Environmental Enrichment For Rats
Although some people do not like rodents, other people find them sociable, friendly and unique pets. As all animals have different needs, we explain how to prepare an environmental enrichment for rats as pets.
Rats as pets
Not all breeds of rats and not all rats can be pets: only those of certain breeds that have been raised with humans from a very young age can coexist with trust and affection among us. In addition, these rodents live best in groups: if you want a pet rat, it is better if you adopt two or more together.
To be able to live with any animal, you must first make sure you know its basic needs: what it eats, how it sleeps or what foods are harmful, for example. Rats also need to be checked by veterinarians specialized in exotic animals.
After having your rats at home, knowing what they eat and which doctor to use to deworm them and make sure they are healthy, it is time to prepare the rest of the house. With the environmental enrichment for rats you will make sure to create an adequate, safe and, above all, beneficial environment for them.
Rats are very active, curious and intelligent animals. Therefore, they need physical space to walk, run and even climb. But physical exercise is not enough: you must also give them mental challenges and other occupations to keep them alert, as well as satisfy their need to think and solve problems.
Environmental enrichment for rats: inside their cage
Environmental enrichment for rats starts inside their cage: make sure you have a cage adapted to their way of life: the best type of cage is multi-story and of various heights, so that they can go up and down, as well as climb or climb.
Inside the cage be sure to provide different hiding places: to sleep safely they will need small nooks. They also tend to like hammocks hanging from cage bars and dark tunnels in which to run and hide.
Also, find out what kinds of toys they like. In addition to balls to push through their cage, they may also like ropes that they will use to get up and down the floor; but they will also need little puzzles to keep them entertained: bits of food hidden inside paper balls, for example.
Environmental enrichment for rats: out of their cage
Living inside the cage may not be enough for very many of these animals – outside the cage is where most of the environmental enrichment for rats can be created. For this reason, many of the families that live with these rodents let them walk through the rest of the house.
Before opening the door for your rats, remember that they must always be supervised: only then can you make sure that they do not get into trouble, that they do not hurt themselves and do not cause damage at home.
In the rest of your house you can easily create an environmental enrichment for rats: these animals like to browse and get to know all the corners and surfaces of the house in depth. Therefore, you can easily create small routes up and down to tables and furniture: for example, put ropes or cords that they can climb.
You can also place boxes or other objects so that they create stairs so they can be perched on tables or shelves. If your rats are especially agile, don’t make it easy for them. And, above all, change these objects frequently so that they do not memorize the way and have to make an effort to discover a new way to climb.
Take advantage of the fact that you no longer have the limitation of space in the cage: make big toys. For example, part of the environmental enrichment for rats that they can greatly enjoy is a cardboard box filled with ping pong balls with some treats or bits of food – it’s like a ball pit your size.
Basic security
When you start planning environmental enrichment for rats, never forget to keep safety in mind – rooms where rats can roam free must be safe. Make sure there is no rodents or insects poison within reach, that there are no holes through which they can fall and injure themselves.
All materials that you can gnaw should also be safe: you should never have papers with toxic inks or paints, treated wood, or toys with small plastic parts that you could try to eat.
Rats are intelligent animals, so you must teach them not to gnaw on the cables of electronic devices : not only will they damage them, but they could receive a shock and become very hurt or die. Hide as many wires as you can and teach him that the ones that are left can’t be chewed.
Rats are animals that are easy to make happy: with the appropriate environmental enrichment for rats they will be physically and mentally stimulated. Their mood will improve, they will become more sociable and you will be able to enjoy together for many years.
