you provide plenty of mental stimulation and exercise, he should be alright. Make sure you have a plenty big enough cage so he c can run around and play, as well. He's new, you really shouldn't be messing with him right now. You are supposed to let new pets acclimate for a few days before trying to play with them and over stimulate them with yourself; you can be doing more longterm damage than short-term by forcing him to play with you. Just let him settle in.
Thanks so much!! I'm going to keep working on my mom into letting me get him a companion. I also know that the cage I have for him will be to small for him when he gets a little big. I did have to take him out today because I realized yesterday that I had pine bedding in his cage, so I went out and bought CareFresh and switched the pine bedding with the CareFresh bedding. But anyway I'm just him right back in after and I won't bug him for a few days.
Thanks again!!
If hte cage will be too small for him as an adult, you'll definitely need to get a bigger one for two. The small space could be another reason for him being grouchy. But as long as he's not biting then there really shouldn't be much of a problem.
No he isn't biting me... he just runs up my arm when I offer him my hand and makes this clicking sound. I heard that if they are stressed they make that sound or if their excited. i don't want to stress him out and make him hate me.
Yes they will do a chattering sound. Just let him relax. If he has a problem with you, he'd show it.
Hi there, again,
As the weather is getting warmer i have put a ceramic tile in my rats cage so they can cool down on it.
What else can i do for them: toy wise, food wise, drink wise and game ideas to keep them cool?
I gave Kiwi her first shoulder ride today and she loved it she sat down happily even when i sat down, she is a real cutie. I am still working on Daisy's behavior because she is still aggressive.
Bob for Peas is a good game for warmer days. Just don't do it all the time. It's a good once in a while thing. Frozen carrots or vegetables as treats. Things like that will also be good, just remember only once in a while.
Can i give my rats an ice-cube to lick or will it cause brain-freeze?
How to i know if my rat is underweight or overweight?
Can rats have any other drinks other than water?
Sorry, i forgot to include this in my last questions,
Should i bother buying a rat harness or do rats find them uncomfertable like my cat did?
Should you ever put sun cream on your rats body where there is no fur, for example, their ears or not?
How can i encourage my rats to play in shallow water, they have never been in water before?
I wouldn't do the ice cube. But cool fruits and veggies. As long as you can feel ribs or se excess fat, you should be fine. ONLY water.
No need for a harness; I've tried them and mine hated them. Although I know others who have used them and theirs tolerated them. I find the harnesses aren't a necessity. No sunscreen; the rat shouldn't be outside long enough for that.
If then don't like it, it's hard to encourage. Some love it; some don't. Try toys in the water.
Why not the ice-cubes?
I have read that male rats smell more than females but i have noticed that my room has started to smell musty.
I know that air fresheners are bad because of the chemicals in them but is there anything else i can do other than open the window more often to reduce the smell. For example: strong smelling flowers.
I just wouldn't suggest the ice cubes. It would probably hurt teeth. They will have a smell. Clean the age thoroughly weekly and you shouldn't have a smell. There's not much you can do.
Know that Kiwi is confident as i take her on my shoulder around the house and onto the front drive should i take her up and down the road where i live because it is a relativly quiet area but with lots of cats. ( i have introduced her already to my cat and she only seems intiqued not scared)?
P.s She would always be on my shoulder.
Ratty lover, please do not leave comments under other s/ns saying how you hate rats when you then comments about concerns with your pet rats. It's not a good idea to walk around the neighborhood with your rat. Just because she is used to your cat, it doesn't mean that other cats are used to rats. You also have to worry about birds and other animals. It's a bad idea.
Sorry, it was a stupid thing to do. Please forgive me. Thanks on all the advice you have given me.
It's fine. Glad I could help.
hi, how do i know when my rats claws are too long because when i pick kiwi up her claws feel really long and sharp and they can be felt through my t-shirt. They were not like this a few weeks ago.
i have a sweet rat named Stars not Star.But my daushund is a killer :( iwant to play with her but then He wants to kill her..I tryed by useing a plush rat toy to see what he whould do.I LOVE Stars but my dog so i always have to chain him up outside.But its worth it espically since once she hears something she runs to me!She is just so adorable and cuddley!
RattyLover, typically you don't have to trim them. It's nothing that's a real big serious concern. They're going to be a little sharp, but you can use small baby nail clippers and trim the white area.
