What could be cuter than a pet rat poking it's head out of your bed? Not a whole lot, but be careful before you decide to let your rat run free. First off, domestic rats are still rats, and they love to chew, carry off, and urinate on what you consider prize possesions. My rats get my room, when I'm there to supervise, for about an hour every day, then it's back into the cage. The doors are closed, holes are blocked up, papers picked up, the whole deal before they ever set paw outside the cage. Still, I find all sorts of odds and ends under my bed that the rats have gotten ahold of somehow or another. They've even stolen my homework now and then! Tie back cords and wires out of reach! Rats like to climb on them, first off, which could mean falling electronics, and they also like to chew, which may mean a fried rat! Block up cracks behind furniture and under doors, unless you want to chase your rat for a few hours or more. I have first-hand experience with this, Summit got behind one of my bookshelves and it took me two hours to catch her! That's not so bad, but it was midnight when I first let her out! I was so grumpy I almost gave up. She's also gotten up under my drawers in my dresser, on top of bookshelves, into a basket of stuffed toys, behind the TV, you name it. The main thing to keep in mind is that if their head fits, everything fits. A new hiding place they discovered just recently is inside my box springs below my mattress. They figured out how to crawl under the lining, and once they're in; how do I get them OUT?? It's nearly impossible! Once, I had to leave Twilight out all night when she got inside and wouldn't come out. So, as an early warning; staple EVERYTHING shut! I even had to resort to nailing small boards along the edges, since they were so dang persistant once they knew it was cool in there. With baby rats you need to be even more careful, they're so wiggly. Most rats can be litter-box trained; don't ask, I don't know how to do it. Sage and Nibbles couldn't care less and my room was a mess, and my new rats apparently are already trained. They almost never "go" outside the cage. Be careful if you have food out, the rats WILL get into it once they know it's there! I find all sorts of piles of sunflower seed shells (one of my favorite snacks), Cheetos, corn chips, etc. hidden in my room. They are not SUPPOSED to eat that kind of thing! Plus, they love little scraps of paper and fabric, so watch your bedsheets and your books closely! Find that rat FAST if you hear chewing noises! Also, guard any drinks you have out; they like to pull them over to see what's inside. Make sure you don't step on the rat either, Streak loves to follow me around the room and sometimes I don't see her until it's almost too late. That's about all I can think of in the way of warnings, but I may add more later as they continue to roam!
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