Question about letting my new pet rats wander around?

Question

I’m a first time rat owner (I got 3) and I’ve been reading about how to care for them. I know I’m supposed to let them out of their cage for exercise and playtime, but my question is how do you prevent them from pooping everywhere as they wander around?? I know it happens when they’re nervous but if they are just calmly walking around unbothered then why are they being so messy? Is it the sniffing around of the new environment? How do people actually let their rats sit on their shoulders or on their desks while they’re working and not be worried? Please tell me what I need to do so that my rats can be out of their cage without sending my husband into a fit cause they are messing everywhere!I Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Rats tend to pee and p**p a LOT more when they're nervous. If you've just gotten them, and they're not used to being out and about, they'll be pooping much more. This should taper off as they get used to being out and with you more. My rat Reggie was very nervous at first, and he'd pee and p**p ALL the time when I held him. It was pretty disgusting. ;P But after a few weeks he no longer poops on me. He does still pee sometimes, but that's harder to stop, especially in males.

You could also bring out their litter box with them, if they're litter trained. If they're not, you should definitely try litter training them. My boy Templeton never poos anywhere but his litter box. Just put the box in the place where they seem to p**p the most, and put all the poops in the cage into the litter box. Make sure the box doesn't have the same bedding as the rest of the cage, and don't get scented cat litter. After a while of noticing the box and their poops getting put in there they should get the hang of it! :}

Answer 2

Rats do p**p now and then; they aren't housebroken.  

At first, they will p**p or pee while being handled, but pretty soon they figure out that you don't like it, and they don't do it anymore.

Now, I used to let my rats run around my room for hours at a time.  I don't remember a p**p problem when they did.

Answer 3

meow meow let me wander around !!

dont put me in cage !! please please.. dont !!

Answer 4

The pooping could mean they're a lil nervous about thier new enviroment or they're starting to mark territory. My rats have never pooped before but rats will pee a little to mark as long as you have them out because it's their way of saying, "this is mine", males pee a little more than girls. Some rats are less energetic and will sit on your shoulder, I've had some sit comfortably on my shoulder, snifffing and cuddling up in my hair, some like to run around my desk and some will jump off and want to explore. All rats have different personalities.

If they still p**p then put a big towel or something on the ground to make cleaning up easier. And if your husband is freaking out because they're making a "ratty" mess then he better get over it because rats destroy whatever they can get thier paws on :). They pee to mark, like to tear up tightly plastered fabrics like stuff under a bed,couch,chair etc. etc. They make lil nests and store food under furniture. You can block it with a piece of cardboard or something if you don't want them ripping up the underside of furniture or storing food under it. Rats will definetly sniff around a new enviroment alot and sniff around reguraly to find territory marking and such. Since you have three, its more of a pack so there'll probly be a alfa rat who'll mark more than the other two especially if they're males.

Good luck with your new rats, you'll luv em, trust me!

Answer 5

When I have new rats, I give them out of cage time on my bed. I cover the bed with a shower curtain and then a blanket so that there are no accidents. The constrained space also lets me keep track of the rats because a new rat may be reluctant to come to you.

Answer 6

welllll it always seems that this is a problem that gets better with age and adjustment. ... with my rats anyway, are they young? because my rats were younger they would poo and pee everywhere but now they are fine about it and really only do it if they have been out of the cage for a long time.... i am sorry i really don't know how to train them in that way... my ratties have always improved in that aspect and rarely cause problems like that anymore. sorry i couldn't be more of a help :(... but shoulder training just takes a little while you just haev to keep it up. you put them on your shoulder as you are walking around and doing things and at first they will deffinatley try to get down NON STOP! but you just have to keep putting them back up there and make them stay. and when you are standing straight up it is pretty difficult for them to fin a way down. but eventually they will understand that when they are on the shoulder ... that is where they will stay.  i have  six babies who are all pretty well shoulder trained and it really wasn't hard to do!:) they may scratch up your shoulder a bit though hah with their sharp little nails!