Really nervous rats

[KaitlynnR]

I’ve had my new rats for 2 months now and we get along great. The problem I’m having is how spooked they get. They still act absolutely wild when I take them out to handle them, and I’ve taken all 4 out for an hour each day since I’ve had them. They accept treats and have no fear when they’re being playful but it’s like they’re bi-polar.

I’ve tried giving them more places to hide and that has made it ten times worse. I might as well have wild rats living with me. I have all their hides out of the cage now (there’s a big overhang that holds their food and I keep it low to the bottom for some privacy) and it helps but they’re irratic still to the point where I’m thinking of just leaving them alone?

They’re still young, but I can’t remember having this much trouble with bonding to be honest. Any advice is appreciated. The whole situation is driving me nuts

 

[SQ]

I would suggest that you check out joinrats.com

Also, are they in a main room of your home where they can get used to you, normal noises and activity, and being around people?
You might want to put at least some of their hides back into the cage as they need places to hide and feel safe.
Are there any other animals living in your home or do you smell like other animals?
Have you tried putting on a close fitting shirt with a loose fitting shirt over it, and putting all 4 ratties (assuming they are friends and live together) on you between the 2 shirts, and sitting down in a safe space and letting them get to know you for 20 to 30 mins at a time? If not, try this.

By wild do you mean that they struggle to get away when you hold them, or are they easily startled, or do they seem terrified, etc? What is it like when you take them out to handle them? Do you have them all out at once in a safe play area? Do you hold them while they struggle to get away?

 

[KaitlynnR]

I would suggest that you check out joinrats.com

Also, are they in a main room of your home where they can get used to you, normal noises and activity, and being around people?
You might want to put at least some of their hides back into the cage as they need places to hide and feel safe.
Are there any other animals living in your home or do you smell like other animals?
Have you tried putting on a close fitting shirt with a loose fitting shirt over it, and putting all 4 ratties (assuming they are friends and live together) on you between the 2 shirts, and sitting down in a safe space and letting them get to know you for 20 to 30 mins at a time? If not, try this.

By wild do you mean that they struggle to get away when you hold them, or are they easily startled, or do they seem terrified, etc? What is it like when you take them out to handle them? Do you have them all out at once in a safe play area? Do you hold them while they struggle to get away?

Wow so many questions to answer haha! They are in my living room and I am home due to injury and disability so I’m around all day making noise. I have cats yes but other rats I’ve owned never cared about them and they’ve also been around the cats since I’ve brought them home. They don’t seem to mind the cats too much since I often catch them touching noses through the bars haha.

I do keep them in my sweater two at a time for an hour every day. They basically sit scared and don’t move much. I have one girl who will sleep and accept treats while out so I must be getting somewhere with her!

As for the behaviour while they’re out they do all of the above. One girl is really good and she runs into my shoulder. The others all do this crazy panic run where they fly off me and back into the cage so fast I can barely see them go. And no I don’t hold them if they struggle, I basically get them in my sweater as fast as possible and try to calm them down.

I hate to see them so frantic. I’m trying my very best to make friends. They’re so lovely with my while inside the cage, it’s outside where they go nuts. I don’t want them to only be in a cage for their whole lives though! I have a whole play area made for them haha!

I guess I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I’m determined to break through. They are the most beautiful girls

 

[SQ]

Sounds good ....... glad that are not afraid of the cats, and thanks for the cute visual. Some rats are not afraid of cats but others are - godmother on this forum once bought a used cat climber for her rats and although it was in her porch, they hid until for weeks until it was removed from her home.
I wonder if there might be something else that is frightening them?
Have a look at joinrats.com if you haven't as there might be something on there you haven't thought of.

Hope others have some useful suggestions for you

 

[SQ]

Glad she was safe with your cat, but
I am frightened by pictures like that because people see pictures and then they try to mix species ...... and animals die ..... killed as prey or by accident

 

[KaitlynnR]

Glad she was safe with your cat, but
I am frightened by pictures like that because people see pictures and then they try to mix species ...... and animals die ..... killed as prey or by accident

People really try that???? Oh lord, I don’t even know what to say. These two were really special to me. Sura (rat) and Bitty were absolutely the best of friends. He never touched her with any sort of intention to kill. In fact, I had 4 cats at the time and none of them even tried anything. Sura broke out of her cage once while I was at work and I came home to find her looking at me from on the stairs, all four cats just sitting there like it was normal. I think she was a very special rat indeed; lived till almost 4. She lived longer than Bitty who died suddenly and she left soon after him.

It’s been three years and I’m still crying as I write this.

But I understand your concerns. I still have three of the same cats and I would never let them in the room while I had these ratties out. Not because I don’t trust them of course but I’m not willing for an accident to happen.

Cats and rats definitely can’t be mixed together for sure. I know that as an owner and a vet technician but Sura and Bitty were something special you see only once in a lifetime

I didn’t realize how much it still hurt until I started writing this sorry.

I’ll delete the post with the picture.
I’m sorry it upset you

 

[SQ]

It didn't upset me, just made me very concerned because other people might try it.
It sounds like Sura was a very special girl, I can understand how much you feel her loss