My friend's newly adopted female rat has had a litter of adorable rat pups and I've fallen in love with the only three baby females out of her litter of seven. I've had numourous pet rats in the past. I live in a one bedroom apartment with my baby four month old quaker parrot Diva. I've heard horror stories of pet rats attacking and killing small bird because rats can be predatory. Diva is spoilt and free range from around 7am in the morning to 6.30pm when she goes to bed. She has a large cage in the living room, a large play gym and several different foraging toys on hooks around the living room as well as her indoor garden aka the two bottoms of extra large dog crate with organic soil, loose grass sprouts a little seed and a few veggies for foraging in and a water fountain in middle for her to bath and a sleep cage in the hall for her at night time.
If I got three of the litter of rat babies I would be getting them a very large cage filled with levels and toys making a plexiglass cover to cover the cage completely during day with enough drilled holes to provide plenty of ventilation so there's no risk of Diva getting bitten if she lands on the cage or goes over to investigate. She's never been clipped but she still chooses to walk rather than fly it's personal choice on her part she's been examined by the vet and there's nothing wrong with her wings she just doesn't like flying. Rats are nocturnal and more active in evening so when Diva is put into her sleep cage in hall at 6.30 and the living door is closed I would be able to let the rats out and let them explore, give them attention, training and interaction until I go to bed usually around 12. I would be careful with all Divas toys and ensure her toys, garden and bath are lifted and put away to avoid cross contamination of any germs or saliva before ratties are let out. Could it work and would it be fair on Diva and the rats. I'm a introvert who really enjoys the company of animals over people and never leaves the house and I'll shamefully admit I miss Diva when she goes to bed at night and I'm left in setting room at night alone with the TV but I know how important it is for her to stay in a good routine and get twelve hours sleep so having a few little nocturnal fur balls to join the family is awfully tempting. Especially as I love training and rats are exceptionally smart trainable and affectionate little critters. What do people think I'm also thinking the rats would likely enjoy the chop I make Diva and a lot of the wasted veggies as she's picky and I'm having trouble getting her to eat her veggies and I'm sick of throwing out her chop and veg as I only have a small freezer space from my under counter fridge
If I got three of the litter of rat babies I would be getting them a very large cage filled with levels and toys making a plexiglass cover to cover the cage completely during day with enough drilled holes to provide plenty of ventilation so there's no risk of Diva getting bitten if she lands on the cage or goes over to investigate. She's never been clipped but she still chooses to walk rather than fly it's personal choice on her part she's been examined by the vet and there's nothing wrong with her wings she just doesn't like flying. Rats are nocturnal and more active in evening so when Diva is put into her sleep cage in hall at 6.30 and the living door is closed I would be able to let the rats out and let them explore, give them attention, training and interaction until I go to bed usually around 12. I would be careful with all Divas toys and ensure her toys, garden and bath are lifted and put away to avoid cross contamination of any germs or saliva before ratties are let out. Could it work and would it be fair on Diva and the rats. I'm a introvert who really enjoys the company of animals over people and never leaves the house and I'll shamefully admit I miss Diva when she goes to bed at night and I'm left in setting room at night alone with the TV but I know how important it is for her to stay in a good routine and get twelve hours sleep so having a few little nocturnal fur balls to join the family is awfully tempting. Especially as I love training and rats are exceptionally smart trainable and affectionate little critters. What do people think I'm also thinking the rats would likely enjoy the chop I make Diva and a lot of the wasted veggies as she's picky and I'm having trouble getting her to eat her veggies and I'm sick of throwing out her chop and veg as I only have a small freezer space from my under counter fridge
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