Heather, don't let the rat loose when the dog is around. It should be kept in a cage and not allowed to free roam. When you do let it free roam, put the dog in another room, and only let the rat free roam one room.
Hello, I just got two baby girls from my friend who had a litter of 11!
but yeah anyways, they seem to love being out of the cage and just chilling on my shoulders or in my pocket, or any other place they can fit!
but when they are in the cage the dont seem to enjoy it! I have a large cage for them. It is only one story but they are just babies and i figured they didnt need HUGE to start. they have lots of toys and chewies but is there anything else i can do to make the in cage experience any better for them?
Congrats. Try a wheel. If they already have the toys, chews, and multiple hides, that's really all they need. Definitely consider a 2 story when they're a little bigger, which won't take long at all- they grow fast. How old are they? I figure at least 4-6 weeks, as that's minimum for separation from mom. Also be creful as it can be hard to properly sex them at young,young ages. If they are boys, you'll know soon.
could i use leather to put in the rats cage or rope?
Hello. In a catalog for ferrets, I saw a couple of odor removers. One uses volcanic zeeolite in crystal form to absorb odors from the air and the other uses activated charcoal to absorb airborne and surface odors. They can be renewed by placing in direct sunlight. I wanted to know whether you know if these would be okay to use in the room where my ratties are? I can't find anything about them, but I'm thinking they may be okay; they are used with ferrets and they are also in the cat and dog catalogs. I have 4 girls- all rescues :o) Also, would you be able to recommend a travel and vacation cage? I am going on a weekend trip with my family (camping) and I would like to take them. (They would not be outside! They would be in the cabin with me.) Thank you for your time!
John, you can but you just want to make sure that it is clean and sterile. They will chew on it and you don't want there to be any chemicals on either. I would worry a little with the leather, but you could but a dog rope in the cage.
Vanessa, As long as it isn't a spray type deal, there shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't put it in the cage though. Traveling will be hard, and possibly stressful for them. Depending on the size cage that you have, it may be best to just bring that one if they must go with you.
They're in a rock/crystal form and would be used outside the cage. I know the rats may be a bit stressed over the travel, but I cannot find anyone suitable to care for them properly :( My cage is too big and heavy (it's a homemade cabinet-style cage made of laminated wood shelving-really neat but not good for travel). I was looking for something roomy enough for the 4 girls but not too cumbersome. They would get time out of the cage and I may take them outside with a leash in the shade for a little bit, not too long though 'cause I'm scared something could happen to them. Do you know of a cage that may be suitable?
They should be fine outsidet he cage, you just don't want them to chew on the rocks.
A wire cage would suffice, but with 4 rats, you'll need a relatively large cage. I really don't recommend taking them with you. I'm not sure what to tell you.
Which toys would you recommend for my rats to have in their cage especially at night for something to do.
I know this is long but you need to know the story. My rats had seven babies almost a year ago this August 27th 2009. I kept two of the babies and of course I still have the parents. The rest of the babies I gave to my friend and my vet. My friend's babies from the same litte are about the size of a large potato (not including tails). My two babies are about the size of elongate tomato (about maybe three times smaller) Should I feed them more or what?? Cause I know how big rats are supposed to be, the mother and father are the right size, and so are the siblings. What should I do??
Rattylove, there is a list of toys that you can include in the cage at the top of this page. That should give you an idea of things that your rats may like.
wolf/rattylover the two that you kept just may be small. a year old and they're not going to grow any except weight wise. just feed them normally, and as long as they're eating and acting fine, they shouldn't have any problems. Are they both small?
Yah the ones I still have are both small maybe the size of limes (that are on the small side :) ). Their parents are fine though. Thank you for answering so fast. So you really don't think they'll grow?? It just frustrates me cause I don't know if it's because of how I feed them. They weren't the runts or anything. All of the babies stayed the same size until the past three months. Any other advice?
If they're a year old, then no they won't grow. It's abnormal for them to grow after say 4-6 months. Because of short lifespans they grow fast.
Hey Whitney I was reading all your stuff very helpful a few days ago one of my rats died so i got 2 more to comfort my other one i already owned. They bonded right away i might get one more,i was wondering if a 3 story cage would be big enough for 3 or 4 female rats. And none of my rats like water is there any way i can get them to like it?
