Keeping small rodents in big cages - cruel or normal?
Discussion
Hmmm?
Rats eh?
I kept a couple of rats. They had been housed in a cage that was way too small for them, and their owner was seriously intending to "release them into the wild" despite them being white rats that had lived in captivity all their lives.
I took them on, and custom built a three level cage that was 1 metre x 2 metres at the base and stood 3 metres high. It had removable trays for bedding, access from outside for feeding without opening the door, and I also built my own ladders out of doweling, with ropes and branches for them to climb up and down. They also were allowed out, frequently sat on my shoulder as I watched TV or went about the house (I opened the front door once forgetting that I had a rat on my shoulder!).
They seemed to live pretty long lives, and showed no obvious signs of distress.
When the rats died I left the cage empty for a while, thoroughly cleaned it, and put it in the garage until a friend who worked at a pet shop rang to say her Degus had bred unexpectedly and could I re-home a few of them. You may have to Google "Degu" but they are pretty cute little things. Lots of gnawing so it was just as well the cage was massively over-built. They lived long lives too, and with a few specific additions to account for their specific needs (a sand box,for one), the cage did OK for them as well. They too died (and were cremated in the garden in Jedi-style 'funerals') and were replaced by yet another Degu which was an unwanted pet. I got a bit of a reputation for taking in other people's cast-offs. That last Degu didn't do so well because they are sociable wee things who like the company of their own kind. It was sad to watch it exhibiting stress behaviours unlike the previous two, and after that one died the cage went back into the garage where a roof leak caused it to rot and it was broken up. My wife doesn't want any more 'small furries' in the house. She never really did, but it was a compromise as I really wanted a dog.
Be very careful with rats. The chaps can be quite smelly, they need frequent cleaning, and you can get unlucky with some that are more than willing to give you a nasty nip. Give them as much space as you possibly can, and plenty of stuff like boxes and cardboard tubes to chew up and hide in.
Your biggest problem may well be your parents though. You don't say how old you are, but if you're living at home and your parents really aren't keen then I struggle to see how keeping rats, of all things, is going to work out well for you. Not only do they come with the problems common to all small caged mammals, but they have a big image problem too. No matter how much you try to educate your parents they may well end up "just not liking the idea of rats in the house"...
Rats eh?
I kept a couple of rats. They had been housed in a cage that was way too small for them, and their owner was seriously intending to "release them into the wild" despite them being white rats that had lived in captivity all their lives.
I took them on, and custom built a three level cage that was 1 metre x 2 metres at the base and stood 3 metres high. It had removable trays for bedding, access from outside for feeding without opening the door, and I also built my own ladders out of doweling, with ropes and branches for them to climb up and down. They also were allowed out, frequently sat on my shoulder as I watched TV or went about the house (I opened the front door once forgetting that I had a rat on my shoulder!).
They seemed to live pretty long lives, and showed no obvious signs of distress.
When the rats died I left the cage empty for a while, thoroughly cleaned it, and put it in the garage until a friend who worked at a pet shop rang to say her Degus had bred unexpectedly and could I re-home a few of them. You may have to Google "Degu" but they are pretty cute little things. Lots of gnawing so it was just as well the cage was massively over-built. They lived long lives too, and with a few specific additions to account for their specific needs (a sand box,for one), the cage did OK for them as well. They too died (and were cremated in the garden in Jedi-style 'funerals') and were replaced by yet another Degu which was an unwanted pet. I got a bit of a reputation for taking in other people's cast-offs. That last Degu didn't do so well because they are sociable wee things who like the company of their own kind. It was sad to watch it exhibiting stress behaviours unlike the previous two, and after that one died the cage went back into the garage where a roof leak caused it to rot and it was broken up. My wife doesn't want any more 'small furries' in the house. She never really did, but it was a compromise as I really wanted a dog.
Be very careful with rats. The chaps can be quite smelly, they need frequent cleaning, and you can get unlucky with some that are more than willing to give you a nasty nip. Give them as much space as you possibly can, and plenty of stuff like boxes and cardboard tubes to chew up and hide in.
Your biggest problem may well be your parents though. You don't say how old you are, but if you're living at home and your parents really aren't keen then I struggle to see how keeping rats, of all things, is going to work out well for you. Not only do they come with the problems common to all small caged mammals, but they have a big image problem too. No matter how much you try to educate your parents they may well end up "just not liking the idea of rats in the house"...
When we had rats, we kept them in cages, but would let them out for a roam. Some are worse than others, but they need watching as they're quick to gnaw things.
Some are more pleasant / placid than others. The comment above is true regarding the smell (particularly the boys). It can get quite "earthy" sometimes.
They suffer from being relatively short lived. Like any other pet, you can become quite attached to them, so it's upsetting having to deal with them dying/being put down after 2.5 - 3 years.
Some are more pleasant / placid than others. The comment above is true regarding the smell (particularly the boys). It can get quite "earthy" sometimes.
They suffer from being relatively short lived. Like any other pet, you can become quite attached to them, so it's upsetting having to deal with them dying/being put down after 2.5 - 3 years.
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