Rat Balls

[Elaken]

Okay so I bought one of those hamster balls for rats, because I figure it could let me children have more access in the house, then normal.  I have yet to use it but I read on a website that it stresses them out.  Do you guys know anything about this?  

[Anna]

There's a lot of debate on this one, but pretty much it depends on the rat. I have 6 rats that like it and 2 that get stressed.
The most important thing is that you have a big enough ball, at least 10 inches in diameter or it can hurt their backs.

[ckhs]

My girls don't like them at all..depends on the rat.
ckhs

[pegc]

Anything made for hamsters is way too small for rats!

Even in the right size ball, many rats do not care for them.

[Ree]

I can't really offer much advice, but WHY did I immediately think of....rat "balls" when I read the title?



Because rats rely on smell so much, and all they can smell is the ball, does that affect them at all ?  Just curious.

[KimmyKat]

Ecch. I wouldn't recommend the "rat balls" unless you enjoy washing out pee-pee plastic and scraping squishy poop! At least, that was MY experience    None of my rodies liked it, and it was the biggest one I could get and a lovely pink color (I have mostly girls) I thought they'd like    Save your $15.

[Kendra]

I splurged on one of those HUGE ferret balls and my boys HATED it.  I ended up giving it away.  Just my experience.

Kendra

[toad]

My boys acted like I was sticking them in coffins alive!!
I too thought they'd run playfully around the house... Nooooopppeee...Ben ran around like "if I run fast enough, maybe it'll break and I'll be free!" and Dizzy just looked up at me, scraping and scraping like "what are you doing this to me for??" Needless to say, I took 'em back to the store about an hour later.
Two things though - this was when they were much younger, so who knows....though, knowing my boys now, they'd probably react the same exact way.

[Vouivre]

I havn't tried one, I probably wouldn't either. Their sight isnt 100% as it is, so i can't imagine them being able to see very well through plastic! That could stress them out.

Maybe u could try a harness, so you can walk them around. You would have to introduce it to them though, have it just sitting around them really loosly and let them check it out. Be sure to give them yogies too

[Louise]

personally I don't like them.  I wouldn't like to be put into a plastic ball, I don't think it would be a very pleasant experience, especially given that for the rats it might seem like there is no way out.  I'm sure there are ratties out there that like them, but I've always thought them rather cruel.  Mind that's why I have holes in my couch and a chewed bookcase!!

[afmommie]

I use one with my gal Blue. She loves it and I've yet to have her pee pee or poo in her ball. She's really good about it. My guy doesn't like it at all. He just sits in it.

I opted to use a Ball (It's a huge one. A ferret or guinea pig could use it also) because I have other nosey pets that are not too adjusted to the rats yet and I wanted them to be able to get lots of excerise and pretty much be able to run around the house.

My Guy  Spooky tends to like his Wodent Wheel.

[Bonnie]

Templeton *used* to like it- until I started giving him free range because he proved to me that computer wires did not tempt him.

After a few days of free range, I tried putting him in the ball again. He crawled to my feet and stayed there, staring at me.

Quinn on the other hand stressed a lot! Those things are hard to clean stress-poops out of! Since then I havn't used them again, and never put Blaze or Thunder in them, because I was worried I'd get the Quinn response!

They run amok and hide things in my couch instead.

(And a side note, off topic- the "guinea pig balls" are bad for guinea pigs because of the way thier hind feet are-the hock of the foot being totally on the ground, much like a rabbits. I know you didn't say you had one for "your" guinea pig, but I thought I'd mention it. Another example of a badly marketed product...)

[Suebee]

I've never used one for my rats, but if they don't like to run around in them, there ARE other uses for them!

They make GREAT hammocks! Just wire them up in the cage with the top off, and they'll pile in for a good snuggle. They won't get stinky or shredded like fabric, and you can just hose them off when you clean the rest of the cage.

I was thinking of buying one just for that purpose...

[Mousie's Mom]

My girls hated the ball and were really freaked out when I put them in it.

I've posted this picture before, but my girls love to see if they can all squish into the ball and usually sleep that way.  hee hee

[em]

Aw, that is SUCH a cute picture! I love when ratties all snuggle up like that, and the whole world seems to be made of tails and whiskers!