My rats live in a big plastic igloo is that a good shelter? What kind of shelter would u suggest? One last ? i use carefresh 4 their bedding is that bedding good 4 them? Thanx sooo much
You should always quarantine new pets so that you can ensure they don't have any illnesses that can pass to your current pet, same with the current pet considering that it's cagemate just passed away. carefresh is fine, as is the plastic igloo. Just watch to make sure that they aren't chewing the plastic. If they are, then consider a wooden hide. a three story cage should be fine as long as it's not a small one (ie three story hamster cage or something).
Thank you, that's very helpful.
Hello, I was wondering if it's okay to give rats edible ferret chew toys (Marshall Super Chew Ferret Toys)as a treat. The package says sugar-free and is made up of 40% animal protein.
Ty, your welcome and if you need any other questions please ask.
cjv2788 I wouldn't suggest it.
On of my rats just bites me everytime i try to hang out with her, why is she doing this is there anyway i can get her to stop?
hi i just got two rats almost a week ago the boy is really small and and the girl is like three times his size is this normal?!!!!
Ty,. it takes time for proper socialization sometimes. Most rats are very susceptible to people, but others need a little work.
Chloe, you'll want separate cages as there will be serious bullying and potential pregnancy. If being housed together, the female is probably pregnant. She's probably also older than the male.
Thanx i gave my rat some space and now she doesnt bite and hangs out with me.
Sounds good.
Its me again i have a few ?s. My rats hate the water even my older one, is there anyway i can get them to like it and, is the bedding crittercare a good bedding to use?Thanx you've been ALOT of help.
I've never heard of critter care, if it's dusty don't use it and if it's made of pine or cedar don't use it. Not all rats like water, it's hard to force them to like it if they don't.
If I have 4 rats and a 4 story cage how often will i have to clean it?Thanx
That should be fine as long as it's an actual rat cage.
hi again, over the summer holidays my friend (who's family are familiar with looking after pet rats) is looking after Kiwi and daisy whilst i am on holiday for a week. How would you suggest he gives them exercise because they have never been to his house before. Or would it be better to just leave them alone in their cage?
If there is a wheel in the cage, they'll be fine. Otherwise play as normal. Just remember it can be stressful moving aorund from one house to another. They may want some interaction, but I'd say leave it up to them.
ok, thanks for the advice.
Hey i am 14, I have a ''teenage'' male dumbo rat, biscuit, and recently my other rat olly passed away, i had tried to introduce them before but all they did were fight, so i housed them seprately, i think it was because olly was a adult when i got him from my auntie and he had lived on his own his whole life, but i dont know if the ratty i have now is unsociable! hes very kind and well generaly perfect with me, never ever bites.
i have been converting my build in wardrobe into a ratty mansion and i know he needs cage mates.
i was just wondering if it would be safer to buy two baby male rats to introduce to him.
please help! thanks
Because the rat is older, it will be harder to introduce him to cagemates. Males can be funny that way. Some females, too. You can try it, but you'll want to quarantine new rats for at least 2 weeks and slow try introductions. The adult may bully the babies. Try getting a rat about his size. A larger rat and new small babies probably won't go over so well.
thanks :)
im getting 2 female rats this should be alot of help thanks alot!!!
Hi again, I have been wondering,
Is it safe to have a scented candle in my room or is the scent harmful to rats?
Many Thanx
I'm not sure. I think I saw something about candles a while back, but I don't remember what it said. I personally would be iffy about using any candles because of the smoke in the room, but I'm not sure if it would be detrimental.
Okay so I got a baby rat a bit ago from a pet store and I was wondering if carrots and a bit of humus on the end would be a good treat because he's hiding behind this thingie and i don't wanna like grab him or drag him out and I can't seem to entice him with banana. any thoughts?
Thanks
If you just got the rat, it's important to leave it alone until it gets used to its new surroundings. Don't try to force it out, and don't try to rush it. The rat will remember that. Give the rat at least 5-7 days before trying to get it out.
Make sure the cage is big enough, and make sure you're offering good rat block as food.
Carrots are fine treats, but I'm not sure about the humus.
Hey, I might be getting two baby female rats in a few days and I heard that for cages with wire bottoms, ramps, and the other floors is bad for rat feet, so what should I put on the wire to make it okay?
