Solitary rat w/food aggression

[QuietSports]

My friend's daughter has had this rat for 2 years, but never really took care of her. She didn't feed her frequently enough, didn't make sure she had fresh water, didn't clean her cage yada yada. Well, they just gave her to me today, and I cleaned her cage and fed her and gave her fresh water immediately.

She has begun hoarding her food under the platform her bowl is on and if I try to pick up a piece of food to give her, or give her anything edible, she practically attacks to get to the food.

Should I just give her a few days before getting worried? Is there something I can do to help her? It's been several years since I had a rat, and she didn't have any aggressions.

Also, her name is Aurora. The attached picture is one my mother took while I went to the store to get her food.

 

[Sheldon]

Aww she's beautiful. Definitely can see some aggression there though with all that hair poofed up. She is just getting to know you and understand good will not be a rarity. Give her some time. Maybe get a couple of friends for her? They may be able to help her adjust to more appropriate behaviors.

 

[Vicki]

Once she gets use to a routine of regular food she will probably relax a bit!
And yes, a friend or two wouldn't hurt!

 

[QuietSports]

I would love to get her a friend or two, but I am unable at this time at least. She's been solitary for 2 years now, and I have plenty of time to spend with her. It helps that I am fairly night owlish myself.

If you've ever heard of Disney's Tsum Tsum, I gave her one of those so she would have something roughly her size to curl up with and such. She immediately went and burrowed herself and it under the bedding, where she has shoved all of it again. She likes to do that.

But she's still chewing on her bars a lot and seems restless. I want to take her out to give her some time to roam and explore, but I don't want to move too fast with having just brought her home today.

I gave her new food, because what they were giving her was for hamsters and gerbils, and she loves the new food, but she's also hoarding it.

I hope that in about a week, she'll have settled in more and will be socializing better with me and my family.

She's used to cats, I know that, but I don't know about dogs. My parents have 2 dogs currently. So far, she hasn't seemed fazed by them.

 

[Sheldon]

Well don't forget that some hoarding is normal. Kinda cute actually. The bar chewing makes me sad since it can be due to anxiety. 2 years of abnormal life circumstances could do that to anyone though.

 

[QuietSports]

I agree. I myself deal with anxiety and other such things, so my heart breaks for my poor baby. Hopefully with time and love she'll feel better. I'm not too concerned with the hoarding (though she did take more than half of it and bury it in the nest she created, but she's been eating it down there when she burrows into it all.)

Do you guys have any tips on helping her get used to me and such? She comes out onto the door when I've opened it, and she'll sniff my hands and sweater sleeves, and even stepped out onto my arm for a brief moment, but then she goes back inside. I know it's only the first day of me having her, but I do want to make sure I'm doing things right and doing everything I can.

 

[Sheldon]

No no that seems right. Some rats can take a month. She will get there.

 

[QuietSports]

Okay. I do plan to try using treats, healthy and safe of course, and in limited moderation, to try and coax her out a little, help her trust me and to hopefully help her in realizing I will be feeding her. God, it upsets me so much what she has gone through....

 

[QuietSports]

Just snagged this photo of her so you can see her cute little face! I've noticed her fur is short, but there's longer fur all through it, which makes it look like she's poofed up when she scrunches her body up, like she has here.

 

[Sheldon]

She looks so sweet. You can see in her face she is a little scared, but she doesn't look terrified. I think she is cautiously optimistic. [emoji5]

 

[QuietSports]

I agree. I love the little white stripe up her face. It's adorable.

I think she's definitely calmed down. She's not running around restless anymore. She's still running around, but it doesn't seem kinda frantic anymore.

 

[SQ]

wonderful news

She is getting used to you, your voice etc and starting to feel safe