How Can I Tame My Baby Rat???

Question

I got a rat yesterday night. It's about 7 weeks old and is really timid and skittish. It doesnt like it when I try to touch it with my hand and spends all it's time hiding away in the tube inside it's cage.

How can I tame her?

Please help!

Answer 1

I believe that you can train it just like a hamster. They tend to be VERY similar.

First, try hanging around its cage so it is familiar of you. Make it a daily routine.

Try hand feeding it so it is used to your hand in the cage. Eliminate all other options so your rat has no other options. Once it gets used to this, it'll be surprised about how many things your hand can do. Including picking it up and petting it.

If you would like further instructions that I didn't give, try this website:

http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.ph...

I know that it is for taming hamsters, but again, their behaviors are about the same. I hope that you are able to tame your rat! I am sorry, but I'm out of ideas. I hope this helps and good luck!!!

Answer 2

Hold it frequently.You rat is still young and is not used to living in your house.It also may be lonely.It probably lived with another rat in a cage at a pet store.After a couple months,your rat should be less timid.As long as you hold it and pet it on a daily basis,it should be fine.

Answer 3

Keep picking her up and put food on your hand so she'll come to you.

Answer 4

I really, really, really, really, really, REALLY reccomend getting another rat! They are no more trouble to have 2 than 1, and I know from experience, they are so much friendlier, happier, more confident, and bond better to you with another rat for company! They should be fine with the introdution, just get them out together and be careful. Let them play and get accustomed, and possibly squabble a little, but that's natural.

Please, please get another baby rat, if it's a girl, then get a girl, if it's a boy, then get a boy. The whole experience of rehoming is incredibly stressful for 1 rat, but 100 times less stressful and happier if they have another rat for company.

I fel so guilty about having a single rat because she must have been lonely, bored, and unhappy some of the time when I wasn't there.

You would understand when you are further into the rats life, or even after the rat passes away. Please get another before it's too late to introduce them. The pet shop where you got her may have some more out of her litter still there, that would be perfect!

I think it's costs aout the same, as most of the money you spend is used up on food, which a lot of will be wasted, and there is less waste. so basically it's the same costs.

A pair of female, healthy rats should suffice from a once weekly clean, and a good, full clean out perhaps every month. So no extra cleaning out problems to worry about!

Your rat may be happy when you are with her, yes, but the chances are when you are asleep, at school/work, gone out, or busy, she wil be lonely and sad. Please get her another companion!!!!

I'm sure you care about her very much, and I really do hope you take my advice and get another. They should be around the same age, give or take a week or so. This will help her settle in hugely!

I really hope you do get another companion!!!! I don't say it for nothing. Not only will it benefit you by the rats being 100000000x happier, it will benefit them incredibly well.

Syrian hamsters are a naturally solitary animal, hence often kept alone as a pet. HOWEVER: Rats are NOT naturally solitary, and can get depressed if they hav eno rat companions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.nfrs.org/company.html

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

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

http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/#Social%20Li...

Go on the part; Social life: Rats need company.

http://www.rmca.org/Resources/apair.txt

Please x 1 trillion, get another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then she should settle in 100 times better. Get another rat, leave them together if the introduction goes well for 1 day or so, going in and gently stroking them every couple of hours or so and offering them a few treats. Put some tasty fruit such as apple on offer for them to eat. A little bit of lightly buttered bread works well to make my rats happier.

Don't expect too much too early. Let them become omfortable with you, not you be comfortable with making the be!

Another companion, it's crucial!!!!

Answer 5

Just hold your rat everyday. If she's too fast and tries to get away, hold her in the bathtub to that if she gets away you wont lose her.

She'll come around.  

Answer 6

The first thing I would suggest is getting her a friend.  If you got her yesterday, you will hopefully be able to get her a cage mate from the same litter.  There is no excuse to keep a rat alone.  Studies have shown that rats kept with companions live longer healthier lives that are more fulfilling.  Even if you can spend the minimum time allotment of four hours a day with your rat if kept alone, this is not enough time! Rats are not like humans and sleep for one part of a day and are awake for the other. They sleep and wake up periodically and need that friend to play with and sleep with. Two rats are absolutely no harder to care for than one is.  If you are still unconvinced, please read: http://www.rmca.org/Resources/apair.txt

As for your question, your rat is still young (not too young- rats can be separated from their mothers at 5 weeks and if they are males it is necessary to separate them this young).  Sadly, many rats purchased as a rescue or in a pet store are skittish.  They lack the attention needed and socialization needed that they would have gotten had they been born at a breeder's.  It takes several weeks for some rats to warm up to you.  Have you purchased any Yogies? These are a bit like rat-nip to a rat.  If you break little pieces of the Yogies off and offer them to her, she'll slowly come around.  Each time you offer them, pull your hand back further.  She should walk towards you each time.  Reward her progress with soft words and the Yogie.  Allow her to get used to you on her own terms.  Put the cage on a table and sit down at it. Open the door. Put some toys on the table for her and just let her explore you.  A favorite technique of mine is to lay down on a couch with a blanket over me.  This allows the new rat to have a safe haven underneath the blanket while getting used to me and my own scent.  

Getting your new rat used to you can take some time.  Two of my boys took two months before they became sweet little cuddle butts.  Just keep it up and let her go at her own pace.  You'll see a little progress each week if you keep at it.  

Another interesting fact is that rats tend to have more confidence when in pairs.  When one tries something, the other will.  Some individuals find that it is best to get rats in pairs for this reason even if there are already rats in the home.  At this point your girl is all alone in a new and scary place with no one she knows and nothing she is familiar with.

Good luck to you and please do get her a friend asap, I really cannot stress that to you enough. A single rat is a lonely rat!

Answer 7

You can go to the local libary and get some books

Answer 8

when i first got my youngest male rat was quite timid.

i would leave him/her to settle in for the first couple of days

and just take it in small steps

put your hand in the cage stroke him on the first day

on the second day squeeze in between his ribs and genitals

on the third day try the technique and pick him up.

don't let him move around til his heart is at a normal speed.

Answer 9

i'd say 7 weeks is very young for a rat.  it still would be with it's mother at that age normally, so it will probably need some time.

like many rodents, having her spayed will probably calm her down

Answer 10

i just got 2 babies there just testing to see if ure food turn your hand and try btw its best to get 2 rats

Answer 11

let her get used to your scent. Keep your hand in the cage and let her snifff you and walk over you. THey try picking her up. Keep her close to your body. The more you handle her the more she will be used to you

Answer 12

every day jus stroke it for 5 mins not givin it anywhere hide should gradually get used to it

Answer 13

Feed her lots of fresh fruit and veggies as treats. Talk to her softly. Handle her gently. Repeat her name a lot. Rats are lots of fun and very sweet!

Answer 14

isnt 7 weeks too young to be away from its mother. i didnt get my rats until they were 12 weeks old