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I have two sweet girls, one about 8 mths and one about 6mths.  I adore them, too much probably I worry over every little thing w/ them.  I have been considering giving them up because I don't feel like I'm spending enough time w/ them outside their cage.  I give them lots of attention and 'treats' (try to be healthy w/ them the majority of the time), but am not able to get them out of the cage much anymore.  My husband and I recently bought a house, but there isn't a room where I can get the rats out to run like before.  I've tried enclosures with no luck, last time one of them got out I ended up w/ a large hole in my couch; I wasn't mad at her she's doing what rats do, but my husband wasn't so pleased.  Also I have two puppies now; before I could spend 2 hours looking for one of them or letting them come out on their own, w/ the dogs I can't do that.  The dogs like the rats and are constantly waging their tails while they stare at them (one of the puppies has a certain face she makes to give us 'kisses' and she tries to do this to the rats), but the rats don't seem to fond of them.  They don't appear afraid at all, they are very relaxed when the dogs approach the cage but still try to bite their noses through the bars.  If one of the rats got out and the dogs came in it would be bad. Because of this I don't have them out as much and you can tell they miss it.  Now, to top it off, my husband has lost his job. We've decided he should return to school, but it may result in me getting a second job; this would mean even less time w/ my girls. Can they be happy in the cage 95% of the time?  Not just healthy, but happy?  Should I try and find them a home where someone can handle them each and every day and let them out for an hour or two? Any help would be appreciated!  These are my first rats and I've found them to be some of the best pets I've ever had. I had another girl who fell wrestling w/ her sister in the cage and died (vet couldn't' do anything).  The idea of giving them up breaks my heart, but I'll do what will do what's best for them.
Thank you

Answer
I hate to tell you to give them up.  If you know someone personally and are positive they would give them a good life, thats different, but I would not give them up to a stranger.  You never know what kind of treatment they would get and living with  you and being in the cage more than being out of the cage would be better than being abused and neglected.
Even if you can set aside a time to get them out a few times a week, or even just for 20 minutes, I would say they would be fine as long as they get some attention from you, scratches and kisses etc...

One idea you can try is a cardboard enclosure.  I have a photo of it on my website. I have one made now using a few large cardboard boxes cut into sheets, taped together with heavy duty packing tape and I fold it up when done.  Its 3 feet high and they cannot climb it at all, they slide down it.  It is holding up with three 6 week old male babies that are so hyperactive it is unreal.  If three active babies that nearly "fly"  cannot get out of it, it should withstand two little girl rats.
You can take them out, put them on the floor, add some toys like boxes with holes in them etc...and let them run around for a bit.  You can sit with them and talk to them etc.. or just let them play in it during cage cleaning day etc...   

Please check out my website and the page GETTING STARTED and check out the cardboard play pen.  I bet this would be great for them. Just shut the puppies out of that room during play time.  I do not suggest to anyone to allow their rats on their couch etc...  to be honest, it can be a danger if the rat scoots under the cushion and gets lost in the springs inside the couch.  I have heard some horror stories.


My Critter city site:

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



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