Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / July 2006

Hi all, I have a neutered boy, Munch, that can climb anything no matter how
high.  I found him in the top of my closet one day with his beady little
eyes looking down at me.  He has used the drawer handles to get up onto the
kitchen counter.  He climbs the kiddie gate and we have to get him off.
Turn your head for 1 second and he's at the top of the gate AGAIN!  It was
comical when he tried to climb the pole on my Swiffer duster.  Climbed up
like he was a native after the coconuts.  But lost traction almost near top
and looked like a fireman sliding down the handle on his way to a fire.  I
think this boy gets into the kitchen at night and makes himself a pot of
coffee.  Last night an idea came to me.  I give them little cheerios in our
time out together.  Munch usually won't eat them, he just runs them to his
house and deposits them and comes back for more.  So, I took the box of
cheerios and poured it on the floor.  This kept him busy for a good 5-10
minutes.  Back and forth he went with his mouth stuffed full of cheerios.
Later when he was still out playing, I went to retrieve the cheerios and
lifted up their house to find a nice little pile of cheerios and some
celery.  So I scooped their cheerios back into the box for later transport
by Munch.  It slowed him down for a very short peiord.  Can anyone suggest
an activity that would use up some of his boundless energy?  Barbie
Treadmill maybe?
Lisa-I have rat kibble in my bed.