Tips and Tricks to Make Free-Range More Fun for Your Rats!

[@JoeRafinski]

I live in a psychiatric nursing home. I look forward to the day when I leave and I can buy some pet rats. I had a mouse and a guinea pig once. I wish I was a better owner when I was a boy. I'm a grown man now and I've come to really enjoy the simple things life has to offer. Like being kind to small animals. Hopefully, someday I will have a home of my own.

[@bobbertbobby3975]

Im hoping you get what you wish for. Good luck with your life buddy.

[@anynamewilldoUSA]

Having pets is great for your overall "wellbeing". Good luck to you!

[@Emarie468]

I know it’s been a while since this comment, but i wanted to say that I hope you are well and getting closer to your dream!

[@TechSupportDave]

Do lots of research and watch lots of rat videos while you don't have the time to look after a pet! Trust me, it'll make it so much more rewarding when you finally get to buying a rat (Don't buy from stores!) and you already know everything, such as how to make a custom food mix! That's probably the hardest thing to get your head around as a rat owner.

[@user-mk9rl9nw7s]

I know this is old but your comment just hit home for me. I deal with mental illness and don’t work a normal job, don’t have the same everyday life as a “normal” person. I have rats and they are what has helped me keep going. I don’t know you but I really truly hope you are doing good and that you are a step closer to having your happy home and your rats. If you see this know you’re not alone and wishing you the best.

[@deplorabledave1048]

My rats favorite hide is an empty 12 pack box. Sometimes they even sleep in it. It's ironic because I have all these other expensive habitats that I bought online. But, my ratties love this worthless empty 12 pack box. LOL

[@jessiee768]

Deplorable Dave xD it’s been a year an I’m still first to comment on ur comment

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@jessiee768 The timing of your comment is funny. This afternoon I found four of my five rats all huddled together in a Seltzer 12-pack box on the bottom story of my Critter Nation cage. I had just cleaned the cage and had all fresh new hammocks strung up for them. But, noooo, they want the barren, bare cardboard box! LOL. PS: they do like their hammocks as well, but I often find them in the Seltzer 12 pack box on the bottom story.

[@revv2490]

Most of the hidies in my rats' cage are empty beer and cider boxes!!😂

[@anynamewilldoUSA]

Yep. I gave my hammy a mostly natural enclosure, but his favorite place; where he always sleeps is a long, tubular plastic baby-wipe container. It's held to the wall a few inches up. It's definitely his bedroom. Sleeps there all day, everyday.

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@anynamewilldoUSA I miss my female hammy Tedina. She was so sweet.

[@michaelcrockis7679]

The chewed up sweatshirt is a fashion statement!

[@catsonehundred7927]

My rats favorite thing to do is cuddle and she loves to chase my hands and she loves to jump really high and bounce around. She’s the best lol rat.

[@jackiepage1290]

Hello Shadow The Rat, thanks so much for sharing this video with us it was so much fun to watch Rats are a real Joy to have. There so much you can do with them

[@sventer198]

I haven’t had a rat in hears but love watching you train and spoil yours. They are such sweet creatures 🥰

[@Kindlesmith70]

Toilet paper. One roll and a method for the roll to be easily rolled. My rats loved to just pull all the toilet paper off a roll and build things with it. During my rat's parenthood she use it to make an entire den within her cage. It was amusing and adorable watching her try to get the paper to stay perfectly in place.

[@RaxNRats]

Besides that i love your ch and use your trainibg tips for lots of things .ive just got new babies from a lovely breeder a rex dark gray hooded and a smooth black hooded there called boop ( rex ) and sprinkle ( smooth coated ) and ive jyst done a intro with my senior rat sugar witch has gone very well . I will continue to use your ch for al my rattie tips and generally to brighten my day with chaos antics xxx

[@geekygiraffe]

I haven't gotten my rats yet but this is super helpful! I've been trying to find more information on free range time and activities and had a few dead ends. Thank you!

