Set Up A ✨BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED✨ Rat Cage With Me

As a rat lover, I'm always trying to make sure that my rats have the best possible cage set-up to encourage natural behaviors. It's important to identify what your pets need - small mammal or otherwise - to stay happy, healthy, and enriched! I apply animal welfare science to try to enable my babies to live their best lives possible. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if YOU have any items your ratties love that I'm missing!

ABOUT US:

At the time of this video, I have four rats - Angel, Erwin, Rosella, and Stella.

MAGGIE (me!) is a human born in the 1990s. I have a Master of Science degree in International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law from the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Yes, that's the official name and punctuation. I'm a writer (mostly musicals, and also the video game MONSTER PROM) and actor. You can check out more of my work at www.MaggieHerskowitz.com

ERWIN is a neutered male, born September 2023. Erwin was the youngest rat his first family had, and when his older brothers died, they made the decision to rehome him. I adopted him February 2024. He is a squishy cuddlebug during the day, and turns into the chaotic Night Erwin at 10PM.

STELLA and ROSELLA were born approximately May/June 2023 and were found in an abandoned car along with 70 other rats. They lived the first several weeks of their lives with no human contact. I adopted them from Paws N Claws Little Critter Rescue in July 2023. Stella has really come out of her shell to be a consummate explorer and a huge fan of going up my sleeves (with or without permission). Rosella still doesn't love being held, but is much braver than she used to be :)

ANGEL was born probably in 2022 at some point? I adopted her September 2, 2023, along with Maple (RIP) from a family who was moving and couldn't keep them. This family also owned reptiles, and at different times purchased Maple and Angel from the f33der bin of the reptile store they frequented. Now. There are complex ethical issues when it comes to "rescuing" f33der rats, because capitalism and supply & demand etc but I can't complain that these two precious souls are/were in my life.