Breaking myths and stereotypes about rats

MYTH 1: Rats are very dirty!!!

Well, sewer rats may be a tinge dirty, but you would be like that if you lived in the sewers for your whole life! However, pet rats are extremely clean and spend most of their time washing (and eating and sleeping...)! Some people say that rats stink. Sewer rats may stink, but, then again, they've been living in the gross sewer all their life! Pet rats only have a musty smell, and it's not that bad! But this you can't wash away. Rat owners just have to get used to it, I guess. If your rat stenches, then it's your fault! It means you've been letting them walk around and even sleep in their own urine (pee) and faeces (poop) and not cleaning their cage and their litter boxes when you sould!

MYTH 2: Rats can't love!!!

This is the silliest myth EVER!!! Rats will cuddle up with you, groom you and lick you showing so much love towards you! Rats love to show affection to you and their roommate. Rats need at least one roommate to keep them company and at least 1-2 hours playtime, 5-7 days a week. They love to play!

MYTH 3: Rat's favorite food is cheese!!!

Rats LIKE eating cheese, but cheese is not a rat's favorite food. Too much cheese will even give rats diarrhea! Each rat has it's own favorite food.
Galileo's favorite food is carrots!
Darwin's favorite food is green beans!
And they both love peas and occasional biscuits!

MYTH 4: Rats are very aggressive!!!

It is very rare for a domestic rat to bite. They will only bite when they are scared or annoyed. Wild rats will bite when you enter their territory. Do you know why? It's because they're terrified! They think that they are the prey and you are the predator!

My rats (and most others) are extremely friendly, sociable and love to play! But, they are nervous around sudden loud noises!

MYTH 5: Rat urine is real toxic!!!

Only in one situation is a rat's urine toxic. That situation is if the rat has an infection.
OK, you have to admit that their pee is smelly and not something to talk about at dinner time (along with some other things about rats), but it is definitely nontoxic. But always remember to wash your hands properly after handling rats! 

How to make a Lego rat play-house

You don't need to spend lots of money buying a play-house for your rats. You can easily make your own using recycled materials. In this blog I'll show you how to make a colourful play-house using Lego bricks. You can create this if you have the same or similar connecting blocks at home.

What you will need:

• Lego
• Lego
• Lego
• Lots and lots of lego!!!

This is what the finished design should look like:

Step 1:

Acquire all of the Lego you have and start building a base (22cm x 22cm). Interlock your bricks to make the structure sturdier.

Step 2:

Continue building up. Once you have built 2 layers, start leaving a 16-stud space at the front of your rat play-house to make the entrance.

Step 3:

As you build up, leave some space for one window on each side and one on the back.

Step 4:

Once you've built 11 bricks up, start using flat pieces to build a roof. Only build half of the roof though, because it enables your rat to have one area where light come through and one in the dark.

Step 5:

Add slanting pieces along the roof to make it look more like a house!

Now you are done!!!

Look at Darwin and Galileo exploring their new play-house!

How to make Ratty Tower V 2.0.0

What you will need:

• 4 medium sized square/rectangular boxes
• 2 triangular shaped boxes
• 2 tubes
• Scissors
• Markers
• Brown tape
• 2 squares of fabric

Here is what the finished design should look like:

Step 1:

Decide the order of which your boxes are going to be placed. 

Step 2:

Decide where the tunnels are going to be placed. I've decided to place a tunnel on the tower's ground floor and one on the first floor. Trace a line where the tube meets the sides of the boxes (ground floor) and cut them out. Do the same for the first floor.

Step 3:

Cut holes on either end of your tubes to make the two tunnels.

Step 4:

Make 4 ramps, long enough to fit into the box diagonally, and stick one in each box. Cut holes where the ramp meets the top of the box. Repeat for all 4 boxes.

Step 5:

Cut windows on some of the boxes so your rat can peek out if they want.

Step 6:

Now seal two of the boxes. These will be the first floor of your tower.

Step 7:

Get the other two boxes and cut one of the sides off. This shall be your ground floor!Get two squares of fabric and cut fringes in each one. Then stick them on the opening of the two boxes.

Step 8:

The triangular boxes shall be your roof. Cut circular holes on the top of the roof to make windows for your rats to look out.

Step 9:

Now tape it all together! Tape the roof to the first floor and first floor to ground floor. Repeat this for the other side. DO NOT TAPE THE TUBES TO THE BOXES. This allows you to slide the tubes in and out for easier storage.

Step 10:

Now use a pen to write your rats names and the name of the tower. I called mine "Darwin & Galileo's RATTY TOWER V 2.0.0

Now you are done!

Look at Galileo and Darwin play! They love their new tower!

Hope you'll enjoy making the RATTY TOWER V 2.0.0!