HELP!!! I have an escapee!!

Question:
 One of my foster ratties has escaped her cage! OMG!
I've searched my whole apartment with a flashlight and don't see any sign of her... Any tips on finding a missing rat??
I'm not worried about my animals hurting her but I hope she didn't get out of my apartment under the door... one good thing is I work Lost & Found at the shelter tomorrow so it will be me that gets a call if one of my neighbors finds her... hopefully they call & don't hurt her.. I live in a building with a bunch of freaks! HELP!!!


Answer:
 Have you tried hte bucket trick? get a relatively deep bucket or tub- pad it with a towel inside- and build steps with books or a ramp up to it- placing treats along the path- and some good smelly treat inside- cheese or peanut butter. SHe should be able to fall in safely and not get back out. Good luck.


Answer:
 The problem with that idea is that I have 2 dogs & 2 cats that would eat those tasty treats before the rat! I searched everywhere.. tonight when I get home from work I'll tip over my couch & see if she has gone up into the couch.. I already checked under the cushions.. I'll also pull stuff out of my closet b/c she could be hiding in there somewhere...
I now think she won't be able to fit under my apartment door (to get out).. not enough space..
I'm a little freaked.. this has never happened to me before... but I work 10 hours today so the search will have to resume later.. Thanks for the idea.. I might try it tonight and lock the cats & dogs in the bedroom so they can't eat the sneaky snacks..


Answer:
 Sue,
I dont have many ideas except look around your home, think of the LAST place she could possibly be and check there FIRST. Good luck to you.


Answer:
 God, that would be stressful! When you get home tonight have a good thorough look round after putting the cats in another room. Look high -- sometimes rats climb up things and stay there. Excellent idea to check inside the sofa -- they do like to tunnel into things. While you're doing this (and this is easier said than done) try to stay calm so as not to frighten the rat any more than she may be already. I really like that padded bucket idea! My first suggestion would have been this: if you still can't find her, put out a cage with the door open and nice smelly food inside (chicken or something equally irresistible). Then turn off the lights and set up vigil away from the cage. It could be that she's frightened, being out on her own, so if you dim the lights and make everything quiet, she will smell the food and make a bolt for home. You'll hear her, I'm sure, and can then close the door.
I hope you find her - please let us know how you make out, okay?


Answer:
 Hey Sue -- rats are really funny in that they like to hang out with their friends and near their usual food source (ie. the food dish). When I had rats, all the escapees would hang out near the other rats and near their usual food bowls. If possible, set up another small cage next to or on top of the other rats' cage, with lots of soft bedding, great sleeping places, a water source, and yummy food. Chances are, you'll wake up to find the escaped ratlet in the cage.
Good luck!


Answer:
 I dont have any advice Sue,,but Good luck and I hope you find her


Answer:
 Thanks for the rat-catching tips! I'll try them out..


Answer:
 I looked again with no luck.. this evening I put a small bowl of treats in the kitchen cupboards (under the sink) and another one in my bedroom closet.. after several hours the food hadn't been touched... so I did another search and pulled stuff out of the closet.. tipped over the couch but didn't see any holes... also pulled out the stove & fridge and found lots of bunnies (dust ones) but no rats!
Now I have set up a hamster cage with open door with water, food & treats and a nice flannel baby blanket to snuggle in... I put it on the floor next to the larger cage housing her friends... when I go to bed I'll shut the bedroom door so the cats & dogs have to stay inside with me.. that this works!


Answer:
 I was always told that if a rat escapes, just to leave their cage open for them and they will go back in. Is there any way you could put the others in a temp. cage and try that? I would think she would go back to her familiar surroundings. I hope you find her.