i decided that i would like more rats (not a hard choice!) instead of buying them in a pet store, or at a rattery, as there aren't any very close to me. i decided to check on craigslist. i made the mistake of finding this one woman who said that her rats were from a loving home and she didn't want to see them as snake food. i got there and the cage was filthy, the rats were hiding in there hammock which i didn't think anything of because it was in the early evening. i took them home, and there as wild as can be.... its clear to me they were never handled, and if they were with bad treatment. they're over a year and very dependant on each other. i tried trust training with good advice and from reputable help, but with no avail they are just as scared ad the day i brought them home. (6/12/07)
i have placed them in separate cages tonight and i'm going to re-start the trust training again.... does anyone have any suggestions about these poor girls?
i hope this is enough information.
2007-07-04 17:57:09 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
i do have experience with rats (5other healthy HAPPY girls). i just don't have experience with rats that have been neglected and or abused.
they have names, i call to them, try and give them treats, but they run and shriek. the one girl (ginger) will come to the door and with coaxing take a treat off a spoon. the other girl (cookie) won't come anywhere near me. this is why i separated them (cages close together) cookie depends on ginger to get treats and food from me. i can barely get them into another cage so that i can clean the one there in, let alone trust them to "run free" i usually have to wait until their in a hide box and stick a towel over it to get them into another cage.
i don't know what there previous owner did to them, but i would love to ring her neck!
i feel bad for them because this is no way of living for them. i really am good to them and it doesn't seem to matter. i want to help them, i just don't know how to help them. this is why i asked in the first place.
2007-07-04 18:19:26 · update #1
Try spending as much time as possible with each one of them as possible, give them plenty of treats and make sure their cages are very clean. Give them each names and make sure you talk to them in a higher pitched voice and say their names as often as possible so that way they get used to it. Never scare them or awake them quickly always talk to the soothingly when awakening them and slowly pick them up if they are still drowsy. I have owned many rats and I know it's hard when the are that neglected just remember to be consistent feed them at the same time, take them out at the same time, try to have consistency and you should pull through all right.
2007-07-04 18:06:37 · answer #1 · answered by Bri 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever heard of Forced Socialization? The theory is that no animal can stay scared for more than 20 minutes... So what you do is HOLD your pet for at least 20 minutes, at least once a day -- twice a day is better. You must HOLD her -- letting her run around on your shoulders doesn't count.
It's not ALWAYS effective, but many, many people report that this really helps, in very few sessions. I've had good luck with this myself.
Good luck -- and thank you for caring about these poor rats!
2007-07-05 04:48:09 · answer #2 · answered by luvrats 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got some rats a while back that were still wild that I saved from being snake food (it is actually because of them, Boyd and Carter, that I have had rats ever since).
With them, I had to keep one hand in the cage for as long as I could stand it and not move, palm up. When they finally got to where they would crawl over my hands I would gently and slowly pull one out and put him in a shoe box with out a lid on it. I would gently push him back in to the box when he would try to jump out, and walk to the kitchen and get a treat (always something that I knew he loved, popcorn for Boyd usually and candy for Carter) and walk back to the cage, put the rat back in, and hand him his treat, then take the other.
Eventually I didnt need the box anymore and could carry them, then it got to a point where I could just walk up to the cage and say "Kitchen?" and they would run up my arms and sit on my shoulder to the kitchen.
Always reward good behavior with a treat. A treat I have found that works well, and is cheap is little starlight peppermint candies. Its good for their teeth and they usually liek the taste. Just bite one in half for her.
Im sure you know this, but patience patience. They may not ever be tame enough to sit on your shoulder or play in your room outside their cage, but it is possible to get them tame enough to take food and not fear you.
Best of luck! Please dont give up on them!
2007-07-05 03:18:33 · answer #3 · answered by Annie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Handle them daily.
Expect that they will bite. Be okay that they may bite, and stay calm if they do bite. The worst thing you can do to a scared animal is react when it bites. She must know that you won't fight her and that she won't get her way with teeth.
I have found that introducing an animal that is not afraid into their living space does wonders. I just did that with a set of mice girls last week, and they've warmed up to me a lot since. You may want to try that with these gals.
2007-07-05 04:25:35 · answer #4 · answered by chezsruli 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow!! a rat lover you. A long love note of an expression to the other and more experienced rat lovers out there. Just like all our pets, we all give them a love tender and care. Good luck with your training your pet rat-or rats and rats-later.
2007-07-05 01:21:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say the same as everyone else; talk to them slowly, softly, and soothingly, and give them treats. Make sure they know they're loved, and not here to be frightened, or mistreated. Perhaps, even, you could give them something you don't care about that smells like you, like a hand-towel, to help them get used to your scent.
It might also help if you Bruxxed ((chittered your teeth, like rats tend to when they're happy)) at them, or around them.
2007-07-05 01:31:44 · answer #6 · answered by Remykins 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow poor things i feel so bad for them and you. i would try spending allot of time with them try handling them if they bite maybe try getting them in a tube and setting them on your shoulder. Put a towel on a couch or bed and let them run around on that. if they like fleece maybe you can put fleece on your lap and put them in it and see if they will snuggle in it if you can get them out. i have never had this problem with my baby and her sis.
Best of luck to you and you rats hope they get over the torture they have encountered at their last home.
2007-07-05 11:51:01 · answer #7 · answered by ♥WishUwereMe♥ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good luck! They deserve a happy home and I am glad you are working so hard to give it to them.
2007-07-08 23:46:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are wild animals. So sorry you were lied to.
Do read The Rats of NIMH. It will cheer you as you try to make friends with these girls.
2007-07-05 02:13:40 · answer #9 · answered by Owlwoman 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
try putting them under a sweatshirt where they can feel safe in a dark warm place and get used to your scent.
2007-07-05 14:06:51 · answer #10 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