Rat electrical wires?

Question

i am getting a pet rat soon and i hate the idea of it being caged so i want to be able to let it roam around my room without me having to constantly watch it, so that i can keep it out more. my only concern is that it will find a cable to my computer or something and chew on it. any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sounds like a bad idea to me. Rats can fit through any space they can get their head through. And they will chew anything and everything this means your carpet, hardwood floor, furniture would be absolutely ruined. Not to mention, somebody could accidently step on your rat without meaning to and then you would have a squished rat.

For the safety of your rat buy a large wire cage and have your rat out only during supervision. Buy him some toys and make sure he has another rat in the cage with him to keep him from being bored.  

Answer 2

Rats are the bomb, they are a real laugh, but the little buggers chew everything. with ur cords u can get this tubing thats made of some kind of metal that ur cords slot into.

There really is now way to stop them chewing on things, u could try placing peices of wood here and there and rubbing some kind of tasty rat food on it. but really u just need to keep an eye on them, if u start seeing them chew onsomething u don't want them to squirt them with water. or put them in the cage eventually they will learn whats good to chew and whats bad. but they might just chew bad stuff anyway because they're buggers.

have fun, rats make great pets

Answer 3

It is essential for a rat's mental well-being and intellectual development that they have supervised out-of-cage time. That being said, your rat not only should be in a cage when not supervised, your rat will need and want a cage. Rats nest - you will see that when you do give your rat time to roam, they will return to their cage periodically. They enjoy free range time, but they also enjoy their nest (i.e. cage).

In terms of the cage, you need a big cage - the bigger the better. That means bigger than most of the junk they sell in pet stores. In addition, your rat will need a companion. You cannot give your rat enough of the kind of attention he needs for his emotional well being. Rats are gregarious and need at least one pal.

As for rat proofing, you can purchase tubing at a hardware store to cover wires although some of it is kind of on the thin side. Some people use pvc pipe, which is more robust. If you go with the commercial stuff, check it often for holes because once the rats do manage to chew through it the wires will be exposed. Some people run cords up the wall and some put them under the carpet, leaving less in reach to be covered.

If you only provide supervised free range time, you should not have a very big problem with them going on the floor, especially if you get girls. Remember that boys tend to mark with urine so there will be some. You can use a black light to locate and spot clean these periodically. I have a little portable carpet steamer that works wonders.

I think the idea of having them loose all the time is not a good one. People who do that generally have a room dedicated as a rat room and such a room does require special rat-proofing. For your rat's safety and longevity, get a quality cage and then provide daily supervised out-of-cage play.

Answer 4

I have the same problem with my rats and have had quite a few wires chewed at over the years. It's hard to avoid but the things i can think of are:

Constantly keeping an eye on your rats (which is hard as they're fast)

Rats are normally attracted to electrical currents or so i've heard, so it might work if you turn off plugs to try and prevent them chewing

Let them roam around the bathroom or a place where they cannot chew wires

Block off access to the wires or lift them out of reach of the rat by tying them up

It's also better to get two rats if possible as they like to be with other rats as they get lonely on their own. They also improve from illnesses quicker with a cage mate.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

i dont think it would be a good idea not having your rat in a cage. it wil most likely find a hole in the room and get through it. ive heard they can fit through a hole as small as a 2p coin. and thats very small

Answer 6

Stupid idea.

Very stupid idea.

Rats need to be a cage.

A large cage, of course, and they need time outside of the cage, but it will chew electrical wires, carpet, wood, anything it wants to chew. It may escape easily, may get injured- it's not cruel to keep an animal in a cage, it's keeping it ALIVE.

Think it through, love.

Answer 7

If you have any wire or anything of value or carpet, do not let it free roam.  

Answer 8

Well first of all, they need a cage, so get a cage and if you want to let the rat run around, then let it, but have an option to put it in a cage, or you'll be sorry. Believe me. And first before that can happen anyways you need to train it to p**p and pee in a litter box, or you'll have it all over your room. also they need a place to live and have as a safe house, which would be in a cage. or he will get stressed out and could even die.