[@Ilovescrubs99]

I loved my rats. This makes me want them again

[@DPortugal]

Me too

[@deplorabledave1048]

My apartment is SO cluttered, that I do not have to build anything like this. It already exists!! My rats have a blast doing free range. No barriers. They always come back in 30 to 40 minutes. Except for little Butch. He likes to stay out longer. Edit: as of Jan 2021, I have the master bedroom in my NEW 1000 square foot two bedroom place all picked up and ready for safe rat free roaming and clean up. All tile floors! I have two spare POOPATORIUMS (litter boxes) set up for them outside the cage. They sometimes like to stay with me on the bed, and under the duvet or between my four fluffy pillows. My new 500 count sheets and pillowcases are getting a few gnaw marks. LOL. Nothing too serious. Bless them. They like to crawl inn my open sock or underwear drawer and have a snooze. So cute! Update: My sheets are basically destroyed. All of them. They LOVE spending time with me in bed! Daisy can almost always be found curled up in my underwear drawer. No fabric damage but she will find any random piece of paper and drag it in there and shred it for her nest. So cute.

[@dammastlino]

Mine are always nagging the cables 😭

[@decompressionstop1464]

🤣. Little Butch is my spirit animal.

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@decompressionstop1464 :)

[@heathertaylor8904]

@@dammastlino they don't really like the feel of duct tape. I run my cables up the wall then cover any part with duct tape they can reach. They'll try but the feeling when they hit the glue deters them immediately and forever. Might just be my boys though.

[@anabellik]

My rats absolutely love climbing, I put a couple of chairs of different sizes for them to have fun with. A stand for instrument of something like that can work really well too. I also throw a blanket on the floor (I roll it up a little bit first, but not too neatly). They like going in and under it, either exploring or hiding. Also, pcv pipes, big enough for rats to go inside easily. I have a couple and arrange them differently each time, so they have to learn new maze. A box with pieces of used paper or some rolled up paper towels to dig in. But of course, what every rat enjoys most is not toys, it's playing with YOU!

[@bingotheone-eyedwondercat6229]

My rats love squeaky cloth dog toys. The toys are shredded in just a few days. I love watching your girls. They are so sweet and frisky!

I used to place the lid of the aquarium crossways on top so my rats could jump up and go into an empty Kleenex box to lounge in on top of the aquarium. I called it their upper deck!

[@yoteawhirl1987]

We have this lil window box garden on ground level that's made of brick and relatively high. Started letting them free range there with supervision and now they come when called.

[@Lavenderskullz]

Cat carrier is brilliant! I had never thought about using that before

[@doughbeee4221]

This is such a good video! I have started free-ranging with my rats so this came out at an amazing time!

[@Lucky_gonewild]

Your profile pic is so cute!

[@doughbeee4221]

@@Lucky_gonewild thank you so much! It's my favourite picture of my two boys

[@Lucky_gonewild]

Aww

[@Lucky_gonewild]

@@doughbeee4221 btw I have a yt channel as well...can u help out with it?? Plz

[@jebgohome]

I think God made rats with you in mind :0)

[@In_The_80s]

I love the Rat chewed Hoody! Now that's true love to your favorite piece of clothing.

[@TearsOfEternity]

Thank you for sharing all these useful tips. We've had our two girls for a while now but haven't had the knowledge to train them or set up a free-range area for them so your videos have been super helpful.

[@snowspott]

My rats: jumps of the couch Me : ok here as a free-range zone! My rats: escapes Me:........ Well, I guess my whole entire house is a free-range area

[@kirstykerrigan3682]

Same lmao

[@wkfjskfj]

my rats have found a way to climb on the table via the radiator it's the One place I don't rly want them to go... def gonna get them a cat tower

[@katyar20]

I had rats as my first ever pet and they were amazing! So friendly and intelligent. Will definitely allow my daughter a couple of these cuties when she's older. Great videos!

[@ravennas.2736]

This was such a cute video. I know sweet Shadow has passed and that's sad but you have some other adorable rats. I'm in awe of your training ability and interaction with your rats. You're really making me think about getting a rat again. It's been a few years because one of my dogs was really animal aggressive but since he's passed, it might be time for a ratty. I really enjoyed your videos and have subscribed 🐀 hugs to grumpy.

[@doughbeee4221]

How long does it usually take for rats to get used to being stroked? My rats are kind of getting used to being handled but they do run away when touched Edit: wow I only just realised how many people replied to this! Thank you all for the advice, this comment is from two years ago while i'm writing this now, but for any of you that may come across this who have similar problems, I have some advice for you

[@katiebatchelor]

same here

[@AddictedToSongs]

same hereeee

[@pIIPR3DATORIIq]

Depends on your rat. Male v Female, I've noticed in my own experience females aren't as likely to snuggle with you as much as a male, because females are generally more energetic. Once they hit an age they usually slow down a little and will more likely want to just chill. Also rats have so many different personalities, so some may never get comfortable with human touch, especially in my experience rats from pet stores (not from a legit breeder) usually take a little longer to get use to hooman

[@evgeny_web]

maybe it is a special breed of rats who dont enjoy being picked up? :)

[@finvodahmindovahkiin1875]

Well, one of my girls started enjoying snuggles and pets a while ago, I've only had them for a couple months though. I didn't get them from a petstore but they weren't handled anyways.

