I don't think I can take it anymore! :'(

[Livyaahh]

I love my rats so much, but I can't take how mischievous they can be when they are out of their cage. Usually I have to put them back after about 20 minutes because they are all trying to get to places that I have blocked off (as well as I can, but no matter what I do, they are always trying to get to the blocked off places), and no matter how loud I shout 'no,' they always go back, usually immediately, and I can't take it! Just now I had to pick one of them up off of my bed (which is forbidden to the rats), and while I did that, another ran onto my laptop keyboard and chewed off the 'c' key. I don't know how I can put it back on and I'm just so stressed. I really want to be able to take them out of the cage every day, but I'm finding it so hard! Please, somebody tell me what I should do.

 

[Dahlas]

Make them a rat proof play area......maybe take them in the bathroom on the floor.....and sit with them for 30-60 minutes and let them play or make a playpen area...... their are many post showing different play pens and play areas.....Out time should be fun and safe for them and stress free for you.....sometimes it just takes a bit of thought to achieve both

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

Cheeky buggers. :gaah:
You should see Olive. :roll:
8 ratties and her half their size with one eye no less and she runs circles around them all.
I am lucky to have a " rat room" but I have to Olive proof it.
No computer, rat cages and installing a high gate for the closet.
I think she can fly. :shock:
Do you have toys, treats and things to keep them occupied?
Toys with treats in them that they have to work at?
Maybe a smaller space would be best especially if you have interesting stuff to investigate.
A hallway, bathroom etc that would help curb their inquisitiveness.
We have all been there.
Don't give up hope. :cuddle:

 

[jorats]

I had to create a play pen for my guys to keep them safe. You can make it out of coroplast or cardboard.

 

[Salem The Rat]

I know exactly how it is. I have the same problem, with 7 female rats. I can't even begin to count on the damage they've done over time: chewed off cables, blankets and bedsheets ripped apart, or with huge holes, remote control missing buttons, spilled rat food all over, old food rotting in corners until I find it much later. In fact, once the power in our entire house went off, because of my rats. It was nasty. Both my rats and anyone who could accidentally reach those cables would have been electrocuted. As a result, I don't leave them unsupervised for 8 or 9 hours like I used to. I've covered all the cables and threw a cheap blanket on my bed so they won't chew everything.

Apart from ratproofing your room, do you have a basement or any room you can use? Or, if your rats enjoy it, take them outdoors. I take them regularly on a 40-50 minute walk around the neighbborhood, and I let them run around free in certain places. That pretty much takes all their energy, and when they come home, they just relax.

 

[lilspaz68]

I wouldn't advise the running free outside at all...predators, the rat may startle and run off...didn't one of your girls do that already?

 

[hopefloats]

You sound like you need a play pen. Pika was utter chaos when she was out...She slowed down now. Yours will too. They need the out time and you need to not be stressed about it. You should look into a play pen so both are happy. if they stay locked up for longer periods when they do get out, they will only be worse.

 

[Salem The Rat]

I wouldn't advise the running free outside at all...predators, the rat may startle and run off...didn't one of your girls do that already?

Are you refering to a post I made on another rat forum? Indeed, I had a bad experience, but everything turned out good.

I still take them outdoors regularly, but I'm more careful. I turned a make-up bag into a carrier and before I go out, I put the carrier in front of the cage and the rats who want to go out climb in (usually my young hairless, which is very curious). As I walk, they stay in the bag (with blankets and all) and they like to peek their head out and sniff. I only let them free in a very safe, in my opinion, park. There is an elderly home there, and they run around the stairs and the balcony. I also let them walk in the grass and on the benches and such surfaces. That park is empty now, no people or animals (in the summer, there were kids and one dog). Of course I check out for cats. Also, I am always next to them and when they want to they always jump right back into the bag.

I didn't make it clear in my previous post, but I wasn't trying to say ''just take them anywhere you want to''. I said that supposing the owner has in mind some place that's safe. Like a small playground. And only if the rats enjoy it. For example, what I did back then was stupid. Now I only take them to the same places, to avoid any more accidents and unpredictable events.

 

[jennifervb]

I love my rats so much, but I can't take how mischievous they can be when they are out of their cage. Usually I have to put them back after about 20 minutes because they are all trying to get to places that I have blocked off (as well as I can, but no matter what I do, they are always trying to get to the blocked off places), and no matter how loud I shout 'no,' they always go back, usually immediately, and I can't take it! Just now I had to pick one of them up off of my bed (which is forbidden to the rats), and while I did that, another ran onto my laptop keyboard and chewed off the 'c' key. I don't know how I can put it back on and I'm just so stressed. I really want to be able to take them out of the cage every day, but I'm finding it so hard! Please, somebody tell me what I should do.

The beauty of rats, Livyaahh, in addition to being adorable, is their level of intelligence. :love6:

I used to make it a game to see who could outsmart whom when it came to free range play time.... getting into closets... shoes.... lipstick...laundry.... bedsheets....you name it.

My best friend of all was my cloroplast enclosure! Only one of my boys ever managed to get out of that thing and that was only because he was an insufferable little tightrope walker.

Do not despair Liv!!!! You need to understand that you are living with a group of little Einsteins and, as such, they will teach you a thing or two about life.

