Free Roam
If you would like to free roam your rats, ensure that you have a secure area which:
- Has no exposed wires
- No holes they can squeeze through (and they can manage to get through quite small holes!)
- Ideally easily cleaned
- Minimal hazards such as sharp edges, items that can fall, etc.
- Nothing that you are precious about
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I would also suggest starting with a smaller area so that the rats don't feel overwhelmed, especially if they are your only rats and they don't have more confident individuals to lead by example. Another option is to free roam them on the sofa or bed. If you decide to have them on your bed, I would suggest using a cover.
Play Pen
A play pen can be a great option if you don't have a suitable secure space to free roam. You can make a play pen out of tall cardboard boxes, plastic panels, wood, or any other sturdy material. Bear in mind that the pen may be chewed, that rats are quite athletic (see below photo), and easy storage is useful.
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I use songmics shoe holder panels that have been cable tied together. Most of it is 3 panels high (reason down below) and then one section is 2 panels high for access. This is sturdy, easily adjustable, and folds away nicely. I have patched up the odd hole using duct tape.
Toys While Out
You can use a huge variety of items when your rats are out for free roam/play pen time. A good approach is to find things that promote natural rat behaviours: climbing, balancing and jumping; digging and burrowing; gnawing; foraging; nesting; running; problem solving; and socialising. These don't have to be expensive either.
Here are some cheap play pen ideas:
- Large boxes. You can make a fort out of them or just randomly chuck them in. Both approaches are great for rats. If you haven't had any deliveries you can often grab large boxes or crates from stores.
- Small boxes. Shoe boxes, cereal boxes or even cardboard sleeves from beer can be great fun for rats. Incorporate paper stuffing and maybe sprinkle some food in it for them to find. Sometimes you can get circular boxes that can be used as tunnels! Or cut the end off a pringles can or similar (this might not work for bucks).
- Snuffle toy. Place an old towel on the floor, sprinkle some food/treats, pinch the middle then twist or roll up to make a snuffle toy!
- Toilet/kitchen roll for them to shred
- Pea fishing. Place a good size tupperware on a towel and fill with water and frozen vegetables/peas. Start with a shallow level of water then once they get the hang of it increase the water level!
- You. You make a nice climbing frame and are great fun to interact with!
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A little bit of money:
- Foldable wine rack
- Tunnels
- Foraging puzzle toys
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More money:
- Jungle gym. The one below is made from songmics shoe holder panels as well, but the grid type. This allows items to be hung from it. Try to use items that you wouldn't usually have in their set up so there's some novelty. I used seagrass mats to cover the bits of the grid the rats would be walking across.
- Fancy rat castle. The one below is from Happy Henry's Homes, and is a copy of a custom order.
Outside
The outside could offer lots of novel enrichment for rats - different smells, textures and sights - but is it worth it?
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When and where do you usually see wild rats?
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Wild rats can be active at a range of times, but usually at dawn or dusk when it is darker as they are quite sensitive to bright lights. You should also bear this in mind when finding somewhere to place your rat cage. If you take your rat outside during the day, this can be quite overwhelming for them from a sensory perspective. If you take your rat out at dawn and dusk and they get away, they will be extremely difficult to find and get hold of again.
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Wild rats are prey animals so will be found under cover and in more overgrown areas, and they like to hug along the side of fences if they are in a more open area to give them some sense of security. This isn't compatible with safe and supervised enrichment.
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Leads have been suggested as means to provide safe free roam outside. However, these leads are often unsafe and, in the event of spooking, can even cause injury or death.
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Signs of an anxious rat can include alert posture, hugging the sides of fencing or similar tall structures, rapid movements, freezing and cowering.
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Disease risk can be a bit of a contentious issue, however it is a matter of human health. Leptospirosis (which can be carried asymptomatically by rats and be transmitted via infected soil, water, urine and blood) is the main concern but unfortunately the literature just isn't there to advise on the level of risk for each area across the UK. Lepto threatens human life, though, so should not be taken lightly in spite of this. Information about leptospirosis can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leptospirosis/
Any rat who has been outside should be treated with a course of doxycycline as a precaution for leptospirosis. Testing can also be an option, but this is more expensive than treatment.
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Ultimately, we can provide so much enrichment indoors and anything the outside offers we can incorporate into what we offer in safer and less stressful ways! You can open windows and use snuffle activities to introduce new smells, make a dig box using a big tub, coco fibre soil and planted herbs such as basil, or even sow some seeds and leave them to sprout and grow.
Other Pets
Rats should not come into contact with other pets for a range of reasons, including risks to the rat from the other pet as well as risks the rats pose to your other pet. This can include bites, scratches, grabbing, being knocked, crushed, or harassing each other (ie. chasing). Intense staring and posturing can be a major warning sign. When people post photos or videos online showing interspecies interaction, if you look at the body language of either party they are usually anxious to some extent. But even if you are convinced that your pets are okay together, remember that they are different species so communicate differently and can misinterpret each other, plus things can happen as an accident as well. It can happen so quickly and it is simply not worth it. If in doubt, research signs of stress or discomfort in your pet's species.
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You can keep them apart by training your other pet, such as a cat or dog, to stay away from the rat cage. A "come away" cue can be useful for a dog. Other good cues to teach a dog in case of emergency are "leave it" and "let go". You can teach "leave it" by holding a treat in the ball of your hand, then when they stop nuzzling it you give them a treat from a different hand. You can place a treat on the floor and reward them for leaving it. Then add the cue "leave it". You can teach "let go" by playing tug with a toy then keeping the toy still and boring, then rewarding with a treat when they let go. Once they can do this reliably, add the cue "leave it" and build difficulty by making the toy exciting and asking them to leave it.