[@penniecampbell1182]

Happy rats having fun, they are lovely

[@LudicrousScotty101]

A very good example of how to put together a rats play area.

[@nappabond3238]

So i take my fancy rat to walmart with me every now and again and ive come to notice when shes on my shoulder she gets super brave and with let anyone approach her, and doesnt freak out when loud noises happen, she really loves picking out her treats and toys. I also take her outside from time to time to play in the grass and its adorable because she will run around and climb all over me, I just love how brave she gets when I'm near because I can't help but feel like im her safety net and thats why she gets that way.

[@sourisblanche753]

Love your ratified sweatshirt! I have a load of shredwear and items eventually end up in the rag box with scrunched up paper for them to rummage in.

[@diniablay4853]

Omg! i love your channel so much!!!!

[@margcourierservice4010]

shadow yet another masterpiece lol i love your ideas the ladders the kleenex boxes the pet carrier all of it was brilliant

[@Angelbabylove1218]

Steam cleaners with the curtain extension work well for cleaning cat towers. My dog peed on the base of it once and it cleaned right up.

[@turtlemomma3796]

Love your style the worn out by my rat look is rly great on you 😂 I can't have any fabric without my ratties finding it first

[@Aisha-721]

It's fun watching the rat moving around in the white "peanuts."

[@colintoft6877]

Shadow I love ur channel! Hav had rats in past n thinkin bout gettin more. U hav loadza tips n stuff for them that I had no idea bout!

[@cksrufthsu]

omg the back of your shirt.... my 3 boys tear off 2 of my pants and a pair of jeans too hahahahahha

[@ShadowTheRat]

Hehe, noticed the hoody did you? :P Funny enough my current girls couldn't care less about chewing and all this damage can be attributed to my past girls Shadow and Latte. Now those two were little chewers, I swear no clothes were safe!

[@spacebunny420]

Hey! Im at the part about the cat trees. There are several wooden ones you can get that are very easy to clean and put sheets and such on yourself! I was looking at them for my rats 😋 i saw them on amazon and i think chewy. But anyways, cute video! Thanksnfor posting this i think a lot of this needs to be known in the community for newbies 💕

[@cow4life306]

I am trying to get rats your videos have been very helpful. Thank you

[@victoriasmith2512]

Giggles can u do a video of how u can’t own any cloths without holes,when owning rats 🤣

[@ShadowTheRat]

Lol, noticed the hoody did you? :P

[@LB-ge8ih]

I actually wear my pajamas, a robe and other “house only” clothing when I am with my baby rat boys, never my street clothes. I just accept they will nibble and since I never wear anything I care about them chewing, I don’t have to worry about tossing my favorite sweater or jeans. Just before I take them out of the cage for playtime, I change into my “ratty” duds and we are good to go. After all, our rats don’t care about our fashion choices!

[@victoriasmith2512]

Shadow The Rat no not at all. All my pjs and nighties have holes in.one of my baby’s can get in my chests of draws and the little bugger chews everything,xx

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@LB-ge8ih Tip: Ratties LOVE pieces of your old clothing in their cage. Smells like Mom or Dad. My rats love to sleep in my cast off pieces of clothing. Make sure NOT to wash your scent off. Even stinky scent! Not stinky to rats. When the clothing gets too gross with their pee etc., just discard it and replace it with another ripe piece of cast off clothing. I save ALL my nibbled clothing!! I stuff the clothing in their habitats. Large items, just rip them into small pieces.

[@heathertaylor8904]

@@deplorabledave1048 lol I do the same. 💜

[@Jasmine.Hodgson]

You have lovely pet rats, bean is my favourite ♥️

[@MaximusCommodus]

Thanks for sharing video . I love your rats

[@taylorsyoutube3878]

6:03 vsco girls have entered the chat

[@lunamsp5239]

Hahahhaahah

[@teddy-9236]

Lol

[@PlanterMan]

Great ideas! Know im a bit late..but a great way for introduction for water....a clear paint try. Its graduated, so they can pick their depth, and mine tried it last night for the first time and even the shy ones enjoyed.

