Outdoor/Indoor Playpen want opinions please

[dspch911]

Ok, I did do a search and read some reviews on this, but any current opinions. I would like to take the boys outside without the fear of mites/fleas and creatures from above and I was thinking with a mat on top and bottom the would be doable? However, I'm still concerned about the mites/fleas - how much of a factor is that if they aren't touching the grass? I know about the heat issues and will not let them over heat. I can also put them on a concrete area/patio attached to the garage (still within the yard/not in the alley or anything) that is covered. Thanks much!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=14629

 

[jorats]

I'm not sure how important going outside is to rats. What I mean is why do you want to bring them outside? I'm not against it. In fact, I used to bring my rats outside. I didn't really see any benefit to it other than seeing them au natural. I stopped doing it.

 

[hopefloats]

A martins playpen has a base pan, the smaller one, it is also enclosed securely. You have to watch for hawks I know they are pretty heavy in the midwest and they will snatch up rats. I have taken the rats out in a cage to the porch before. You probably seen that playpen when you picked the boys up, they were in the one i had here. It is a good size much better than the super large one.

 

[dspch911]

Guess I really don't have a reason - just thought they might like fresh air... I've taken them out before, but only 1 at a time and only the big boys.

 

[Petunia]

my rats have always loved going out, they love all the new smells, but I put them in a very large cat carrier or in smaller cage.

I've got a gpig cage that's about 29L by 17W by 15H, not really easy to move around but I set it up on a table on my porch and then put them in and sit with them for a half hour or so.
they LOVE it!

they like going out in the cat carrier too but they dont' get as excited because there's only one place they can look out (the door)

if I had a different carrier they probably would love that.

this way they are more protected and I can relax a bit and not worry quite as much as I would if they were on the ground.
it really IS the air and the scents that they like they get excited about.

 

[dspch911]

So basically since they have their own room w/two windows opening the windows will make them happy..

 

[Petunia]

So basically since they have their own room w/two windows opening the windows will make them happy..

yes, but if you wanted to take them out in a carrier or something, they might enjoy that.
give it a try and see how they react, unless they aren't happy in the carrier

I guess it depends on the rats, some very very scared rats might not like being in a new place, but I've found even my most scared rats love a change,
and being outside is a big change. The amount of air/scents that can reach them is greater etc

really depends on what you want to accomplish. I take mine out but as a special treat, it's not something I do very often (partly because I don't like being outside LOL) but so far I've not had a rat who didn't love this treat.

a nice thing about doing this, esp if you use the carrier that you'd use to take them to the vet, is it gets them used to that carrier, and it gets them used to new experiences, so that if they do need to go to the vet, they are far less stressed-
they'll see it as another treat.

I do this with my cats, the cat carrier is out and opened with a comfy cushion in it, and they can go in a nap there, etc

this way when they go to the vet, their assocations with their carrier are good ones

I don't know that it helps a whole lot to take a cat out for a ride though, since there are several reasons why car rides are stressful for cats. One is the way that they see- their vision is designed to detect motion, esp horizontal and diagonal motion.
this is why if you drop something down in front of them, they won't see it, but if you toss it out in front of them at an angle, they'll run after it (say a treat or a ball etc)
their vision is designed for catching prey and most prey don't drop striaght down at their feet :lol:


if you're traveling with a cat, it's often best to make it so they have plenty of fresh air, to keep them from getting car sick but if possible you should block their view to outside. The things whizzing past, or so it seem to them, is very upsetting and most cats will calm down if their view of it is blocked

not all though, there are some few cats who enjoy looking out. you can usually tell by their reaction.

anyway, that's way off the topic :lol: