first time rat owner

Shop with us on Ebay
Fins us on Amazon
Advertise with us
The Rat Shack Forum

Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
G

Geelanco

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
17
Location
London
Hello,

I've had my rat (Mu) for 2 weeks today, she's about 10/11 weeks old and i want to play with her, but i dont know how best to, she just seems to curl up on my shoulder/lap.

anyone got any ideas how i can get her to play with things?
 
Hi and welcome!
First, I'd get her a buddy. Rats are much happier and healthier when they have a same sex buddy.
To play with them, you can rub their heads or tickle their sides and this usually sets them off running and hopping too.
 
Welcome to the Shack....you will love it here
A playmate is the best toy you could get her...........It is so much fun to watch them wrestle and play. Plus my little girl Hazel loves to play tag with my hand.......I start of scratching on the floor of the cage, she comes running and chases my fingers then I suddenly start tickling her belly and she takes off I tickle of her bum and she starts wrestling and chasing my hand again.....it is so much fun.......they all like to do it but Hazel loves it the most.
My babies love cat toys, balls, ropes to climb, boxes to play hide and seek in, they seem to be able to make a toy out of anything.
Can't wait to see pictures of your little girl.
 
hello,

thanks for the info, im working on getting her a friend to play with. unfortunately it isnt going too well, i still live with my parents and they think im reading too much into her subdued behaviour, they mean well, and im sure if nothing else, given time i'll be able to convince them it isnt an awful idea .... or i may just buy another and surprise them.

any-who ... i've just posted some piccys of my little Mu on another topic i think its one about new rats etc ... take a look shes really pretty.

thanks again,
Conor
 
Lone rats are much too lonely and this can cause various health problems.
Although a few rats can not be integrated in with others, living with at least one rattie friend is essential for most rats and part of providing a healthy environment. Rats sleep together, play together, mutuallly groom one another.

If your parents realise just how important it is, perhaps they will allow you to get her a same sex friend.

Lone ratties need to spend at least 4 hours a day out of their cage interacting with their owner.
 
yea i've been telling them about how social they are and how they usually hang out in large groups and socialise etc etc etc, i've even started prnting out articles and leaving them about the house .... failing that i think i will just buy a second one and just see how long it takes them to notice.

meanwhile, i have her out of the cage as much as i can to try and keep her active/happy ... unfortunately she spends most of her time out of the cage just lying down on my lap or on my shoulder, she does brux alot when im about but when i see her in her cage she is always just lying there ... i dont like it!

however, we shall see how negotiations go and if they break down i will consider guerilla warfare!
 
I agree I would just go get another and see how long it takes them to notice. One more is really not that big of a deal cost wise monthly, unless you get into vet bills.

I got my dog Dazie, by just brining her home. I had her behind my back and I said "Dad, I have somehting and she is not going back, I paid for her and she is staying." He said "What the heck is it." and I pulled out this little 6 week old pit bull puppy. He said" I don't care but you better take care of her and you are paying for everything." I did and 7 years later he loves her and says she is such a great and loyal dog.

I had no choice but to show her to him you can't hide a puppy like you can a rat. :lol:
 
haha

pitbulls are lovely, and yes thats my opinion ... especially if they dont notice for a couple of weeks cos then i can say "well you didnt notice the difference" and there's sod all to say in response!!!
 
oo im thinking it may be time to take revolutionary steps ... i shall attempt to resolve the matter peacably again and failing that i shall consider shipping in agent ratty (may have to give her a cool agent name if she does have to be sneaked in :D
 
Oh, I cannot possibly wait to see pictures of you and your rat! Best to get 2 rats so that the other rat will always have someone to playwith when you are not around. According to Debbie Ducommun, no owner's playtime is the same equality as another rats playtime. I hope you get a second rat soon. I bet Mu is lonely without her friends :( . Beautiful name; nice choise. Welcome to the forum! :D Hope to see you around!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top