Let's face it... they ARE inquisitive creatures. That is why they are so much fun to deal with! Imagine the hilarity of thinking that you have come up with what you believe is nothing short of Socrates-brilliant.... only to find that a four-footed bundle of ridiculous FUZZ has outwitted you! Imagine my surprise when my little dude, Roquefort (picture in my avatar), managed to get my make-up bag UNZIPPED and eat a significant amount of my Victoria's Secret lip gloss before I even realized that the little bugger was in there! Initial reaction....NOT pleased! Reaction after closer scrutiny of his pink stained and sticky face.... I almost died laughing!

You have to play the game Liv... you can do it! Use us here as your partners in crime in the game of wits with your rats. Admire their amazing wit and intelligence and WATCH them. I used to despair too... way back when I had my first two boys after almost 3 decades of having no rats. Now... I KNOW what to look for! I don't have rats right now...but I am grateful for the education my babies gave me. Open your mind...let us help you with counter plans of attack... sit back and ENJOY the ride. You will never experience anything like the glory of learning from your fuzzy professors. :love6:

 

[Livyaahh]

take them outdoors. I take them regularly on a 40-50 minute walk around the neighbborhood, and I let them run around free in certain places. That pretty much takes all their energy, and when they come home, they just relax.

wow really? Do people stop you when you're walking them and talk to you about your rats?

 

[Livyaahh]

I love my rats so much, but I can't take how mischievous they can be when they are out of their cage. Usually I have to put them back after about 20 minutes because they are all trying to get to places that I have blocked off (as well as I can, but no matter what I do, they are always trying to get to the blocked off places), and no matter how loud I shout 'no,' they always go back, usually immediately, and I can't take it! Just now I had to pick one of them up off of my bed (which is forbidden to the rats), and while I did that, another ran onto my laptop keyboard and chewed off the 'c' key. I don't know how I can put it back on and I'm just so stressed. I really want to be able to take them out of the cage every day, but I'm finding it so hard! Please, somebody tell me what I should do.

The beauty of rats, Livyaahh, in addition to being adorable, is their level of intelligence. :love6:

I used to make it a game to see who could outsmart whom when it came to free range play time.... getting into closets... shoes.... lipstick...laundry.... bedsheets....you name it.

My best friend of all was my cloroplast enclosure! Only one of my boys ever managed to get out of that thing and that was only because he was an insufferable little tightrope walker.

Do not despair Liv!!!! You need to understand that you are living with a group of little Einsteins and, as such, they will teach you a thing or two about life.

Let's face it... they ARE inquisitive creatures. That is why they are so much fun to deal with! Imagine the hilarity of thinking that you have come up with what you believe is nothing short of Socrates-brilliant.... only to find that a four-footed bundle of ridiculous FUZZ has outwitted you! Imagine my surprise when my little dude, Roquefort (picture in my avatar), managed to get my make-up bag UNZIPPED and eat a significant amount of my Victoria's Secret lip gloss before I even realized that the little bugger was in there! Initial reaction....NOT pleased! Reaction after closer scrutiny of his pink stained and sticky face.... I almost died laughing!

You have to play the game Liv... you can do it! Use us here as your partners in crime in the game of wits with your rats. Admire their amazing wit and intelligence and WATCH them. I used to despair too... way back when I had my first two boys after almost 3 decades of having no rats. Now... I KNOW what to look for! I don't have rats right now...but I am grateful for the education my babies gave me. Open your mind...let us help you with counter plans of attack... sit back and ENJOY the ride. You will never experience anything like the glory of learning from your fuzzy professors. :love6:

HAHAHA! This made me laugh so much Thanks it helped a lot

 

[Salem The Rat]

take them outdoors. I take them regularly on a 40-50 minute walk around the neighbborhood, and I let them run around free in certain places. That pretty much takes all their energy, and when they come home, they just relax.

wow really? Do people stop you when you're walking them and talk to you about your rats?

Just saw your post. It depends. Back in the summer, the park I take them to was full of kids and naturally they were all curious about my rats. I didn't really allow them to pet them, unless they were quiet and not make a fuss about it. There was a certain kid who kept asking me to drop my rat from there, to pinch it with that stick, etc. just so to see the animal's reactions. :redhot:

Now in the winter, everything is quiet and empty, so my rats have all the place for themselves.

 

[SQ]

:sad3:

predators = large birds of prey, cats, people, dogs, etc

Unless your rats are protected from all possible predators, please do not risk their lives by taking them outdoors.

Someone on here ... I think it was Dahlas had her ratties outside, supervised, in a martins playpen with wire cover.
That gave her ratties protection from predators and allowed them to enjoy being outdoors in safety.


Like everyone else has said, ratties need safe play areas such as:
- rat proof bathroom, table top, bed
- play area surrounded by cloroplast panels .... connected with cable ties, or stick on velocro (suggest 3 or 4 ft high)
- a playpen such as the martins large rat play pen (http://www.martinscages.com)
- play area surrounded by wood pannels works ... for awhile :roll:

Edit:
The playpens keep your rats safe, contained to an area, and protects the walls and other things from them.
I bought a large roll of linolum and laid it over the (livingroom) carpet in apartments I rented so that the carpet would be protected from the rats (urine, feces, chewing, etc)

 

[Kibble]

My rats used to pull up the carpet. Telling them not to only encouraged them, as if they were certain I was hiding some wonderful secret from them under there. I started bringing old blankets and boxes into their corridor, and spent the first playtime forbidding them from touching the new toys. Next time, they made a beeline for them, and started leaving the carpet alone.

Only constant supervision stops them from stripping the paper and plaster off the walls, though. But I forgive them, because they look so thrilled with themselves when they realise the walls are made of bedding.