Oh, man. I debated telling this story in case of flack I'd get or opinions on my value as a rat owner, but I just find it so funny.
Last night, the rats accidentally got left out for several hours past when I wanted to. I spent my time with them like normal, then went upstairs to do some homework -- something I do to maximize their time out. Fast forward an hour. I got a phone call from a panicked family member and left the house in my PJs. When I came home, I realized the rats were left out. My consistently mischievous girl Echo, as usual, had escaped the pen and was waiting for me when I came down the stairs. I put her back into the cage, and spent some time tidying up, skritching, and such my ratties. During which time the pen was open and the cage was too. I did my headcount briefly when administering treats, but didn't see Echo which can be normal as there are nooks in the cage that I can't see in and have to reach in to inspect. It was also possible that I mixed her up with Circe, her look a like sister... I was confident (oh boy) that she was in the cage because I didn't see her leave and normally, once she is caught, she is ready for a treat and then a nap.
Fast forward again to today. I had to study some, so I let the rats out, closed the pen, and looked in on my parakeets before heading upstairs. A few hours later, I went downstairs to spend time with the rats. For once, the pen hadn't been broken out of and I was pretty happy with that. I was having a lot of fun and getting a lot of love when I realized, I wasn't sure I saw Echo. Well, I've got some sniffles going around the cage so maybe she wasn't feeling well, and I began to look for her. No luck. I started to get worried, and decided that perhaps she got out without leaving any signs. I checked the usual places and nada. Well, normally when she knows I'm looking for her she'll come out and find me or she'll climb atop the bird cage. I look to the bird cage, and on the wardrobe beside it, bundled up and buried beneath old winter coats pops Echo.
I should preface this next part with a few facts: food and water is available on top the rat cage during free range and is left out after free range; the pen was open and she could have returned to the cage at any time; there is bird food/treats and water available atop the bird cage. Here it goes.
Echo was out. All night. Just hanging out, doing whatever her ratty mind pleased. Of course, she cannot leave the basement but she didn't seem to mind. I dreaded that idea, feeling awful, when I found her. When I put her back in the cage, she got the "where have you been" inspection my mischief gives rats who were away for a day or more; that's when I knew. I checked her for dehydration and offered her any food she wanted but she didn't care. I imagine she helped her self to bird seed and millet, explored places extra well (and probably gave the birds a right good scare), and then settled in for a nice, warm nap.
It's not the first time she's found unconventional places to nap, and I don't imagine it'll be her last. http://i.imgur.com/68NrsKT.jpg
Last night, the rats accidentally got left out for several hours past when I wanted to. I spent my time with them like normal, then went upstairs to do some homework -- something I do to maximize their time out. Fast forward an hour. I got a phone call from a panicked family member and left the house in my PJs. When I came home, I realized the rats were left out. My consistently mischievous girl Echo, as usual, had escaped the pen and was waiting for me when I came down the stairs. I put her back into the cage, and spent some time tidying up, skritching, and such my ratties. During which time the pen was open and the cage was too. I did my headcount briefly when administering treats, but didn't see Echo which can be normal as there are nooks in the cage that I can't see in and have to reach in to inspect. It was also possible that I mixed her up with Circe, her look a like sister... I was confident (oh boy) that she was in the cage because I didn't see her leave and normally, once she is caught, she is ready for a treat and then a nap.
Fast forward again to today. I had to study some, so I let the rats out, closed the pen, and looked in on my parakeets before heading upstairs. A few hours later, I went downstairs to spend time with the rats. For once, the pen hadn't been broken out of and I was pretty happy with that. I was having a lot of fun and getting a lot of love when I realized, I wasn't sure I saw Echo. Well, I've got some sniffles going around the cage so maybe she wasn't feeling well, and I began to look for her. No luck. I started to get worried, and decided that perhaps she got out without leaving any signs. I checked the usual places and nada. Well, normally when she knows I'm looking for her she'll come out and find me or she'll climb atop the bird cage. I look to the bird cage, and on the wardrobe beside it, bundled up and buried beneath old winter coats pops Echo.
I should preface this next part with a few facts: food and water is available on top the rat cage during free range and is left out after free range; the pen was open and she could have returned to the cage at any time; there is bird food/treats and water available atop the bird cage. Here it goes.
Echo was out. All night. Just hanging out, doing whatever her ratty mind pleased. Of course, she cannot leave the basement but she didn't seem to mind. I dreaded that idea, feeling awful, when I found her. When I put her back in the cage, she got the "where have you been" inspection my mischief gives rats who were away for a day or more; that's when I knew. I checked her for dehydration and offered her any food she wanted but she didn't care. I imagine she helped her self to bird seed and millet, explored places extra well (and probably gave the birds a right good scare), and then settled in for a nice, warm nap.
It's not the first time she's found unconventional places to nap, and I don't imagine it'll be her last. http://i.imgur.com/68NrsKT.jpg