Toddlers and Freddy 2's!

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SqueakyWee - 27 Sep 2005 12:23 GMT

Hi all,

I used to post here a few years ago while I was breeding rats. Due to health
reasons, moving house and having my own litter ;) I had to give it all up.
I've been ratless for the past 3 years, but yesterday I went to the petshop
for dog food and couldn't resist two little 5w.o. does huddled together in
an aquarium tank. So far only one of them has a name - CheckSum (please
don't ask! LOL), who's an albino. Her sister is a mismarked black hood, whom
will probably end up being called Dora after Dora the Explorer *rolls eyes*.

Anyway, at the same time I also purchased a Freddy 2 cage made by Savic. It
has a very good catch on the door, but I'm a bit worried that it won't be
toddler proof! My DD is two and a half, and I've already caught her trying
to open it once this morning... It won't be long before she gets the hang of
it! So my question is this: does anyone know how I can keep DD out and
ratties in?! I've explained to her that she mustn't open the door because
the rats could escape and get hurt. However, she's going through the
terrible twos at the mo and is very likely to open the door during a tantrum
because she knows its naughty. So any advice would be appreciated :)

Kat

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Tiger Spot - 27 Sep 2005 14:12 GMT

>Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>terrible twos at the mo and is very likely to open the door during a tantrum
>because she knows its naughty. So any advice would be appreciated :)

Right now my rats are in a Ruud, which they love. I've seen video of a
rat opening the latch mechanism it uses, but mine haven't figured it
out yet.

Previously, they were in a homemade cage that didn't have any
particular closing mechanism. I used to hold the door shut with twisty
ties, but then some of the rats figured out how to pull those off. I
switched to luggage locks, on grounds that if they figured out how to
pick the locks we had much bigger problems than the occasional loose
rat.

Luggage locks, with the keys kept high up enough that the toddler
can't reach them, should be toddler-proof as well as rat-proof. You
could also put the cage up on a table or counter so that it's out of
reach. That might be a good idea from a small fingers poking into cage
perspective anyway. Depending on the layout of your home, you might be
able to put the rats in a separate room or block off an area with
child gates.

--Theresa

http://tiger_spot.mapache.org

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Joanne - 27 Sep 2005 16:45 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Kat

Hi Kat,
I would also suggest a luggage lock or keeping ratties up high so the
little one can't get at them. I know... easier said than done. lol

Joanne
Owned by 14 rats

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Jackie Mullins - 27 Sep 2005 17:47 GMT

The best thing I found for busy kid proofing of cages
is buy a big bag of cheap plastic cable ties they don't cost much and you
can get really small ones.

Jackie,
Badger, Teddy, Berkley, Rebel, Texas, Jorja, Alfie ,Reggie and Wilf.
R.I.P my boys Rufus, Ranger and Squirrel and Ronnie and Stuart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/mullins9

>> Hi all,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> Joanne
> Owned by 14 rats

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Kate - 28 Sep 2005 01:12 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Kat

At the School where I work the New Entrant teacher uses a Padlock on
the Rat House. The kids are so use to seeing the padlock that now they
don;t even realise that its no longer connected in such a way as to lock
the house at all...
I would definitely be looking at something like that due to the risks of
a 2 year old..:)

Regards Kate

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / September 2005

Toddlers and Freddy 2's!