Female rat--very snobby

[JD Cole]

I have two girls, Mocha and Cheez-its. Mocha comes when called, but only tolerates being held for a bit before she squirms around to get back to exploring and playing. Cheez-its doesn't mind being held, but she will NOT come when called. She knows her name, because she runs and hides every time I call her. If I have a treat, she'll come out to get it, but unlike my other rats she just plain doesn't come to me, I have to go get her. And like I said, she doesn't object to being held or picked up. How can I change this? She LOVES finding places she's not supposed to be and making me tear my place apart to get her. Today I just learned that the subwoofer for my home theater has a rat-sized hole that leads up behind the speaker... and she got STUCK in there. ARRGHH. I had to completely dismantle the thing to rescue her. Why is she scared to come to me?

 

[mamarat]

You have yourself an adventurous girl. In time she'll come to you when she's done exploring and gets older, maybe. I would say it's just her personality.

 

[jorats]

Looks like you have two girls with unique personalities. Enjoy them for who they are.
But for the sake of your stuff and rattie health, you might want to limit where the girls can go. You wouldn't want them to get into something or worse yet, chewing on plugged cord.

 

[JD Cole]

I've rat-proofed as much as I could think of in my apartment. I blocked off my couch and refrigerator so they can't get under those, and close my bedroom doors, but I give them free reign everywhere else. as to my electronics, I know they are likely to chew on power cords and speaker wires even though they haven't shown interest in doing so yet (probably because I watch them closely when they get near those). There's no way around having power cords on the ground, I thought about using Panduit but I can't be hanging stuff on the wall except pictures, I'd get in trouble.

Is there anything that would keep the rats away from that area? Is there an odor they don't like, something I could soak a paper towel in to establish "no play" zones?

 

[jorats]

What I used to do is add coroplast in places where I didn't want the rats to reach. You can buy big sheets of coroplast and cut it down to size and make it fit so the rat can't get over it. Coroplast is a type of corrugated plastic, used mainly to make signs.

 

[JD Cole]

Thanks, I will look into that, and I think I'll just build a little play area for them. I was hoping there was an easy "ugh, that's stink, I don't want to play there" deterrent so that they could just run around while I'm home.

One more question regarding my new boy. I was planning to get him fixed soon, but how complicated will that be for a vet who's done maybe a few hamsters but no rats? I'd rather not risk Lockheed getting hurt or infected. But I hate having him in the cage by himself, and the girls in the cage next to him seem used to him being around now, probably ready for introductions to their new cagemate (once I make sure they can't make "new" cagemates when I'm not looking).

 

[jorats]

If your vet has neutered hamsters, then I'm pretty sure he can do rats too.
Talk to your vet about it and see what he says. Your boy definitely needs buddies and having girls nearby is going to become a huge stress factor in his life if he's not denutted.

 

[LA]

Yes definitely unique personalities.

I got a fridge box from our local appliance store and cut that apart to use as an enclosure.

 

[Fidget]

Time & interaction can make big differences. If it doesn't you have to decide if it's important to you life and the kids to change that trait (biting would probably be a yes).

Why is she scared to come to me?

Are you sure she's scared?
I hope I don't die before my Smitty, rescue would think she's anti-social! Her favorite interaction is to pop out from somewhere and get my attention, then hide when she knows I see her and have me come with the "I'm gonna getcha!" and stick my hand in and scritch her and laugh - I swear she laughs back.
Could your girl be playing that with you?

 

[violet976]

Also, for the power cords, there is thick plastic tubing you can buy that you simply cut a slit down & work the cords into. That way they have a much tougher time getting access to them.

 

[MissGuardian]

Also, for the power cords, there is thick plastic tubing you can buy that you simply cut a slit down & work the cords into. That way they have a much tougher time getting access to them.

I have that, and it works great!

By the way..
I have a boy who just plain refuses to come to me..
Him I have to catch with a bird net:/ Most of the times anyway..

 

[violet976]

By the way..
I have a boy who just plain refuses to come to me..
Him I have to catch with a bird net:/ Most of the times anyway..

:laugh4: The mental image this conjured up is going to stay with me all day. Classic! :laugh4:

 

[MissGuardian]

By the way..
I have a boy who just plain refuses to come to me..
Him I have to catch with a bird net:/ Most of the times anyway..

:laugh4: The mental image this conjured up is going to stay with me all day. Classic! :laugh4:

It's very challenging..
Specially when I have to move half of my furniture everytime he moves.. :gaah: