Although rats do appreciate having a safe cage to live in and come home to, they get a little stir crazy if they aren’t allowed to stretch their legs sometimes.
1-2 hours a day is a good amount of free roaming time for pet rats to explore outside their cage and interact with you. You can always let them out more often, too. Just make sure their free roam areas are rat proofed, for their safety as well as the safety of your stuff!
I had rats during college and because I didn’t have a lot of furniture or anything of concern in my apartment, it was easy to leave their cage door open when I was at home, so they spent most of their evenings outside the cage with me.
Rats are highly intelligent and curious critters, so they enjoy being able to get to know the environment outside of their cage.
Tips When Free Roaming
Be prepared to wipe down any flat surfaces your rats been running across or sitting on. Rats do like to scent mark their environment.
It can help to litter train pet rats – this cuts down on the random poops you find in little corners and crevasses. In general, rats don’t like to poop outside of their cage so will usually hold it, unless they have no access to their cage for a long time. I liked to give my rats access to their cage while they were free roaming so they could go back whenever they wanted.
Rats can jump, climb and chew. Take anything important out of the room or place it up high enough (like on a book shelf) that it’ll be harder for them to get to. (There’s no guarantee they wont figure out how to climb there, but it buys you some time to go grab them!)
Always supervise rats when free roaming. They have a knack for getting into places they shouldn’t, or climbing up too high and having no way down again.
Let the rest of your household know that you’re letting the rats out, so they know to watch where they’re walking! Rats are little escape artists.
Be aware that if you give them treats, they may get stashed in a closet or under a couch!
If you just got your pet rats, try bringing their cage (or a travel cage) into their free roam area with them so they have somewhere safe to run if they get scared. As they get used to you and your house, you wont need this anymore.
If you want to let your rats free roam a large area, like your entire house, try training them to come when called so you can easily retrieve them. You can also entice most rats to come back to you with the smell of a tasty food.
Fun Free Roaming Activities
Some rats enjoy perching on your shoulder, or a hoodie pocket and going for a little ride with you. This is a great activity for when your rats are brand new and you’re still bonding with them. It will get them used to your scent, and help them view you as a safe place, without stressing them out too much.
Free roaming is a great time to try water play with rats (because they can’t kick their bedding into it.) Lots of kid’s toys, or pet fountains make great water play items for rats. You don’t have to get fancy – a shallow dish filled with pebbles and frozen peas or corn makes a great fishing toy for rats, especially on a hot day.
Digging boxes made from all kinds of materials are endlessly entertaining for rats! From coconut coir or sterile soil with no fertilizers etc. inside if you don’t mind getting dirty, or just strips of fabric, pom poms, ping pong balls, or simply a different type of bedding than you normally use in the cage can keep it interesting.
Some rats enjoy chase games, like with cat toys! Get your rats to chase the feather around you. Some rats may also enjoy wrestling with your hand.
Kid’s toys like plastic barns and houses make great exploration and sleeping places for rats during free roam time.
Use their free roam time to practice trick training, like asking them to spin in circles or come when they’re called.
Depending on how many decorations you have in your room, your rats might just enjoy sniffing around and seeing what mischief they can get themselves into.
Pick a Good Room for Rat Proofing
It helps to have one room picked out so you can fully rat proof it and know that your rats (and your chewable things!) are safe.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a great starting place for free roaming rats. It’s small enough that there isn’t too much trouble they can get into, and the small area makes them feel safer than a big, empty room.
- Close the toilet lid – rats can easily jump up to a toilet seat and get trapped in the water if they fall in.
- Watch for any open gaps under the bathroom counter that rats could climb into and get lost.
- Also check inside the bathroom counter to make sure there aren’t any holes, if the doors are light enough for rats to try to open.
If you introduce your rats to water when they’re young, they often enjoy playing in the water and even swimming as they get older. The bathtub is a great place to start giving them water toys without getting water all over the floor. Just give them a little water so they can choose to play in it or not. Watch they don’t get too cold and gently pat them down dry afterwards with a towel.
Living Room
The living room is a classic place to free roam rats!
- Make sure they don’t get lost in your couch and get sat on! They will also chew on your cushions if you let them stay in your couch long enough.
- Protect any wires using plastic tubing or tape them up the wall high off the ground. Check them a couple times a week to make sure the rats haven’t been chewing them.
- If you haven’t bonded with your rats yet, be aware they might run underneath a couch or book shelf and refuse to come out. You might want to start with a smaller free roam area for brand new rats.
- Watch that your rats aren’t chewing your base boards or any important furniture like couch cushions and legs.
Bedroom
Your own bedroom is a great place to free roam your rats. Here are some tips:
- You may want to protect your bed spread and pillows with an old blanket that you don’t mind getting chewed, that you can throw in the wash after.
- The bed is a great place to start free roaming new rats. Just give them something to do and something to hide under, so they don’t get the urge to jump off!
- Make sure your clothes, electronics, books, etc. aren’t accessible to rats (ex. hung up in a closet or in a dresser drawer they can’t open) because rats WILL chew holes in your things if left alone with them for too long.
Conclusion
Letting your pet rats to free roam in a rat-proofed environment can greatly enrich their lives and provide them with mental stimulation.
By following some simple tips, like always supervising their activities, protecting your valuables, and offering engaging toys and activities, you can create a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and your furry friends.
So, give your rats the opportunity to explore, play, and bond with you outside of their cage, and watch as they thrive with their newfound freedom!
