Does anyone have pet rats? Need some advice.

[WhirlingStirling]

We recently got pet rats for the dc.

We have worked our way through suitable pets as dh has allergy to cats, youngest dd seems allergic to dogs (which is what we really wanted ) and then we got guinea pigs and I found that I was struggling to breath so they had to go.

Then we met someone who had pet rats and they were lovely - very intelligent and seemed loyal etc.

So, we went and got a couple of boy rats from a pet shop and the assistant assured us he had been handling them but we keep getting bitten. They are definitely nervous so I understand why they are doing it but they are frightening the dc now and we dont know what to do.

We let them out of their cage as much as poss but they seem frightened to death of us.

Is there anything else we can do?

Any advice appreciated.

It does sound as if they haven't been handled much. How old are they ?

There is lots of information and good advice about keeping rats here.

it is very unusual for rats to bite. Howe long have you had them?
they bite because of stress, have you given them enough time to settle in and get used to their surroundings?

Don't rearrange the cage at all, and let them be in peace for a bit to settle in and realise you aren't going to hurt them. Try to avoid big clean ups for a few days. They tend to choose a particular spot for their toilet so you can jsut clean that area.

Then start to tempt them with a bit of food. Mine used to adore wafer thin ham. Hold it at the door of the cage and let them come to you. Don't put your hands in the cage and try to pick them up. Be prepared to wait quite a while! Talk to them (very quietly) and let them get used to the sound of your voice. Let them brush against your hands rather than attempting to stroke them to begin with.

It's all about building up trust. I'm not convinced that they have been handled that much tbh.

they are very intelligent you can train them almost like a dog. If they bite, just put them straight back in the cage again. Rats actually love being cuddled when they are properly tamed, and the reward of cuddles versus the threat of being put back in their cage does work. Mine used to snuggle up inside my jumper and go to sleep.

i watched programme that said to get animals used to being handled, use a paint brush (thin one) to get them used to being touched but not by you iykwim. they will gradually get used to being touched. i tried it on my nervous rabbit and it seemed to work.

maybe worth a try?

Thank you all very much.

I really want this to work for the dc but find I am very nervous of the rats - I am sure that wont help!

We try to let them come to us - we let them out of the cage every day in the hall (wooden floor so easier to clean!) but they come out and then just hide from us!

I believe they are only young. We are calling them Milkshake and Mr Snuffles!

When they do come near us we hold our hands out for them to sniff but after a short sniff, they bite! Sometimes only a play bite (no blood) but other times they can really hurt.

We shall continue to be patient and see what happens.

Chops I do try just talking to them - usually once dc are in bed one of the rats comes and sits by the side of the cage and looks at me so I talk to him quietly - he seems to like that.

Shall try the wafer thin ham.

We've had rats (3 biys) for about 3 months. They are from a pet shop - I have since read that most pet shop rats are from "rat farms" and have not been handled much.
One of ours - a white pink eyed rat - bit a lot at first. Apparently they can't see too well and I think he needed to learn our smell first. If I have handled food before putting my hand in the cage he still does bite occasionally.
Mine improved by taking them out of the cage individually and holding them on me - tucked up my jumper was best! - for at least 20 minutes at a time.
I also take them out of their cage into our shower room - it's small enough for them not to be able to hide from me - so even the shyest one now clambers over me.
There are loads of tips on the "Fancy Rats" website.
Good luck! I love our rats - I watch them rather than TV!

Loads of interaction. Let them run around a safe place with you in the room so they can choose to come to you when they want to. They might hide at first but they will get used to be you and come to see you. Rats are very curious beasts and eventually their curiosity will overcome their fear.

agree with ormirian.
Let them come to you.
You need to have them out of the cage for several hours a day tbh, so after school get them out and let them run around. If you make it so they will be hungry and you are holding some nice bits of fruit or seeds or nuts or whatever they should start coming to you. Let them associate you with good things at first.

Haggis Ours are both white rats with pink eyes and I was convinced that they couldn't see very well because they dont see your hand coming towards them, then they seem to jump when they realise how close you are.

What you have said just confirms what I thought.

I think we just have to wait for them to get used to our smell!

Whirling, our white one is now quite friendly. He loves to climb up under my jumper and will sit on my shoulder. He will still bite people he doesn't know though - which is why I am convinced he can't see properly and has to learn your smell first.
Make sure you wash your hands after handling food before handling him - but try not to use a strongly scented soap. I also wore the same jumper for several days when they were getting to know me (it stank of rat after a bit!) but I thought that they may be reassured by the smell.

Thanks for that Haggis - I feel a bit more confident about handling them now.

Shall go and shove one up my jumper now!

I used to have a rat. He was very nervous to begin with and I did indeed have to let him come to me. I opened the door and let him sniff me and come to me at his own pace. He did become very loving.

I found that while I was nervous with our new rats I could happily hold out a spoon dipped in yoghurt for them to lick. It kept my fingers out of the way while letting them get used to being near me if you know what I mean. They are really cute licking up yoghurt . The other good toy I found was a wand with feathers on the end of it which is supposed to be a cat toy but the rats love chasing it. Ours are called Zig and Zag. We did have a lovely fat dumbo called Blink but he had to go because he fought with the other too all the time.

Mine are both Dumbo rats - they are small at the moment, wasn't sure how big they will grow.