Any dog or cat owner knows this already - if their dog or cat gets left
home alone too long, things will get broken, dug up and peed on.
Rats too, can be very destructive creatures if left unattended
for too long. Always know where your rats are when you let them out.
Close off a room, and remove breakables and dangerous objects
within reach of your rat. Act like you're "baby-proofing" the room
when you're removing dangerous articles and locking others away.
Think like the rat:
Can it be tipped over onto the rat?
Will it hurt the rat if he eats it or chews on it?
Will it cost me a fortune to get that antique chair cleaned or reupholstered
when Mr. Rat chews it up or goes to the bathroom in it?
Did you look LOW? Look for small holes or openings.
Some rats can squeeze themselves through a hole the size of a quarter!
So be sure all cracks and holes are repaired or securely covered.
Christmas lights are a common victim to free-roaming rats.
Stereo cords, telephone and modem cords, and cable TV cords
are also vulnerable to sharp little rat teeth.
Tie the cords up higher, or cover them with hard plastic sheathing
made especially to protect wires from sharp objects and animals.
Radio Shack also sells a protective sleeve that your electrical
wires & cords can be put into; this will protect them adequately
as long as the rat isn't left unattended so long that he might
finally break through the stuff.
In a pinch, get some fishtank hose from your pet store, cut that
down its length on one side, and slip the cord inside of it.
Many houseplants are poisonous; if you're unsure; move them somewhere
where the rats can't get them. Many rats will go to a lot of trouble to get
into a flowerpot or planter so they can dig up the soil and throw it
all over the house. So you should always keep an extra bag on hand
for your vacuum cleaner.
If you have other pets, especially dogs and cats, they should be kept
locked somewhere else (in another part of the house, or outside) while
your rats are roaming about.
Another danger that most rat owners don't forsee is the toilet bowl. >
The toilet lid should be put down when your rats are roaming free.
Fishtanks and dishpans should also be covered for this reason. A wet rat is an
inconvenience, but a rat that gets drowned this way can break your heart because
this kind of accident is so easy to prevent.