I know that I am suppose to spend alot of time with her so she can get use to me but she is a frisky little thing and when I take her out of her cage to hold her, she jumps out of my hands and tries to run away. It is very hard to bond with this little cutie, any suggestions?
2007-03-05 14:16:21 · 10 answers · asked by angel 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Get a second one. This will help he bond with you when she gets taken out of the cage. Plus female rats tend to not stay in one spot for a long time. They are always exploring and looking for food and nesting material. Another rat will allow this one to play while you are away, and then it will calm down when you want to play.
If you are set on only have one rat you need to spend 3 hours a day with it. It will get depressed if it doesn't have this time outside it's cage interacting with something.
I put a sheet on my bed and let my girls run around while I lay and do school work. When they want to spend time with you, they let you know. Otherwise they just enjoy the time to run around and be rats. When I see they are tired (mine go to the edge of the bed by there cage) I put them back and pick up the sheet. Females do mark there teritory. They drop pee as they walk, so a sheet is a good idea for bed play. Plus you do have some accidents of poop every once in a while.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info. I love my girls. They are the best pets in the world.
2007-03-05 17:58:51 · answer #1 · answered by Mel 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Give her time, and work slowly with her. One of mine was skittish at first, but now she's the most social little thing ever. Offer her treats from your hand when you go to get her out of the cage, and let her sit on your shoulder or in your shirt sleeve, they'll love that. My biggest concern is it sounds like you only got one rat... rats are very social, and need to have atleast one other cage-mate to be healthy. It won't cause them to bond any less with you, but it gives them someone to curl up and nap with during the day, and play with at night while you're sleeping. I would highly recommend getting a second. One of my girls was alone for 3 weeks because I had to keep the new one seperate from her to ensure nothing was passed (I had just had one put to sleep from cancer, but it's still important to quarantine) and once I put them together it was amazing the difference, they were more outgoing, and overall happier. Good luck.. if you've got anymore questions feel free to get ahold of me :)
2007-03-06 01:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by blue_angel_1400 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would give her some more time to acclimate to her cage and the new surroundings before you get her out again. Show her you are to be trusted, offer treats and move slowly...pet her gently. Right now you are the strange giant human who takes her out and teases her with freedom. Be the loving owner who offers food and comfort.
Be warned, however, she may never calm down. Rats all come with different personalities.
2007-03-05 22:26:57 · answer #3 · answered by Bluebear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Female rats are active all of their lives. The younger she is, the more frisky she will be. But fear not, here are some tips to help you and your little girl become fast friends. I've had both pet store (feeder) rats and breeder rats and these methods work just as well on either.
Bonding with your rats
http://members.aol.com/juliesrats/behavior.html
More
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Bonding+with+your+rats+&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Bonding+with+your+rats+
The people who have written these articles on the first page are people that I know and trust from the rat-only forums that I am on.
Harnesses? Rats are houdini's when it comes to these harnesses. Not only can they not make a harness small enough for rats, rats very easily slip out of them. You will loose her for sure should you take her outside in a harness.
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-06 17:24:27 · answer #4 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Several reasons why the rat is this way. Feeder rats, which are also sold as pets, are not handled at all. If she is young though, she should be OK, just faster than a tame one. Young rats, 8wks. old for example, are full of energy, just like human children. See if it will sit in your pocket or on your neck underneath the hair. These are 2 places they are fond of.
2007-03-05 22:25:09 · answer #5 · answered by kriend 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
have patience be careful not to let it get hurt while diving from your hands, maybe you should take it out over the bed. just keep handling her as much as possible, give her treats when you hold her so she relates the two. it'll take some time, good luck
2007-03-05 22:25:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
so u have an area where u could set her free, say bathroom. try playing in there. rats are so fun to bad they are band where i live. just dont grab thier tail it will peal off.
2007-03-05 23:52:02 · answer #7 · answered by whinney1489 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they make little harnesses for guinea pigs and iguanas, maybe you could find one for her? then she could crawl around on you and not jump out of your hands.
2007-03-06 00:28:43 · answer #8 · answered by heather l 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
put him on your sholders after a while thatll be his favorite spot
2007-03-05 22:47:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Buy a rat trap.That works for me hehe........
2007-03-05 22:45:13 · answer #10 · answered by ♥ liz ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