I have read (in "The Story of Rats," by S. Anthony Barnett,) that if "domestic" rats get too much freedom, they will always revert to "wild" behavior.
His example was that he was working with lab rats, and a few escaped to the cellar. He didn't think much of it, and decided to casually collect them when he saw them. He discovered, however, that the rats enjoyed their freedom, and each and every one did NOT want to return to the cage, and demonstrated a personality change (biting, etc.) once they had returned.
Now, I've been trying to really give my Gregor everything he wants and needs. He has "run and scamper" time in the bathroom, which has been rat-proofed. He has TONS of energy! He really tears it up in there!
I wonder if crawling around in the cabinets feels like creeping around a barn, to him?
I have also recently added two foods to his diet, which he loves, but which may provoke a "wilder" attitude.
One is mealworms - almost pure nutrition, and he loves 'em! BUT, this is his first "live" food. Before, all he knew were seeds and rat treats, etc.
The other is corn. (Should I worry about constipation?) He'll eat as much corn as he possibly can. And this is a food that would be found on a farm, in a barn, as well.
I wonder if I'm teaching him that he would rather be free?
P.S. We already have a dispute about who is in charge of the relationship. The communication is fine, but we both think we're in charge. For example, the other day, he was headed for my seashell collection. (I bought him his own shells for Xmas, BTW.) I told him, "Gregor, come here." He ~squeaked~ at me! I had to physically pick him up, and say, "Don't you tell me 'no,' I'm the one who tells you 'no!'"
His example was that he was working with lab rats, and a few escaped to the cellar. He didn't think much of it, and decided to casually collect them when he saw them. He discovered, however, that the rats enjoyed their freedom, and each and every one did NOT want to return to the cage, and demonstrated a personality change (biting, etc.) once they had returned.
Now, I've been trying to really give my Gregor everything he wants and needs. He has "run and scamper" time in the bathroom, which has been rat-proofed. He has TONS of energy! He really tears it up in there!
I wonder if crawling around in the cabinets feels like creeping around a barn, to him?
I have also recently added two foods to his diet, which he loves, but which may provoke a "wilder" attitude.
One is mealworms - almost pure nutrition, and he loves 'em! BUT, this is his first "live" food. Before, all he knew were seeds and rat treats, etc.
The other is corn. (Should I worry about constipation?) He'll eat as much corn as he possibly can. And this is a food that would be found on a farm, in a barn, as well.
I wonder if I'm teaching him that he would rather be free?
P.S. We already have a dispute about who is in charge of the relationship. The communication is fine, but we both think we're in charge. For example, the other day, he was headed for my seashell collection. (I bought him his own shells for Xmas, BTW.) I told him, "Gregor, come here." He ~squeaked~ at me! I had to physically pick him up, and say, "Don't you tell me 'no,' I'm the one who tells you 'no!'"