hw do i handle a rat?

Answer 1

Rats come with personalities. Some hate being handled, some nip at you, some love being handled, and most are willing to tolerate it.

Most of the rules are the same for most animals, and include:

1. Never startle the animal. Give it warning. At first, you may not be able to give it an escape route, but once it gets used to you, try to give it a choice as to whether it wants to be picked up or not.
2. Do not disturb it while it is sleeping, eating, defecating, etc.
3. Avoid bothering it while it is in its safe place. This is not always possible, but its space and nest should be respected.
4. Be gentle. Try to scoop it up. Never grab it by the tail or a limb.
5. Hold it ONLY as firmly as needed to keep it safe.
6. Recognize signs of aggitation and return it at taht time.
7. Try to provide a snug, safe place in your hands for the rat. It might try to explore- give it the chance to explore as freely as possible. If it tries to nest, let it rest quietly in your hands or pocket.
8. Grooming while in your hands is either a sign of stress, or relaxation. Look at the pulse rate- if it is vibrating, it is nervous. Just be cool and gentle.

Answer 2

The two answers above mine have prettymuch said what I was going to say.

If it's a stray/wild rat don't try to handle it, as much as I love rats, their wild counterparts can carry all sorts of diseases/mites/fleas/ticks or even simply cause you injury by biting.

If it's a pet, I would've suggested looking this up before you bought it, but it doesn't matter now. Instead of reaching into it's cage, try to lure it out with some healthy treats (commercially made ones, or some vegetables like carrots) and take it slowly. Don't try picking it up at once, just get it to trust you. Depending on the rat this could take a couple hours or a couple weeks (or more). Once it comes out to you when you come to the cage you can pick it up. If you ever have to stop a rat or catch it because it got away, you can gently grasp the base of it's tail- not too hard, and not high up, as you could easily hurt them.

Answer 3

He must be new, rats calm down very fast and bond with their owner. I have 3 babies in a huge cage. The first step with a new rat is short session several times a day. Gently get him out, now he is squirming and trying to get loose so you may have to tighten your grip. This is the point in time they soil you with pee and poo. Let him do his thing. After this defensive act, he will calm down. Keep handling him for several minutes, even if he is still struggling. Now put him back in his cage and gently pet him on his back and head (he may run into a corner). Have some cookies, cake, past, pudding, tuna salad or something else tasty ready to give him. When he take the treat from you, talk to him gently. It usually take me only a few days of this to get them tame. Older rats will take longer. When I open the cage, they all spill out climbing all over it. THey love to be held and they love it when I give them treats. Sometimes my big baby, King Koopa, doesn't want the food, but want to be held instead. They really do make great pets.

Answer 4

Are you talking about a pest rat that has invaded your house? Or are you talking about a pet rat?

If you're talking about a nuisance rat, then you can get some humane traps from pet stores that will let you capture the rat, then take it out to the country to release it in a habitat where it belongs. Please don't buy the kill-traps, they're often ineffective and incredibly cruel. Often times the traps just break their bones, trap them still alive and the animal struggles to its death or starves to death. They did nothing to deserve such horrible treatment. At least humane capture and release will ensure that it is still part of the ecosystem where it belongs.

If you're talking about a pet rat and tips for caring for it, there are lots of great websites with pet rat information. Just type "pet rat care" into a search engine and you'll get a lot of hits.

Answer 5

confident, they make remarkable pets, although, they are extreme matience. Are you specific you're prepared to invest in vet charges, despite if it means you won't manage to get what you elect for your self? And confident, you do would desire to get a minimum of two. Please do study in the previous getting puppy rats, there are a number of belongings you *choose* to nicely known in the previous getting them. Like how cedar and pine are undesirable, the form you elect spring water. i ought to type all i understand, yet i will forget to show some issues. in case you do no longer choose 10-20 pinkies (rat infants), are not getting a girl at a puppy keep it particularly is been with different rats. that's not considerable what the puppy keep is. If the rat is 5 weeks or older, they'd desire to be far off from their opposite sexes. If that's below 5 weeks, they'd desire to be with their mom, nevertheless nursing.

Answer 6

well if it is a pet rat then i would pick it up with gloves on. That way if it bites, it only bites the glove. I never picked mine up by the tail because some people say you shouldnt and some people say you should. Then once it is use to you picking it up you can take off the gloves.

Answer 7

Go to http.www.goosemoose.com and check out the rats rule forum. The people there can give you great info.

Answer 8

don't... rats are questionable.

call animal control? why, what is it doing?

if it's not a pet then lay traps, they make good ones you can get at hardware stores, home depot, not sure where else, grocery around here sometimes carries them.

or a .44, but that will make a huge mess.

Answer 9

white wine sauce with capers