My two rats have turned antisocial and nothing helps!!

[Kitrans]

I got my two boys from a breeder when they were 4 weeks. Frosty was shy and Mareshmallow was hyper active but after a few days they wanted to spend time with me. They're 7 and a half months old and I've noticed that in the last month and a bit that they no longer want anything to do with me. They hide in their cage and when they come out they hide under my bed. This is on the rare occasions I can actually get them out of the cage. A few weeks after I got them I had to take them to the vets because they were making like a squeezing cough noise. The vet told me this was from stress and they are still very loud when they dont like something. They no longer come to the bars or come out of the cage. They also refuse and sort of treats or food from me by hand. I try to handle them every day but they no longer want anything to do with me. They will push me away or hide and have even gone as far as peeing all over me if I get them out. It's as though they don't like me. Frost in particular starts releasing poriphin from his nose when I get him out. But I have been assured they have no respitory problems and are not sick. I'm really worried and have no idea what to do to help them or to get them to like me again. Please help!!!

 

[Ratlover2013]

Instead of making them come to you, let them come to you on their own terms. Sit in front of their cage, with some treats and just wait. You might have to do this often and for a few days - take all hidey things of of the cage when you do this, so they can't just hid, they will come over to explore eventually.


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[Kitrans]

I'll try it again but it didn't work last time. I've even tried leaving their cage open in a closed room to see if they'd come out on their own. They're both intact but it's only me they don't want anything to do with. They still come to the bars for my mum. But they don't come out for anyone.

 

[lilspaz68]

Noises like that are NOT normal, and usually indicate a respiratory infection of some sort. They have never been on antibiotics at all? I am sure that they may not be feeling well, hence the noises, porphryin etc. Can you take a video of them while they are out so we can see their behaviours? Male rats do pee copiously to mark their territory so I am trying to determine if its just puberty as such causing these changes. Are they still good with each other and just not you so much?

 

[Kitrans]

They're great with each other and frost has always made these noises. We had them checked out by a rat specialist and she checked their lungs and everything is clear. Just seems to be what they do. I've had them back their multiple times to get them checked. Nothing is wrong with their teeth or airways or lungs. They just make noise. It's 11pm here and they're somewhere under my bed. I finally got them to come out of the cage on their own by opening it up and turning the lights off. I'll try to video them tomorrow. It really is just with me that they do it. They haven't peed on me tonight just stayed away from where I was sitting and wouldn't even come for green peas which is their favorite food. Could it possibly be a hormonal thing because they aren't neutered? They've never been on antibiotics because the rat specialist at the agricultural uni here has told us there is nothing wrong with them that they just make noises. Another lady who bought their sister and grandfather from the breeder said that those two make the same noises when they come across new things or things they don't like. I've tried to speak to the breeder to find out why they don't want anything to do with me or why their behaviour would change so suddenly but she says she can't tell me anything. These aren't the first rats I've owned but the first pair. My last boy was a common pet shop rat and he lived for 4 years before having to be out to sleep for old age. So it's kind of really worrying that they've suddenly withdrawn from me.

 

[Joanne]

I would still be suspicious that they have a respiratory problem...

I too would try winning them over with treats. Sit in front of the cage and give them treats while they're in the cage, as when they're scared, they probably won't take any treats.
Also, do forced socialization - put on an old shirt with a sweater over it, and put them under the sweater for a session every day.
When I go up to my rats' cages, they come to the door because I am the bearer of yummy treats. I have a new bunch, and I call out "treats!" while I am giving them something good so they will come running to that word. As well, when giving them baby puffs, I shake the container first, so they associate the sound to treats as well.
Do you have cats? I have found rats are instinctively afraid of cats, and if you smell like cats, then they may be afraid of you because you smell like predator.

 

[Kitrans]

I have a cat but after the first few weeks when he was confused about the smell he stays away from them. And I don't go near them without having a shower and changing after I've handled my cat. They seem to love my shi tzu though. Dunno what it is but they'll even share food with her. I've had them at the vets again and I've been told the same thing. They have no respitory distress or illness no nasal or mouth problems. They just make noises. I'm going to look at getting them a bigger cage with some more toys and find different treats. They're munching on a cookie right now. I still haven't managed to get a video of them outside the cage yet but I'm working on it. They seem happier today though.

 

[dspch911]

I too was going to suggest the sweatshirt approach that has worked for us too. As for the noises, we have 15 boys and although it is true most noises mean something respiratory we have one that will sqwak when he wants his daddy's attention. Its quite cute actually. I have another that will puff and snort when he is upset that his cage is too close to another cage with a rattie in it he doesn't seem to like much. Then we have another that makes a whelping sound on and off maybe once or twice a month and has since we got him, but had never been diagnosised with a URI either. We also had an issue with our first set of boys not wanting to come near us or out of the cage after we had had them for awhile and we determined it was do to the cat. Apparently she was going into the rat room at night and scaring them, so we put up a baby gate and covered it so they could not see each other.