[@xxtokoyeonxx3941]

Sometimes i make mazes for my rats and scatter treats around, they love going through and finding the treats :)

[@trikster6748]

I don't know if it would work for rats, but my mice LOVE blankets and towels. I usually make lousy ball of blankets and allow them to play there - they can explore different levels of fabric, which changes as they walk around and they have nice, cosy hiding space.

[@ShadowTheRat]

For sure! In fact one of the ways I tame skittish rats is to put on a blanket and let them explore.

[@sophieeerc]

Don't use towels there fingers can get hooked in them

[@lunarsystem9662]

The ripped back of your sweater, I feel that. Oh the joys of rat owning

[@whatrtheodds]

Swwwwweeetiesss. My rats always have that grumpy face. lol

[@karlathwaitesgaming2853]

Wow this video is so helpful👍💓

[@samanthasims697]

I love all of your videos. I started with 2 rats and now have almost 30. Lol they are some of the most amazing little pets. I'm starting school in the spring for veterinarian and I'm going to specialize in rats :)

[@cats-a-lot3609]

My hamster had one of those cheese chews! She loved it! I have a video on my channel but it’s really really old Lol

[@ichitsubu1149]

Your channel is so fun!! You are best rats trainer in the world!

[@RockeyDAproductions]

i dont have that much open floor space anywhere in my house! i have my cage on a huge table. but they get daring and start trying to make large jumps

[@taiwanjon2583]

I don’t have any pet rats. I don’t have any plans to get some, because I already have two dogs and two cats. But I still watch your videos because the rats are so cute♥️

[@billygo6135]

Wow nice video !!!

[@SpiderdayNightLive]

This was a great video! Thank you for all the helpful info you have

[@michelledelling7648]

I love watching ALL your videos...thank you for sharing 😀

[@imi1636]

Hi,shadow the rat.we got my five boy rats a two and a half foot play pen but they keep jumping out of it 😕I’m a first time rat owner as well so I found your channel and I love your videos.Thank you soooo much😁

[@ShadowTheRat]

Rats can easily jump 3 or so feet if they want out so the key is going to be to work with them instead of trying to stop them from jumping. My girls also used to jump out all the time - then I decided that I was going to work with them and teach them how they could ask me when they wanted out. As of now all of my rats know that if they climb onto my shoulder while I'm sitting in the free-range area they will be taken out and put back into their cage. And while they initially jumped out to explore more this has become a habit and now they won't ask to be put up until they're ready to go back to the cage. I have a whole video here on how I taught this and rats of any age can learn it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6TCn4yHjJmGY7s

[@waverleysworld9660]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! 😊😊😊😊

[@christinejones6065]

A few times I got my rats a kapoc pod from the pet shop (it is like a giant seed the size of a banana with fluff and stuff inside) they really liked chewing it and then put some of the fluff in their nest!😊🐀x

[@mrnoodlesthegreat]

That's why my rats will hide under the excess blanket beside my bed xD

[@kentjensen8086]

thank you ! my free range fence is 2 feet high so i need to keep them occupied or else they jump out.

[@emmaneu9951]

My rats favorite thing is a empty tissue box with that big opening

[@regardtdressel5958]

Awesome keep up the good work

[@buffyandwillowtherats9650]

Thanks this was sooooo helpful!!!!

[@skrunklycreationz]

my boys have a double critter nation and i give them a bathtub to play in,, its smaller than their cage,, theyre probably so confused LMAO

[@emilievillaflor4403]

This video is soooooo awesome 🤩!

[@astaraksteliene9803]

This is really awesome!

[@sandraforeman620]

Rats like to be clean. Put a small bowl of water & they will use it to wash their faces!

[@jamesdale3724]

Great video, :)

[@jimmyluo5938]

Ooh! I will buy some rats next week or when Coronavirus pandemic ends or when it’s under control. I WILL BUY 💯 TOYS FOR THEM YEAAAAAH!!

[@ratso3472]

We have a cat tower, our cat never uses it anymore but there is so much fuuurrr

[@Gweneta]

Those rats really ate up your sweater lol

[@sandraforeman620]

Try to remember that rats are not cage animals. They need to be able to run & play.