You can have wire ledges and ramps but you want the bottom of the cage to be solid bedding no wire. It is recomended to use some covering for the ledges, so that there is some relief. You can use tiles, towels, etc. Just remember towels will be chewed, as with more things.
Umm, I'm getting two 6-8 week old female rats and I'm wondering if I need to get my cage and toys and stuff before I get them.
Please help,
Darcy
It's recommended, yes.
i've just got two male rats and I've started to handle them after I've hand fed them but they keep on trying to escape and I don't know what to use to keep them inside a enclosure when I want to interact with them and spend time with them.
Plz help, thx very much =)
What type of cage are you using? If a wire cage, how far apart are the bars?
Why would you only want to interact with them, while they're in their cage?
I'm not understanding what you're asking, or what you're trying to do.
Hi Whitney,
Is it safe for rats to eat apple stalks because there was one in the packet of excel apple snakck treats that i bought and Kiwi Loved it?
Yes. It is fine. They actually sell apple twigs for small animal pets
I just got my first two rats like week and im sure that is just because they are adjusting to their new environment but they will not sit still. ill put them on my shoulder and they have to jump off and explore. will this pass with time?
Depending on the rat, it may or may not. Not all will just sit on your shoulder. If that's the only reason you got them, then that's not a reason to get a pet. If they're young, they'll be more apt to explore. Females are more apt to explore, as well. Rats are curious by nature, and it's no uncommon for them to explore and want to check everything out from day one to their last day.
Since I see there are several posts related to rats fighting, I thought I would share some advice that worked perfectly for me when I brought home 2 new rats to share with my 1 year old. Find a new area that none of the rats are familiar with. Add them 1 by 1 to the area, covering them with vanilla extract before you do. The extract masks the rats' natural scent and will allow them to get to know each other without instinct taking over. It's also non-toxic, so you don't have to worry about them licking it off. It is natural, especially with males, for them to establish a pecking order. Just make sure you don't allow them to "side up" to each other...things can deteriorate rather rapidly. I socialized my rats for about a month this way before I allowed them to share a living space and it was probably another week or two for them to get used to living together. You just need some time and patience. The sooner and more often you socialize them, the better.
Also, rats need about 2 cubic feet of space per rate at a minimum, so please keep that in mind when purchasing cages.
I want rats, but my father says i cant have 2. Will it be unhappy if its only 1?
The rat would be happier with a friend. They can live by themselves, but do much better with a friend.
Hi again, In the future if i get a kitten and rats at similar times how will i be able to introduce them to each other?
Also can rats eat carrot leaves?
More than likely you're not going to have the rats free roaming the house. It's the same as getting a cat and a dog- not all dogs hate cats and not all cats hate dogs. It's going to be training and socialization.
Thanx, urm can rats eat carrot leaves or any other plants grown indoors?
I wouldn't recommend the carrot leaves. As for indoor plants, do not feed it if grown in fertilizer. Check toxic plant lists so you can make sure what you're thinking about feeding the rat is not toxic. I really wouldn't recommend feeding plants just to make sure.
Hi! My little rat tinkerbelle Is potty trained, and I use material for her bedding.The thing is I think that she is allergic to the stuff my mom uses to wash the clothes. (downy- apple scented) she sneezes with no other symptoms like the red mucus. How can I wash her bedding without purchasing a Eco safe washing fluid( my mom doesn't like the smell of the fluid) can you help me? I can try to handwash it if you tell me how.
Just find another soap or detergent to wash with. Try non-scented. They have sensitive respiratory systems, and it's not a good idea to use anything scented. You could use a non-scented hand soap to hand wash the material. You'd hand wash it like you'd hand wash an article of clothing- soak in warm water, lather with the soap, rinse until all soap is out, and dry.
Okay, thanks! I will see if I can find any today! Your articles are so helpful!
It shouldn't be a problem, every store that sells soap and/or detergent will have a non-scented.
how can i get my rat lousy good play stuff to run around in
Find a toy that the rat likes. Not all rats will play with toys. These are just some suggestions that you may want to try.
Krysta says:
2 years ago
omg , this was just the thing I was lookin for ! I have a pet rat and she sits with on the computer while I'm workin so this will keep her busy ! Thankyou Whitney!