How do you play with rats?

Question

my female pet rats are boring! i see these people on youtube playing with rats and they love it! when i try with my rats they don't like it one bit and run away! (its probably because I'm in the middle of taming them and they don't want to be picked up) i am also very scared of them biting me because when i try to stroke them in the cage (they do let me stroke them but only in the hammock) they bite me, so i pull my hand away and hit the cage by accident so there is a big loud thud and my rats get frightened and run to the hide box. i get them out of the cage every day but they always want to go back in! they get so boring and i want to try some playful things to make them come back for more (and like me better)

thanks in advance

Rat TLC

Answer 1

If you have any blocks from when u were little make a maze out of it and put a treat at the end for when they finish they love that (seirously)

Answer 2

Keep handling them, the more you do the calmer they will be with you.  My boys both have rats and they are super sweet but were really jittery and hyper when they first got them.  They both know their names now and will come when called.  We have them in a chinchilla cage with and exercise wheel.  

Answer 3

If you are nervous about handling them, they can sense that.  Maybe owning a ratty isn't up your alley.

Answer 4

do things that dont involve your interaction, but you can be included if they want.

heres an idea for a game:

Fishing For Peas: fill a shallow dish with luke warm water and some frozen peas. insert rat

Answer 5

The way you describe your rats makes it sound like they're too new. Only once out of the last near-decade of rat ownership has one of them bit me without provocation. I'm not sure why yours would bite, rats rarely do.

Make sure you don't have any food smell on your hands, don't force them to interact with you if they're trying to hide or sleep, and avoid giving them things through the cage bars or they'll get used to nipping for treats.

The way I socialize mine is to keep them near me- either with me on the bed (if they can't get down) or next to me in their cage with the door open. I also lay a free hand in their cage while I use the other to read, which gets them used to my smell but this may not be an option for you.

As for playing, it doesn't sound like they trust you enough yet. A tame rat will run TO you, not from you, and certainly shouldn't bite. So don't judge them too harshly yet. Let them get more used to you first before you try playing or they'll probably take it as an attack.

Feel free to email me, I'd like to ask more about your rats and maybe I can help.

Answer 6

Tell that rat to play with a ... cat ? :)

Answer 7

put them on ur shoulder

Answer 8

You can put them in a pen with you and get a small ball or string and try.  Just playing with them every other hour will insure them to stop biteing.  Also giving them something tasty when ever they see you should get them to like you alot more! LoL! good luck !