[@Orimthekeyacolite]

For a moment I thought the name of the channel was a tribute to "Shadow of the Horned Rat"))

[@bigladlarry3340]

My girls would just jump the cardboard box wall haha I just make sure all wires are in boxes and all dangerous or toxic items are in a drawer ect and let them free roam my room. So nice on a night time watching Netflix or chilling in my bed with the rats doing there own thing and occasionally coming up to cuddle in.

[@ShadowTheRat]

Oh believe me, these girls would jump or dig out if I didn’t train them to stay inside. I spend a solid week or two with new rats conditioning them to stay in the pen (basically just redirecting whenever they show interest in getting out) - after that they are pretty much solid about staying inside so long as I’m also nearby. Sometimes rats need touch up sessions but because I love training them it’s not a hard behavior to teach - it just requires a lot of consistency and persistence and so that’s why I didn’t recommend playpens for everyone. With that being said if you have no other choice like me, then a bit of work early on will make a playpen a stress free way to free range your rats.

[@lifeonafarm4503]

Also corks are safe for rats and my rat loves them so when I let her frea rand I would give her some and she spits it out too

[@wonderpetz9005]

So I live in Michigan so it's super cold, any tips on keeping them warm?

[@shanna8793]

Wonder Petz I assume they would be inside not outside, do you keep it warm in your room or wherever they will be ?

[@ambriadaniels8786]

Just give them warm fleece and let them burrow under it

[@RaxNRats]

Hi ive mentioned before about this but in your rattie ply oen there are often alot of orbs flying around . I dont know of anyone else has noticed but obv your past ratties never wanted to leave .ive seen the orbs on verious rattie box unboxibg vids some times there are multiple orbs at once . Anyway this was just a mention of a curiosity ive noticed and wondered if anyone else has noticed .they appear a few times in this vid onve just nr start of the vid and then a various times throughout this video .

Hi ich habe auch eine Ratte und will noch zwei dazu kaufen, und werde demnächst auch größeres gehäge machen. Echt tolle Idee ohne viel geld ein sehr schönes zu Hause schaffen.

[@sistervlogss1]

WOW 😮 so cuuute!!!!! By the way what kind of species of rats do you have?🙂

[@murphdawgswizzle]

she has fancy rats:)

[@williamdenton5192]

I have a rat named cookie and creamy 😄

[@carolinecullison7193]

Every time I play wrestle with my boys the get too excited and hyper and start attacking? Playing? With each other. Sometimes it is rough playing with a few squeaks and sometimes I need to separate them for a little because it turns into standing and shoving

[@IAMGiftbearer]

They're so cute! Oh by the way, where do you get those wooden ladders?

[@ShadowTheRat]

They're bird ladders - you can find them in the bird section of most pet stores. I tend to favor bird toys over rodent ones for my rats as I find most rodent toys are chew based while the bird ones tend to encourage foraging and climbing.

[@ada__smith2605]

@@ShadowTheRat when are you doing a face reveal?? please reply

[@chrissturt5143]

Thanks for sharing, gave me some ideas for Ripley the rat.

[@ronniesucks]

Wait, do you just have one rat? Please, get two or more! Rats get depressed if they’re alone!

[@allaboutgames4873]

what food you give to eat to the rats

[@hizenbergvanhosen7811]

How did you make your wall did you just us cardboard and tape looks really good I need this. We got some rats last night and seem very confident and one ran under the sofa and took some time to get him back aha

[@ShadowTheRat]

Yep I just used cardboard and duct tape. I have a video of me making it here as well if you want to see the process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmTIdaiNZrKFntk

[@davidgold3nrose]

Unrelated but your skirt is really cute

[@samaragraham3352]

Your girls are always so clean. We have tried a few different ways of bathing but they seem very stressed by them. I would like to find a way that isn’t stressful. Any suggestions.

[@triggerlucy]

Rub coconut oil into their coat once a fortnight. They’ll lick It off, it’s good for them inside and out and makes them smell nice.

[@samaragraham3352]

lucy rebecca thank you!!!

[@Angelbabylove1218]

I use baby wipes if their butt gets messy honestly

[@LemonFresh_107]

I just keep them with clean bedding and padding for their feet and they keep themselves pretty clean. If they get oily or grimy its because i havent kept their clage clean enough. I think its mostly them cleaning themselves but also because clean bedding will absorb the bad dirt or oil on their bodies as they play/lay around. Sometimes ill just wipe them off with a warm damp towel, they hate baths too. Keep in mind i have two fancy ladies though.

