Help with my rat!?

Question

My Rat allows me to pet her, but she never seems very enthusiastic. She only lets me picker her up for about ten seconds, and she's very nervous about it. She never offer treats I give ger, except for the occasional sunflower seed. How do I get her to trust me? I know I have only had her for 2 days (3 if you include the day I took her home) and she is very young, the size of a full grown mouse. What can I do to help her trust me? And which method works better, the gradual trust method, or the forced solialization method? Thanks tons for any info you give me!!

Answer 1

Leave her alone for a couple of days like don't pick her up or anything. Let her get used to where she lives. She's probably just nearvous. If she's that young she's bound to be a little scared. Gove her some time and she'll get used to you.

-----Maddie----

Answer 2

You are expecting way too much, way too soon. If you got her from a pet store, she likely was not well socialized while young. She's in a completely new place and likely scared and unused to being handled. Give her time and work with her slowly:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/trust.html

http://www.afrma.org/trusttraining.htm

http://members.aol.com/juliesrats/behavi...

In addition, please get her a same s*x friend. It is absolutely unfair to keep rats alone due to how highly social they are. In the wild they live in family groups. A friend might even boost her confidence.

Answer 3

Everyday, after you eat a meal, give her a sunflower seed or any treat you have. Then start petting her. Soon, she will trust you. Just keep on holding her, and she will gradually begin to trust you. Hope this helps!

-------I Luv NickJ--------

Answer 4

bribe her by putting her fav. treat on ur hand and maybe she'll crawl onto ur hand to eat it. or put her in a hamster ball and hold her and she'll get used 2 u holding her

Answer 5

give her time. she still so young just put your hand in the Cage for 10 Min's and let her sniff it don't  grab her or shell be scrared and don't pick her up from behind. think a bout how a preder would pick her up and do the ezack opposite.  

shell learn to love and trust you soon enough

Answer 6

to just play with her and make her feel comfortable but 1 hand with her on it the other in front palm to palm let her step on 1 than the other and tha jsut keep going on she will like it

Answer 7

She'll calm down as she gets a litter older, but they feel secure when you let them sit on your shoulder close to your neck and hair, that makes them feel secure.

Answer 8

hi give cpl days too settle in then u can begin too handle her has she got a playmate rats get on better when two off same s*x.

im looking forward too getting two more rats after mine sadly passed away.

i like females.

uv just got too handle much as poss but let them roam around ur house if safe they enjoy that ul find ur rat will come too u.

just a baby give her time,

gud luck...a great bond u cant break...