Hyperactive rat?

Question
My girlfriend and I have recently bought two female rats. Phoebe has a brown/white coat and pink eyes and seems very timid, but friendly. Grace has a grey/white coat and seems pretty hyperactive.

When we first bought them two months ago they settled fairly quickly and we've certainly had no problems - the odd fight every now and again. But recently, now that Grace has found the floor and the way back to her cage when we get her out, it seems very difficult to stop her.

We believe that either she is very curious or just wants to be near her cage. She still enjoys our company - coming to the front of the cage when we are in the room and she is awake. When we do put her in her ball she does a fair bit of exploring all round.

I suppose the question - as rats are quite curious animals - is how to get her to settle on us, or at least play with us more rather than jumping down and running back to her cage.

Answer

My babies play area
Typical young rat. Always wanting to explore.  Take a look at my website and the page about my newest group of rats.   My three baby boys, who are now 11 weeks old.  ALl three would rather run around and play, wrestle with each other like crazy, and climb in things, out of things, all over the place.  This is normal behavior.  One of my boys, the smallest of the trio but the same age, spends more time trying to figure out how to get out of the cardboard play area I made for them. He mastered jumping the 3 foot tall cardboard wall so when my daughter bought a 41 inch flat screen TV, I took the huge box home with me. Its over 4 feet tall and the little stinker cannot jump that high, so he spends time trying to figure out how to get over it.  Recently, he discovered if he climbs my back, gets on my shoulder and takes a flying leap, he can make it to the top of the cardboard.  I grab him before he has a chance to drop down over the side.  He keeps me busy during play time.

I suggest you construct a play area, too.  I tell everyone to do this because its a great way to interact with the rats.  Simply make a play pen out of cardboard or anything hard, or if your super handy you can build one out of soft wood.  Make it tall, at least 3 to 4 feet high and as large of an area that you want.  Add toys and yourself, of course, and let them out of the cage. Balls really are not the way to let a rat explore because they cant touch and feel what they are going after.  If she has the chance to actually scoot around safely in a protected play area she may be more content to stick around you.  I have lots of toys for them to play with and add more all the time.  I change things up to keep it interesting.  Rats are so smart and love to learn.  I talk to them, teach them to come first by either a whistle or a clicking sound with my tongue, and later, start with their names.  They learn fast.

Check out my webpage here and see the play area here and also on the GETTING STARTED page.  The photo I put up is of my boys playing in their play area.  I let them out at least an hour or day but usually longer.  Sometimes an hour in the morning and an hour at night.

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/watchmybabiesgrow.htm


Hope these ideas help!