RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:28 pm

Hi,
I am a new rat owner. This is the best site . This message board is my bible and you have all helped me more than you know. I have two girls, around 4 months old. I have had them in a Chinchilla cage but I bought them a new Ferret Palace with seven levels. It's beautiful. They seem to hate it. I can't get them to stay in there for more than a minute . I think they may actually kill themselves sometimes trying to get out. What is the best way to ease them in to this new situation? They try to squeeze out of the bars or they run around and come back to the door and climb all over it to find another way out? Could they hurt themselves or are they just rambunctious because they want more free range time out of the cage? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Linda

Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:42 am

Are you sure that they just aren't really playful and trying to get out just to be out? They may just really love being out for free range time and really dislike being penned up. While this is not how any of mine feel, I don't see why some rats wouldn't. This is what I'd try: Put a ramp or some sort of way out of the cage during free-range time. Make sure that the food and water stays inside the cage, and the girls should go back and forth between the cage and wherever they play outside of it. This should make them feel more at home even while they're in their cage, because they will start to think of it as their refuge instead of a jail cell.

Of course... they *could* hate their cage. You say it's a new Ferret Palace, but is it actually used? Is there any way that ferret or other animal smells could be all over the cage? Perhaps they smell a predator and it makes them nervous. If this could be the case, then I'd haul the cage up to your shower and give it a REALLY hot washing off with a gentle soap (or vinegar and lemon juice mixture, which some folks use).

Do the girls have anything from their old cage in their new cage? It could be hammocks, igloos, food dishes, etc... anything that they would consider to be theirs. Those things should make them feel more at home.

Besides that, I'd say give them some time and lots of extra love.

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Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:56 am

Zipper and Ty told me to tell you, your girls are nuts! The want me to get them a big Ferret Palace. I told them to save up and buy it for themselves. wink

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Loving Mum to my rattie boys, Zipper and Ty
Bestest Bud to Milly, the greatest horse ever

Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:44 am

I appreciate the feedback. I do not believe it is a used cage. I did clean every inch before I assembled it. ( I get a little paranoid.) It does seem insane that they wouldn't love this. I did put their food and toys in there. I think your right about them just wanting to get out. I think I gave up too easily. I will try again tonight and we'll see what happens.

Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:10 am

Yeah, your girls might be a little playful and would love to run around. A running wheel might solve that problem. When you cant let them out to play, this wheel would be good exercise. Make sure it has no holes in it for the tail can slip out of a hole and get seiriously injured. It should also be very big to hold a rat.
Also, if it would help, play with them longer. It helps tire them out so they will get a nice sleep. This works with my girls. Snickers used to chew on the cage wire when she wanted out, and when I got her out for one hour. Now I get the girls out for 2-4 hours and that works great for them. goodluck

with the cage and your ratties!

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To the world, you are one person.
To a rat, you are the world.
~Charlie S.
Kristina an her babies, Basil and Snickers.
~*RIP Ema, I miss you sweetie!*~
<:3( )~~~~~~~

Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:14 am

Most rats like the Wodent Wheels that you can get at the pet store.

Good luck!!

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EMILY-------------------------------------------------

Rest in peace, Violet and Isadora. <3

Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:19 pm

OK. Tried again last night. I just tried to not get upset when they ran around the thing like lunatics. I had another nice surprise when I saw Bianca Squeeeeze out of the bars!! Coco is too fat to do that. So, I will be off to Home Depot tonight to buy some mesh. For now they are back in the 'usual" cage until I can make my modifications. Funny thing is, the bar spacing is EXACTLY the same on both cages but she never tried to get out before. Oh well. Ratty girl, I took your advice and let them out for over an hour, when I put them back in for the night it only took tem minutes for them to cuddle and go to sleep. All tuckered out. Thank you all very much for the help.

Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:23 pm

OK. Tried again last night. I just tried to not get upset when they ran around the thing like lunatics. I had another nice surprise when I saw Bianca Squeeeeze out of the bars!! Coco is too fat to do that. So, I will be off to Home Depot tonight to buy some mesh. For now they are back in the 'usual" cage until I can make my modifications. Funny thing is, the bar spacing is EXACTLY the same on both cages but she never tried to get out before. Oh well. Ratty girl, I took your advice and let them out for over an hour, when I put them back in for the night it only took tem minutes for them to cuddle and go to sleep. All tuckered out. Thank you all very much for the help.

Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:26 am

Well, I've been keeping them in their old cage and when they've been out they ran in, out and around the large cage. I attached Hardware cloth to most of the cage. Tonight was the first time they actually didn't try to squeeze out so I decided to just keep them in for the night. Hope they don't try to get out. I think Bianca may have grown a bit in the past two weeks so I am not so sure she could fit throught the bars anymore. I'm so happy, they look so comfy! If I ever figure out how to do it, I will post pics. Rainbow Smiley

Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:42 am

Oboy, does this ever bring back memories! LOL

I remember getting a new cage and being all excited about it and thinking i did a good thing and rushing to post about it - till I put the kids in it.... Sad

I titled the post 'They hate their new house'.
They didn't, really. They just need some time to adjust, and they loved it!
Think about it. Their home is pretty much their world. You'd freak if someone rearranged your apartment.

Just put them in there. Don't confuse them by switching old & new. They just need some settling in time.

Good on ya for doing that nice thing for them!
You'll all be happy about it in a couple days, I promise!

ps, wouldn't hurt to throw the bedding from the old cage into the new one. Familiarity, you know.

but why can they still get out with hardware cloth on it? Get it escape proof. One thing I've learned to pay attention to with ratties is that once they do something and find they can, it becomes part of their repertoire.
Like they don't know that they can jump unless they are given something close enough that they try it. Then even if you move the thing away they think they can do it still or look for something closer.

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MyBoys-Coors, Romeo, MacKenzie, D'Arcy, Basil. MyLadies Sahara & Savanna