outdoors...

[BJ in WI]

I see so many pictures of ratties outside in the grass and stuff.  I would love to let them roam in my yard, but am scare to death that they would take off.  I don't let them roam on the floors at my house either, cuz I have 2 cats and well, that makes me a little nervous. Although the cats and rats get along when I'm right there. Also, I have a hide-a-bed couch and don't wnt them getting inside that either.
Anyway, What do you guys do to keep them from wondering too far? Or do they usually just stick close?
Don't get me wrong, my girls get a lot of out of cage time, but it usually on me, my son or the counter.  They also have a playground that I put on the table.
Thanks for your ideas!

[TheChicagoCrew]

Personally I don't allow any of the rats to run around outside, even while leashed. There's too much of a risk of them slipping out of a leash and running off. I also fear any illnesses and diseases they could pick up off the ground, such as when a cat happens to crap in that place 2 weeks before or if a rat runs through, etc. Better to be safe, than sorry, I say! Instead, you can plant grass seed in your house and grow your own grass if you want them to have that kind of experience.

As for inside.. the rats run around on us, beds, counters, tables or in the rat room. There is also a little hallway outside the rat room that they can run in as well. I also have cats and make sure the rats freerange time is as ratproofed and safe as humanly possible. So far so good!

-Melina

[ratties]

i take my girls out on my porch and they stay on the furniture with me. I also let them run in my bath room and work work. they especially love my work room. They discovered how to climb up on my bureau and into my book case. One day I seen my quilting patterns flying. Noel was on the third shelf up in the bookcase and she was literatly flinging my patterns . LOL I had patterns all over the floor.

[jorats]

My rats have had some out time. I make sure it's either early morning or evening, but at a time of year with no bugs. Time out is rare, because of the bugs. But my rats absolutely loves it.

[BRattie]

We sometimes let our ratty explore the garden with our supervision, meaning we sit on the ground with her and watch her carefully.  I find that she's kind of skittish about being outside and doesn't wander far from us anyway - she feels safer sticking beside us.

My tinyhead is her (Jessica) exploring my flowers.

[Ligeia]

I have a room I call my "wild life refuge."  Along with my rats cage, I also have a parakeet and a hermit crab in there.  When its time for the boys to get some extra running time, I just close the door to the refuge and open the door to the cage.  They can't get out of their room and no one else can get in. 

You don't have to give them a room that's all their's all the time, but maybe there is one room they could run in with the door closed so there isn't a danger from the cats.