Ouch! That hurts!

[Mairead]

We brought home our two male rats, Robin (4 months) and Kiki (7 months), last Sunday. Everything went fine, the boys moved in we were happy to have them, every night we take them out to play, they spend sometime riding around in our housecoats and some time playing on the couch, well last night my son went to get Kiki and he bit him, didn't break the skin. So I sent him in to get Robin and I went to get Kiki, and he bit me, really hard broke the skin and bled for a while. I told him "No Kiki, not nice" and closed the cage and went to clean up. Later I came back to try again and he bit me again, a little one but broke the skin and bled again. I again told him "No, not nice" and closed the cage. When I went in the third time I sat on the floor and spoke to him through the bars in a calm voice. At one point I put my hand up to the bars so he could smell it and he lunged at the bars. When it was time to put Robin back I noticed that they seemed to be arguing, standing up and "boxing." I also noticed Kiki standing on top of Robin's head and Robin is usually the dominant one. Kiki also pushed Robin out of the way a couple of times. I am just wondering how I should proceed tonight? I'm a little wary of getting bitten again but I'd really like for him to come out and play, I haven't had any problems with him since he came home and he usually likes to be out. The cage they are in has two doors and we tend to use one door both for feeding them and for taking them out of the cage, should I try taking them out only using the other door? Should I just open the cage and let Kiki come out on his own? Any advise would be helpful.

 

[hopefloats]

Any new pets in the house?

 

[victoria]

I'm sorry to hear that.

The only time I had issues with Kiki biting humans was the first intro I did with Robin. I had to get a hand towel to pick him up without getting bit. If he's just biting when he's in the cage, you can use a towel to take him out (cover his eyes if necessary, this disorients them and they will forget about their aggression momentarily) and that should prevent him from biting. You can also coax him to come out on his own, or wait until he's on the cage floor and take the top off to take him out. If you can teach him to come out when coaxed (this may be difficult because he is timid) that would be good because it would be on his own terms and would help him with his confidence.

If/when he bites you, squeak loudly. This is how rats communicate with each other when one is being too rough and if he's biting you because he's scared/confused (as opposed to wanting to inflict harm) that will let him know he should stop. Many rats will bite through cage bars, even if they're fine otherwise.

Robin is the younger and smaller of the two but he was the dominant one here as well. Males do tend to play fight and wrestle and it's not always something to be concerned about. If you find one rat is being bullied (not being allowed to go to certain areas of the cage, constantly being chased/harassed despite their protests) and there are bite wounds, it's likely benign. It could be that something has Kiki stressed and on edge and it will pass. When they were boxing, were either of the poofed up?

Kiki's at the age (7-8 months) where his hormones are peaking and some males become aggressive at this time. I think it's more likely due to the stress of the change in environment but it is a possibility.

I know there are others on the forum with more experience that will be able to give you more advice and help better assess the situation. I hope the situation improves quickly.

 

[EDK]

I used the squeak method vitoria metioned with all my ratties, though they never bit me out of harm or fear, but more like exploring, or mouthing, like puppies would do to test their limits. But I would squeak really high pitched to let them know immediatly that I didn't like that. They learned quickly and they have never mouthed me hard ever, not even when i put my fingers in the cage. Though occassionally if I have peanut butter on my finger, they are so eager to get it all in their mouth that they will put their teeth firmly on my finger and pull, it gets to a point where its uncomfortable so i have to let them know quickly, and there's never been blood shed from me :giggle:

Are both males fixed? That might also be the cause too maybe if he's not? Never know, there's always other options.

 

[jorats]

It sounds to me like Kiki is having a harder time adjusting to his new home, or the change of leaving one place to go to another so he could very well be over protective of his cage. Think if it like him thinking you are going to remove him and give him away. He is also at the age for his hormones to be guiding his through processes right now. I'd give him more time to settle down. Lots and lots of one on one with him. Make him feel safe and secure with you. When you go to take him out, allow him to walk on your covered arm, always have a sleeve or towel so he can have a better grip. Spend time with him on you. Lots of praise and treats will help him feel better.

 

[Mairead]

Any new pets in the house?

No they have been home less that two weeks so they are the new pets, and the only rats.

It sounds to me like Kiki is having a harder time adjusting to his new home, or the change of leaving one place to go to another so he could very well be over protective of his cage. Think if it like him thinking you are going to remove him and give him away.

.

I think you may be right, when I reread his surrender papers from the SPCA it said that the family who had surrendered him got him from friends who bought him in a pet shop, so if you count the time he spent being fostered with Victoria, that is 4 homes in his very short (7-8 months) life span. I was really surprised that he bit me because everything had been going so smoothly.

Last night I offered him treats but he had to come out of the cage to get them, and then I placed a blanket over my arms and asked him to come see me, he put three feet on the blanket and then backed off. I will try again tonight I think I'm just going to let him take his time and become comfortable with me again. I did see him standing on Robin's head again this morning so I am wondering if he is challenging Robin's alpha status.

 

[jorats]

A dominant rat is usually the one underneath.
I think you will do some progress with Kiki, you are the right kind of mom for him.

 

[EDK]

Hang in there!

 

[Mairead]

Success! So when I got home today I went in to see the boys and take them out for some play time. Robin came out right away no problem, my son and I were trying to coax Kiki out, my son was able to put his hand in the cage and Kiki was sniffing and licking him, my son left the room and I soon followed to get something, while in the kitchen I heard "Got him" and I turned around to this:

my sweet girl just went into the cage and got Kiki out no problem, no biting or anything. So for the first time in two days Kiki is out playing. So happy, what a relief!

 

[mamarat]

:joy: What a cutie pie.

 

[Mairead]

A dominant rat is usually the one underneath.

I didn't realize that, interesting.

 

[victoria]

Kiki's a timid boy and he goes on the offensive when he gets timid. I'm glad you're able to get him out of the cage again, I think he and your daughter have a special bond :heart:

 

[EDK]

That is just too cute for words... cute doesn't describe it enough!

 

[jorats]

Very sweet!

 

[mrnixonpants]

That is the cutest picture!!

How sweet!