Tug-A-War This is a fun, if not somewhat evil game. ;) When giving your rat a treat, you can play a SHORT game of tug-a-war with them by refusing to let go of the treat. Be sure it is a piece of food that is large enough and durable enough to do this with. You will be amazed at how strong the little buggers can be, and it is a good way for them to work out their muscles. Some rats will play tug-a-war with other items too, such as paper towels. The ultimate in tug-a-war, though, is to take a strip of cloth and smear some kind of pasty treat on one end of it (which will be the end you give your rat.) They will immediately try and pull it from your grip and haul it off somewhere to hide, but make them work for it. ALWAYS let your rat win in the end!