Free-Range Area Safety Audit

Rats can flatten through a 2 cm gap, chew a live cable in minutes, and crawl inside recliner mechanisms. Audit the room honestly before opening the cage door — the score below tells you what containment level is safe today.

Room Audit

Play room floor area (m²)

Exposed cable length reachable (meters)

Houseplants present in the room?

Gaps > 2 cm (under doors, behind furniture)

I have checked every plant against a recognized rat-toxic plant list and confirm the ones rats can reach are non-toxic.

Heavy/breakable objects on high open shelves?

Other pets have free access to the room?

Recliner or rocking chair in the room?

Open water containers (toilet, tank, bucket)?

Score updates as you type. Count honestly — rats explore skirting boards, bed frames and the backs of cabinets, not just the open floor.

Risk Result

Risk score

Band

Safe-ish

Score breakdown

Shopping & Modification Checklist

Items appear based on your audit. Tick them off as the room is fixed — a hazard you have not fixed means containment stays at playpen level.

5-Minute Pre-Play Checklist

Doors and windows closed, gaps under doors blocked All cables lifted, unplugged or behind trunking Bin emptied of food waste and moved out of reach Cats, dogs and other pets shut out of the room Fresh water bottle or shallow dish available Hideaway or transport box at hand for easy recovery

Emergency Card

Cable chewed / possible electrocution: switch OFF the power at the socket or breaker first. Never touch the rat while the circuit may be live. Once safe, move it to a quiet carrier and go to an exotic vet immediately — even an apparently fine rat can have hidden mouth or lung burns.

Suspected poisoning (plant, cleaner, bait): bring the packaging or a photo of the plant/substance with you so the vet can identify it fast. Never induce vomiting — rats cannot vomit, and forcing it causes aspiration. Call the vet en route.