Congratulations on bringing home pet rats! You’ve probably heard that rats are super friendly and affectionate pets, and that’s true for most rats. But with that said, rats are much smaller than us and they can be skittish towards new people. So, how do you get your pet rat to trust you?
Start slow with your new rats! Let them get used to their environment first, then increase the amount of time you spend with them each day. Speak to them softly, offer them treats, and let them sniff and climb on you. Over time, they’ll learn that you’re a friend!
In this article, we’ll cover a gradual process you can use to tame a timid new rat. If you can, it really helps to stay calm and confident with your rats, so that they can follow your lead.
Why bond with your pet rats?
It’s no fun – for you or your rats – to have to leave them in their cage all the time. But it’s unsafe for your them to explore your house if you aren’t able to rescue them. They could climb too high and get stuck, or hide under a couch and refuse to come out.
Rats do much better with daily time outside their cage, and a trusting relationship with their caretaker. You also need to be able to trust your rat not to bite you when you hold them. (Most rats are very gentle, but for new owners it can be a little intimidating as you get used to the way they behave.)
One day you’ll have to take your rat to the vet, or may have to give it medications by hand. So it’s a good idea to build that trust with each other before you need it.
Once you’re comfortable with each other, you can give your rat pets and snuggles, play games together, and pick them up to transport them around the house.
How long does it take to bond with rats?
Every rat is a little different. Some rats are super friendly and curious about you from the moment you take them home. Some may climb all over you when you go to meet them, but be cautious in their new environment. Given a few days to settle in, they’ll be back to loving you again.
Other rats can be extremely nervous and take a long time to build trust. This is especially true for rats who have never been handled by humans, or who were injured or handled roughly in the past. You might find the odd rat who is never fully comfortable with being handled, but will tolerate it.
Adopting your new rats from a responsible breeder is usually the best way to get rats who are well socialized and have a good personality from the get go.
Just like with humans, some rats even get along better with certain people over others. I had one rat who always seemed annoyed when I picked him up, no matter how much time I spent with him. I had kind of accepted that he just didn’t like people much.
Then one day he fell in love with one of my friends. He literally jumped out of my arms into hers. Happily, he got to live the rest of his life with her and even seemed to fit in better with her group than mine. (It’s great to have friends who have rats too for this reason.)
Learn their personality
If you can, talk to the breeder or rescue to find out what your new rat’s personality is like. If you adopt your rats as adults, they may be able to give you some insight into whether they’re friendly, nervous, or if they might bite you.
Typically when rats are babies, it doesn’t tell you much about how they’ll behave as adults. But a breeder will be able to tell you about the parents, and what kind of personality traits they look for in their lines.
Keep in mind that when you bring any rat into a new environment, it will be stressed out at first. Most rats are eager to get to know you, but also a little nervous. This is why building trust with them can take a little time.
Let them get used to their environment
Rats are usually cautious in new environments. It’s always a great idea to let your rats get used to the sounds and smells of their new home before you add yourself into the mix.
I usually leave new rats in their cage for the first day or two to let them get comfortable. Anywhere that’s fairly close to the action, but not too much chaos and noise is a good spot for them.
Let them get used to you
If you like, you can talk to your rats so they can get used to the sound of your voice. They may be trying to sniff you through the bars and taking an interest in you already.
Avoid putting your fingers against or through the bars at this point, just in case your rat interprets this as a threat. As you get to know each other better, you wont have to worry about this.
After a few days of letting your rat settle in to its new home, you can start introducing yourself!
Let them get used to your hand
The next step is to get your rat used to having your hand near and inside of its cage. This is where you should watch out for any signs of stress. Cowering in a corner, being hunched up, and having puffed out, spiky fur are some signs that you should let your rat calm down first.
You can try offering them a finger to sniff. Be smooth and gentle so as not to startle them. It’s normal for them to come sniff you, then run away, then come back, then run away again. Friendly rats may give your finger a little exploratory nibble, but they shouldn’t bite.
Try offering them a little snack from your hand. If your rat seems comfortable eating in front of you, you can try giving them a little pat on their side with one or two fingers.
New rats will often shrink away from your fingers at first. If they’re afraid and run away from your hand, you might want to take the process a little slower.
If they will happily nibble food while you pet them, that’s a great sign.
Pick up your new pet rat
Some rats will be uncomfortable with you picking them up at first. Once they do learn to trust you, they’ll be crawling all over you!
If you’re unfamiliar with rats, you might want to take this part slowly and let your rat lead the process.
People who are more familiar with rats might feel comfortable picking them up right away. This really speeds up the process, but if you fear getting bitten there’s nothing wrong with taking your time.
Some rats will be brazen enough to climb up your hand and arm without you having to do anything. (Be aware that they will probably head straight for your shoulder!)
Once a rat learns that you can pick them up without hurting them, they usually get a lot more comfortable with you.
Help! My rat hates it when I pick him up!
If, after a few days with your new pet rat, it’s still skittish with you, here are some other things you can try.
- Let them get some exercise before you pick them up! Some rats actually don’t mind being handled, but are just too excited to run around the room and sniff things to sit around.
- Some rat fanciers will let their rat hang out inside their shirt so that they get used to your smell quickly. It’s up to you whether you’re comfortable with that or not.
- You can also use a little pouch for your rat to sit in and get used to being near you. Some rats might be suspicious of hands but will happily climb into a pouch to be carried around. If you go on little “adventures” around your house, your rat will learn to treat you as another safe place.
- Let them lick some baby food or yoghurt off your fingers. If you don’t trust them not to bite you, you can use a short object to feed them from instead.
- Try to be as smooth and confident as you can. If you’re nervous and afraid, your rat will pick up that signal from you and respond the same way.
Don’t give up on your new friend. Some rats have learned not to trust humans, or are just super shy! The more time you spend talking to them, giving them gentle pets, and offering them food the better.
Common mistakes when getting to know a new rat
- Too many distractions. If your new rat’s cage has too many interesting toys in it, your rat may not be interested in exploring outside of the cage, or in you, at all! A hammock, food dish and water bottle is all they really need to start with – you can add all kinds of fun things later!
- Being afraid and jumpy. If you feel super nervous around your rat, it will likely be the same. If you can, try to be calm and move slowly.
- Using too many treats. Food is a great way to make a new friend with your rat! But if they get food every single time your hand is nearby, they may come to associate you only with food. Rats are also extremely clever and if you give them a treat every time they come out, they’ll refuse to leave their cage without one!
Conclusion
I hope this helped settle your mind about getting to know your new pets. With a little patience, you’ll be best friends in no time!
