To rehome pet rats?

[dragonflys]

We purchased 2 rats from pets at home and they were obviously scared when arrived home. We left them for a week to settle and tried to tame them. They were awful, constantly nipping and biting and hiding away when near cage. I did assume it was because of the way they were bred.

We got them for 11 year old DD and she is now scared of them as they bit her and she doesn't like the smell.

I always thought rats were supposed to be friendly?

Anyway, they seem unhappy and still scared when I go near the cage. I clean them out as DD wanted to play with them and can't and they are now never handled.

I don't know if they'd ever get rehomed but I feel a rescue could work with them.

It the best thing to do isn't it?

Thanks everyone. The pet shop showed me suitable cages and I picked the biggest one. They have carefresh bedding.

I'll do my best to tame them then. I had no idea how bad the situation is with pets at home pets

I agree with you but calling someone a plonker is hardly a constructive thing to say. And there is no such thing as a bonding window. Bonding can and will happen if the care and effort is put into it. If not then OP can find abother home, again if the care and effort is put into finding a responsible owner.

You CAN do it, OP. Go and sit with them now. Put some treats out and talk to them. Then do it again tomorrow morning. Just keep going.

I'll do my best to tame them then. I had no idea how bad the situation is with pets at home pets
Little steps op, Start off slowly.
You can do it.

Definitely talk to them, they love that, they are honestly lovely little pets.
I can't have more as I have cats now.

OP, are they male or female? And are you anywhere near London/SE?

How big is the cage OP?

OP you have realised you made a mistake and admitted it ,all credit to you.It can be done with time and patience .You just need to build up trust .Rats are amazing intelligent creatures,ours would sit on my shoulder. Persevere ,show them they can trust you. Actually miss having rats around they are fantastic ,clever animals .

You've had them three months.
You left them for a week to settle.
You haven't handled them for two months.
So you tried for 3 weeks max.
These are scared animals. They have been factory farmed. They won't have been handled before. I doubt you have been sold a cage that's enriched or big enough. (Make sure you don't have a hamster type wheel as they can catch their tails.)
And the smell? Did you do no research before impulse buying?

Dragonflys I'm not going to flame you, you've had enough of that but I think perhaps these rats need a more experienced owner who will be able to work with them. Try Rat Rescue Network UK on Facebook - post the sex of the rats, your location and that they are bitey and need an experienced home.

Rats are clean, not incontinent, not unhygenic, They are like tiny puppies, they love human interaction and will happily sit and cuddle with you when you have bonded with them. We have 9 I've been bitten twice both times by hormonal boys who got a bit wound up by improper handling, they'd rather lick you to death slowly.

Oh and Rats giggle when you tickle them.

I'm in SE and this is their cage

Some tips if you decide to keep them - Don't reach into the cage and grab them they will defend their home. do offer them treats in your hand right on the tip of your fingers, once they're confident taking it move the treat up your hand until they have to come out of their cage and onto your hand to take the treat. Or you can try spoonfuls of fruit/veg babyfood which they'll have to stay near you to eat so they learn to associate your scent only with good things. You'll soon find as soon as you walk into the room they want your attention.

Also do you know the name of your cage? Unfortunately its highly likely to be unsuitable as they do need a lot of space. My cage for 6 boys is 3 levels and as tall as me. They need room to climb but also a cluttered cage is a good rat cage, make them work for their food, hammocks everywhere and stuff to chew on and rip up. Tissues are good and paper.

I’ve got 6 rats! 2 from a breeder who are timid but friendly, 2 from a friend of a friend who neglected them, and 2 from the pets at home adoption centre who are still just babies really so easy to bond with.

They were terrified when I got them and kept nipping, but I spent days on end sitting with my hand in the cage, talking to them and eventually they became used to it and would crawl all over my hand. Then after that it was easy to coax them to the door with treats. They are such sweet pets!

OK I take the cage part back thats fine for a pair of rats it just needs lots of hiding spaces. Baskets from wilkos attached to the sides with carbines, hammocks, cardboard boxes are good too. Cardboard tubes to hide in.

There's a great group on FB that has really useful files and you can ask any questions and will get helpful responses with no judgement. I'll pm it to you

I've not read the whole thread but I've had rats from PAH and they were perfectly ok being handled , we've always started by feeding them by hand and then gone on from there . The PAH rats were just as friendly as rats from breeder IME having had both .

Aaaaahh flufffyy if it wasn't for the fact I like my rodents lazy, non climbing and just the right side of dim, I'd be severely Rat Broody.

They are gorgeous little creatures.

Poor ratties! I wish people wouldn't get pets without doing enough research and putting the proper time in to care for them!

My brother had a lovely pet rat who unfortunately didn’t like me and bit me 3-4 times as a child. Drew lots of blood but was lovely to everyone else.

Join a facebook group for rats OP. Then you can ask advice as you go along.Good luck.

I always thought rats were supposed to be friendly?

I presume you have never heard of the black death?

Jesus Christ. How idiotic.

They aren't evil. They are stressed and frightened. It's not a peachy life being a pet shop animal. They've been through a lot. If you aren't willing to put in the work with them then it's best you find a rescue who will work with them, the longer they go unhandled and unexercised the worse it will get. For what it's worth I have never seen a cage in pets at home that I would deem a suitable rat cage. They require a lot of room. Especially it they aren't getting any free range time.

Lots of this P@H bashing I would question tbh. I know someone who is a store manager there. They don't handle most pets for very long, only when being cleaned out (daily). They get regular pet audits and if they fail the staff on duty get a written warning for not doing as they should. Breeders are all audited, P@H don't take pets from breeders that haven't passed all their criteria and that of a vet. Their criteria is above and beyond that of legal requirements too. They don't make money selling pets, and their motto internally is 'pets before profit' apparently.

Florence16 A woman we know bought some guinea pigs from a local P&H and took them straight to a rescue as they were in a terrible state. Underweight, covered in mites, terrified of people. They are a terrible store.