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I got a new rat last week to keep Cato company. She was from a person who breeds them for his snakes. I got her for free. She was born and raised in a tiny, little, crowded bin... somehow, she warmed up to us within days and now that she realizes people do more than just glance at her occasionally, ALL she wants to do is be out... which is cool!! Don't get me wrong! I can have fun with my rats for hours a day and never grow tired of them, but sometimes they need to be in the cage. If I'm cleaning or eating or whatever... if I'm doing ANYTHING and she's not involved, she's gnawing crazily at the bars of the cage. It. Is. SO. Loud. Milosh used to do this around feeding time or if I didn't go right over to say hello in the morning/after work.. but it never went on forever and it was never this loud.
The first time it happened, my boyfriend went to pet her. I asked him to just totally ignore it so it stops. He obliged. We don't even look at her when she does it... it's been a week and it doesn't stop. (As I typed that sentence she stopped.... but seriously). This is driving me NUTS! She has plenty of toys and space, she's not hungry, her teeth are a healthy length and she has plenty to chew on... I don't get it.
Any ideas to curb the behavior? A coworker suggested shaking a can of coins to make an unpleasant noise, but I don't want to do anything to startle her. Can I use bitter apple spray for rats and is it effective?
The first time it happened, my boyfriend went to pet her. I asked him to just totally ignore it so it stops. He obliged. We don't even look at her when she does it... it's been a week and it doesn't stop. (As I typed that sentence she stopped.... but seriously). This is driving me NUTS! She has plenty of toys and space, she's not hungry, her teeth are a healthy length and she has plenty to chew on... I don't get it.
Any ideas to curb the behavior? A coworker suggested shaking a can of coins to make an unpleasant noise, but I don't want to do anything to startle her. Can I use bitter apple spray for rats and is it effective?