Neutering rats

[tametortie]

We have had our 2 boy rats for a couple of months now and they have settled in beautifully- very friendly and loving.

However, they are not so friendly with each other! And then sometimes they are TOO friendly

Lots of squabbling and biting then next minute riding round on each others backs!!!

DH says they need to be neutered but I don't know if that's a bit risky?? Although then it's weighing up that risk against the risk of fighting all the time- we have already had one injury from biting.

I'm just trying to weigh up whether we should or not really? Any advice welcome.

One other thing, when they are in the cage together they always snuggle up and go to sleep together. Most of the fighting seems to be when we have them out of the cage and they fight a lot over treats. Even if we give them both the same treat at the exact same time, they still want the other ones treat??!!

[PixieofCatan]

If there is no blood spilled then they are likely just playing and/or dominating one another. Our boys are the same. Our vet has also said that if they do start being aggressive, then it's probably too late to neuter them anyway as it's become behavioural, I'm not certain on how true that is though.

As long as they are sleeping together they should be okay. What was the injury from biting? Was it one of you or the other rat?

[tametortie]

It was just a little bite on the belly. Little cut and a few days of tea tree cream.

I am thinking if they really hated each other they wouldn't sleep together would they?!

[PixieofCatan]

They wouldn't no, that apparently is "the sign" that you have rats who are seriously peeved at one another.