I have worked with rats, too (I'm a clinical pharmacologist).
I think the screen might be sensitive enough for that; though, I'd cover it with a easy disposable clear plastic sheet, because rats paws and nails could scratch it quite quickly. You could try several types of sheets, from those for projections to those for plastic bags.

The exploded view could be as such, seen from above:

---------------------------------------------
| N800 |
____-------------------------------____ |

========================= sheet
__________| hole in wall |__________
| |
| Cage (rats) |
| |

Let me know your progress