[@chinchilla0708]

Don't rats clean themselves? Mine did and they also smell like flowers out of nowhere. Maybe you should change their bedding more often.

[@camillehenley5238]

How do you keep the carpet clean? I always have to put a blanket down because mine pee and poop

[@HillaryMarek]

Camille Henley same. Do you have a Five Below store near you? If not you can go to their website and order these big throw rugs that are water resistant so it won't soak through to the carpet and you can just toss it in the washer or the foam squares that lock together and you can just wipe then down when you're done. I think they are made by series 8 fitness in the yoga section of five below.

[@norahdejournett9609]

You can litter train them! To do this every time they poop just place it in their litter box, and for peeing, you cant really train that but to help, place. a rock in their litter box and it can help them choose to use the bathroom there! I know it may sound gross, but it really helps keep your things clean! If you litter train them, it also teaches them to hold in their pee and poop until they can use their litter box!

[@vscopo940]

Omg I have two rats named cookies and cream

[@Ur_Local_Royale_High_Fan_Lala]

You know someone has animals when their shirt is torn 😭 Seriously relatable tho- one of my rats, missy, chewed a frickin hole in one of my shirts

[@agnieszkajaremczak1568]

Hi Shadow. Thanks for all your videos. Do you leave their cages open at night? Thanks

[@ShadowTheRat]

Nope, they only get free range when I can watch them. Rats are just too small, hyperactive, and honestly too curious for their own good. They can easily jump the playpen if they felt like it, and while I’ve worked with mine so that they stay inside when I’m inside as well, if they were given all night access they would for sure hop out and get into trouble. A select number of rat owners do have a rat proofed room they let the rats roam any time they are awake at home, but even these owners usually cage them securely at night and whenever the leave the house just because rats are so small and so able to get themselves into trouble.

[@olgakrywolewicz4811]

Hi where did you buy this packing peanuts or what else can i put in the digging box?

[@ratweekly6160]

My rats have only every chewed my curtain and only bite my clothes when trying to show me something and try drag me I’m lucky 😂

[@alexandriageiler687]

I’ve got a cat tree that my cats use, I’m worried that the smell of the cats would stress out he rats if they were playing on it ? Obviously the cats would never be on it the same time, but the cat hair can still leave a smell.

[@ambriadaniels-dovolis7496]

Not a great idea. Your rats can get germs from it that will make it sick

[@alexraxt1379]

Thanks for this video! It really helped for me! How many rats do you have?

[@ShadowTheRat]

Currently 6, but I've had between 2 and 12 in a group.

[@InhumanImplant]

Spirit Orb at 0:12, you have visitors.

[@InhumanImplant]

What camera are you using if you don't mind telling? Thanks.

[@evgeny_web]

you have very nice videos about rats! i used to have pet rats as well. most of all i like hooded rats. i am curious why did you name your rat "Shadow"? what is the meaning of it?

[@alisoldchannel5132]

What if I bug bomb the house and bring the rats back to the house the next day? Will they be ok?

[@ambriadaniels8786]

NO!! THEY WONT!! They need to be gone a week when you do that!!!

[@spankeyfish]

2 months on and I'm wondering if the rats have worked out that they can chew their way out of the cardboard wall yet, lol.

[@ShadowTheRat]

Oh they can jump, dig, and chew out and they know it. But I’ve trained them to ask me when they want out and as that’s their habit they’ll never try and escape on their own so long as I’m in the pen. Rats are smart, give them a way to communicate with you and theyll gladly do so!

[@spankeyfish]

How do they ask you?

[@ShadowTheRat]

They jump onto my shoulder and wait. I’ve also taught past rats to jump on a platform and wait. Then after a few seconds I get up and put them away! It’s just something I initially lured with treats and then substituted treats wih going back to the cage. So now they don’t ask until they’re ready to go back! It’s really helped make playtime much more relaxing and it really helped my more skittish girl Cream when she was still learning to trust me as she knew if she got scared she could ask to be put up (and indeed she did used to ask to be put up whenever she heard a loud noise.)

[@arterismir]

Hi ! I'm a new rat pet owner who need some tips... I created a Free-Range for my two boys. One of them is really calm but the other one keeps trying to find creative ways to escape the free-range. I tried to make the space larger and to put more toys and hidings and food in it. Now I just place all things in my living room and place cardboard to protect them from electric wires, but my rat spend all his time chewing the cardboard and I spend mine taking him away from it... Any idea to make him stop "trying to escape" and just... play ?