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Nancy_Rat
Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:08 pm
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 Switching Cages |
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Hi everybody! Last month, I used my Christmas money and got the ratties a new cage..It's really big! It's only one level, but it's long and wide. Ok, on to my question. I once read in "Ferrets for dummies" that you can switch cages to kind of keep things new and exciting for them. Can you do that with rats too? Because my ferret has a cage about their size, its 2 levels though. If i cleaned the cages really well, could I switch their cages for a month or so? ttyl 
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God is like soap...Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
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Ratsicles
Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:32 pm
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Personally, I wouldn't, because even cleaning really well, I'm sure the ferret would leave behind *some* scent that would be noticeable and frightening to the rats- ferrets are predators, so being in a space once occupied by one would probably keep them from feeling very safe. Not only that, but most rats think of their cages as "home base," and switching them around monthly would keep them from developing a sense of exactly where their safe place is. It would be something akin to you having to move every month of your life without ever getting used to a place.
If you give them plenty of free range time, that should be enough to keep them from becoming bored, without turning their lives upside down to switch cages every month or so.
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--Brittany
"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom." |
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serendipityrodentry
Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:39 pm
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I agree with Brittany.
I know I hate moving, and I know my rats do too!
I just got two new cages - R-695's from Martins, and set them up last night and added the rats. My boys explored and settled in pretty well...but my girls kept coming back out, looking for their old cage. It took a few hours before they were settled enough to even set foot in their hammocks.
I could tell they were stressed, and I would not want to do that to them on a regular basis.
But, what you can do is change the stuff around in the cages every couple of weeks to keep it interesting. Try rotating different toys and houses, moving their hammocks around, etc. That should keep everything interesting, but still keep them feeling safe in their home. 
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Shanna
~ Serendipity Rodentry ~ |
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