Keep your pet rat happy
These pets thrive on attention – here are some fun things to keep them (and you!) entertained
RATS are clever, active creatures and love being entertained. Ratanooga, a South African website and Facebook page, is full of great advice on all aspects of rat care and shares ideas to make your rat’s life a happy one, and to build the bond between you and your ratty. Check it out!
IN THE CAGE
Hammocks Rats will sleep in these (especially in summer months) and if you have more than one hammock next to one another, they can act as a lofty area to leap to and from.
Rat-friendly wheels Don’t buy the wheels with spaces between the bars. These aren’t suited to rats or mice as their tails can get caught. Look for a wheel with a solid running platform and watch them go!
Plastics Wastepaper baskets or in/out trays are relatively cheap (look at car-boot sales) and washable. They can double as a bed and a toy for an adventurous ratty! Empty margarine tubs that have doors and windows cut out of them are also popular. Hidy-holes Hang up a few storebought birds’ nests (the woven kind) in their cage, or tie three cardboard tubes together. Offer them cardboard boxes with peepholes and doorways cut out. Cat toys Balls with bells inside them are a favourite among some active ratties. Some people have even trained their rats to fetch the ball like dogs do. Ropes Thick ropes allow rats (especially young, agile ones) to try out exciting tightrope antics. Hang these up in their cage, from one side to the other – not too high and maximum 15 cm from the floor, in case your rat slips. Bird playthings Some rats may take time to warm up to these toys, but most will chew and climb on them till they’re pooped! Great for keeping teeth trimmed too. But make sure all toys are properly secure as they could do damage if they fell on tiny heads.
OUT AND ABOUT
Pea fishing Toss a few peas or corn kernels into a shallow bowl and top up with water. Add rats, sit back and watch the fun! Shoulder surfing: Not really a game, but rather a moment to spend quality time with your pet. Place the rat on your shoulder and start pacing the room, slowly at first. This is useful if you’re going to take your rat to places with you, as they’ll learn your shoulder is a safe place to be. Hunting Hide your rat ’s favourite treat in various places around the room (rub it all over the general area you hide it in so it’s easier to smell) and watch them search. You might have to give them a few hints at first, but being the intelligent creatures they are they’ll soon get the hang of it.
Pouncing Drag items like pencils, shoelaces and ropes across the floor until your ratty notices and pounces. You can let them chase the items a little before allowing them to succeed – the more rats you have, the more entertaining it is for both you and them.
Rats don’t have thumbs; they also don’t have canine teeth, gallbladders or tonsils Rats can’t burp so the gas in fizzy drinks can cause severe discomfort