Trying to chew her way out of the cage

[1095732]

Xena spends hours trying to chew her way out of her cage, the other girls don't ever do this. She has plenty of things to do in her cage (tunnels, hides, hammocks, ladders, toys, hidden treats, digging boxes, 7 friends to play with). She will try for about 15 minutes, then go sit for a few minutes, then try again. She usually starts in the afternoon and does it throughout the night. Is this normal?

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

I have a chewer. Gloom. When she wakes up after she does a few things, she will go to the bottom of the DCN and chew chew chew chew. She wants out. She wants more playtime. She wants to esplore. My boys sometimes do it when they are very eager for their playtime. So when she does it, if you can, let her run around on the floor a bit (or somewhere rat proofed that she enjoys).

 

[hopefloats]

She wants out of the cage, they dont like being locked up for to long.

 

[Lucky4LeafClover]

Mine do that too. My recently neutered male was in the hospital cage and he spent the whole night after surgery chewing the cage corner that was nearest the DFN.

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

My rat Lady Calista chews the bars when she wants to come out. I feel like she has me trained... when she chews the bars, I take her out. Now she seems to understand that's how it works. :emb:

 

[1095732]

I've been letting her out when she does that, because I feel bad for her. But I also don't want her to learn that she can do that if she wants out. I let them all out in my bedroom for 2-3 hours. I got the ladder that connects to the CN to the floor so they can come and go as they please (I actually got 2 of them and connected them, so it's nice and wide). But as soon as the door is shut, Xena starts. But some of yours do it as well so I guess it's nothing to be worried about.

 

[jorats]

What you are going to need to do now is take her out when she's not doing it. Rats learn very fast so if you give her attention when she's doing it, she'll keep doing it.

 

[Eleanor]

It is also possible that she just really likes chewing. Maybe offer her some of those fun block toys to chew on. Mine even had a limestone block that they chewed on a lot when they were young. Good for their teeth too!

 

[Aida]

I don't think it's something to worry about, then.

Mine do this too, but usually they just give up after a while.

 

[AbbeyBenny]

It's one of the most common problem with most of the rat, thanks for the solution you shared here, i never thought they do this for attention or something is irritating them it's like a natural thing for them.