What can i do to get my pet male rats comfortable with me?

Blog Category: cfzr.com — Blogged by: wktd on March 13, 2010 at 7:35 am
  • I have two male rats at least 6 months old, and they wont allow me to take them out of their cages (i cant keep the two of them together because they fight). If I try to take them out, they run into a corner and act hunched over, one of them even squeled. Every now and again, the nicer one will let me pet him on the back, and even pick him up, but it is so rare, so I really need some advice on how to get them used to me???/!!!!! I really want to be able to enjoy them!!!!!!!!


  • It's unfortunate that they fight, rats are extremely social. When they live alone, rats need about four hours of human interaction a day. Since they're both single, no wonder they're high-strung. Please help them to learn how to tolerate each other. It may also help if you neuter them, which would reduce any territorial behaviors.
    http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/introd...
    http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html

    How long have you had them? They need time to learn to trust you. Spend as long as you possibly can with them every day. At first, just be there. Put delicious treats in the cage like Yogies, fruit, whatever. Do not use peanut butter; rats can't vomit or gag, so if they choke on sticky peanut butter, they can't cough it back up and so choke to death.

    Just leave your arm or hand in the cage. Hopefully, eventually, they'll come to you. Make no sudden movements. Let them investigate you. You may need to repeat that step a few times or a hundred times.

    Hold a treat in your hand for them to take. Make sure it's sticking out of your pinched fingers enough for them to grab to avoid accidental bites. Do this often. (Do not feed them through the wires of the cage. If they become accustomed to thinking that everything stuck through the wires is food, you'll end up with a nasty nip if you stick your fingers through because they don't know any better.)

    Besides treats, hand-feed them their meals every day or as often as possible. If they absolutely refuse to take it from you, well, he'll just have to go without food until he's too hungry to refuse. (Don't wait longer than two days, though.)

    Once your rat will happily take food from you in his cage, begin holding the food closer and closer to the door. Start holding it just outside the door, so that he at least has to lean out to get the food. Do that a bunch of times, and keep gradually going further, until the rat will happily come out.

    Never grab for him or anything, you'll frighten him. Don't pick him up by the base of the tail, that can cause injury and scare the rat. Pick him up gently around the middle, like under the shoulders, and support his bottom to make him feel secure.

    Pet him soothingly.

    You can used the "forced socialization" method. A rat can involuntarily only maintain its fear for about twenty minutes. Thus, you hold the rat for at least twenty minutes, maybe longer, so that once the adrenaline starts to fade, he can associate you with calmness and safety. Don't keep the rat tight in your grasp. You can hold him gently, or let him crawl around you. Repeat for a few days, and there should be some improvement.

    You can also use a bonding pouch. This is just a small bag that you put a shy rat (or other small animal) in. It lets them hide in their cozy little bag while still being close to you, getting used to your scent and learning to trust you. You can use a real bag or make your own bonding pouch.
    http://rattributes.com/tutorial/bonding....
    http://www.suzsugargliders.com/nosewbond...


  • I found with rodant type animals, the best thing is to spend each and everyday with them. Training them, getting them used to you. You are at the top of the food chain and have a higher level of intelligence. You need to bring yourself down to their level and think, what would make you feel comfortable. Consistancy and patience. I have trained my bunny to come when I call, and even uppies and down. Repeattive and consistant behaviour from your part will ensure the same from them :-D Treats also work well. What do your rats like? Peanut butter maybe? Put some on your fingers and let them lick it off. They get used to your taste and your smell. Use it as a reward when they come to you.



    Good luck


  • Well, how would you react if an animal about 100 times bigger than you tried to pick you up? Building trust with your little animals is something that you have to do a bit at a time. One thing that would help is to let them know that you are the source of their food. when you feed them, offer them a treat from your hand. They may not take it at first, so just put it down in front of them.
    Also talk softly and soothingly to them while you have the cage open for feeding or changing the bedding.
    Let them be able to see you as you go about your daily activities. If they can see you, then you are part of their environment. Not just someone that suddenly appears and torments them.


  • Go into a closed room and open the cage, let him explore the room then come to you this way he will get used to the enviornment and you dont have to scare him n a corner







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