Is there any way Rats can be taught not to chew everything?

[Andatariel]

My rat chews everything she can get her mouth around and I was wondering if there was any training that could possibly done to stop her from doing this?
My main concern is that she goes for wires and obviously that's really dangerous for her.
Also so far she's ruined a few bed sheets, some toys, a t-shirt and several socks.

[chekabear]

I hope someone has some ideas on this coz I'll be trying them on my chinchilla that's for sure! He chews everything he sees.

[Emmaj]

chewing is a natural isntinct to most rodents so i dont think there is much you can do about it really

[Andatariel]

Oh great, didn't think there was but I figured it might be a good idea to ask because she's decided that the window sill is good for chewing and also just bit through the elastic on my knickers

[Emmaj]

can you not get some small chew things she can chew on rather than stuff she shouldnt

am sorry im the brearer of bad news all over at the moment

[mant01]

you can get these tube things to go around your cables to stop yours rats getting frazzled. I saw them years ago where someone had there rabbits running around chewing. You could try homebase or something for them. I got the rats we have those calcium blocks and these coloured wood things meant for hamsters to chew to help keep there teeth down. Do you have chews in there cage? if you dont maybe adding them will get them to do all the chewing on them instead.

[Andatariel]

Aww Emma -big hugs- It's okay I kinda expected it to be one of those things I'll just have to work around.

Mostly I was just wondering because I'm still figuring her out, never had a rat quite like this one before. I've just learnt that if she comes and nips my fingers gently it's her way of saying play hand wrestling with me.

She does have several chew toys, she even has her own rubber duckie, thing is she's just far more interested in chewing everything that I don't want her to and nothing she's allowed to.

For example her duck is almost identical to mine except that the one I gave her has a broken clip so can't be attatched to my phone anymore, this is like the most minor detail possible because it's the spring inside it that's gone, but she still would rather take chunks out of the one I still want and puts her own by the door of the cage which I learnt means "I can't get it out of here so you have to take it away."

[neep_neep]

Aww bless her - yeh, unfortunately some rats are bigger chewers than others! Do her cagemates chew a lot too or is it just her?

[Amalthea]

Does she have a cagemate? If not, she could be bored. Rats are very social and need the stimulation of other rats.

[Andatariel]

She doesn't have a cagemate.
But she doesn't chew much in the cage, just when she's out to play.