scarecrow817
Well-Known Member
I know rats need their out-of-cage time, however both of mine don't want to come out of their cage most of the time. Is this a bad thing?
Agoraphobic rats?
- Thread starter scarecrow817
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SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Any other animals in your household?
How long have you had them?
Any other animals in your household?
scarecrow817
Well-Known Member
They're less than a year old. I've had them since the summer. There are no other pets in the house.
LA
Well-Known Member
Is your outtime area anywhere near their cage. With my first crew we had outtime on the bed until I got two that could jump off the bed, so I got a fridge box and made an enclosure. All they wanted to do was jump out of it to get back to their cage. So I thought I would try putting the enclosure around their cage so they had access to their cage the whole time. They loved it, they could come and go as they pleased. I also made it big enough for my husband and I to sit in. Are you with them during outtime. They LOVE to be with their humans.
How often do you take them out as well, it should be for a bit every day or every other day if you can't do every day. This way they get used to it and you.
How often do you take them out as well, it should be for a bit every day or every other day if you can't do every day. This way they get used to it and you.
smmmiley
Well-Known Member
They really do LOVE to be with us. It's wonderful! Even when they seem so "shy" and "nervous", they still want us to be around. 
We got our first rats 6 weeks ago, and they've had free range of our son's room since Day 1.
We got two new rats last week, and to make things fair, we have both cages out in the hallway as a neutral area for them to smell each other and such. During out time, the doors to rooms are closed and they roam the hallway.
I thought our first rats might be missing "their" space in our son's room so I've opened the door a couple times for just them to go in there... they go in briefly, but come right back out in the hallway again. In the room they have the bed to run around on, the dresser, which has a fleece cover on it for them, a hanging shelf in the closet that they used to love to climb, the laundry basket to play in... nope. I'd put them in the room, and they'd come back out into the hallway.
I figure it's for many reasons... their cage/home is now in the hallway, I remain in the hallway (as a go-between), and even though they aren't 100% with the new rats yet, they're still companions for them. I do think having their home nearby is a comfort for sure. Even though they don't go in it much at all during out time, they still love to climb all over it...like they're being reassured that it's still there, and it's still 100% theirs.
scarecrow817: Definitely try some different things with them. LA has given you some great advice. I'm so new to having pets, but I'm learning as I go and I just find rats to be so amazing. Good luck, and keep us posted on what you try and your progress. Maybe you've just made their cage way too cozy for them! :lol:
We got our first rats 6 weeks ago, and they've had free range of our son's room since Day 1.
We got two new rats last week, and to make things fair, we have both cages out in the hallway as a neutral area for them to smell each other and such. During out time, the doors to rooms are closed and they roam the hallway.
I thought our first rats might be missing "their" space in our son's room so I've opened the door a couple times for just them to go in there... they go in briefly, but come right back out in the hallway again. In the room they have the bed to run around on, the dresser, which has a fleece cover on it for them, a hanging shelf in the closet that they used to love to climb, the laundry basket to play in... nope. I'd put them in the room, and they'd come back out into the hallway.
I figure it's for many reasons... their cage/home is now in the hallway, I remain in the hallway (as a go-between), and even though they aren't 100% with the new rats yet, they're still companions for them.
I do think having their home nearby is a comfort for sure. Even though they don't go in it much at all during out time, they still love to climb all over it...like they're being reassured that it's still there, and it's still 100% theirs. scarecrow817: Definitely try some different things with them. LA has given you some great advice. I'm so new to having pets, but I'm learning as I go and I just find rats to be so amazing. Good luck, and keep us posted on what you try and your progress. Maybe you've just made their cage way too cozy for them! :lol:
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
I know what you mean... some rats just don't want to come out of the cage. I don't know if it's a bad thing. I would think not but I would try all the suggestions that you've already got to get them more interested in the outside. Physical and mental stimulation is so very good for rats.
arresai
Well-Known Member
My Dobby will not come out either. He has never liked out time, no matter what I did the result was the same. He's now about 1.5 yrs old and I have to pull him out just to clean the cage.
