Still scared.

Angel22 · Mar 13, 2013

So I've been working with my girls a lot. The biting is now just curious nibbles which is so much better then the chomp release they used to do.

Ebony has come around and tried to come out of the cage when I opened it today. I was able to pick her up without a problem today

But the other two. They won't even sniff me now. It's like every time we make a step forward, they take six back. I'm at the point where I wanna give up. I don't think they are ever going to like me.

GrayLightNewDay · Mar 13, 2013

Sometimes it is hard to gain an animals trust. What type of situation did they come from? I used to foster feral cats and it would sometimes take a year to get a cat to let me touch them at all. But when I was finally able to snuggle with that cat, it was so worth it, regardless of how long it took.

Angel22 · Mar 13, 2013

I got Jinx and Eve from a pet store. It was before I knew about rescuing rats. Ebony came from an opps litter that I found out about on kijiji.
Normally it takes me a day to get through to animals. I guess that's why I'm so frustrated. Jinx is stuffed down my sweater right now. She bit me twice and I squeaked each time and now she is just sitting on me.

Angel22 · Mar 13, 2013

Eve is now in my sweater and she hates it! I got licked by her though!!!!! Oh she's in the arm tee hee it tickes!!!!

KingCastaway · Mar 13, 2013

Like I've said, one of my rats took half a year. Each animal is different, it's hard to base past experiences with new ones with different animals.

EDK · Mar 13, 2013

When did you get these girls, how recently again? If you just got them a couple days ago then that would explain alot. It can take more then 24hrs for some rats to get used to their surroundings, let alone their new owner. I spent the first week when I got Gizmo and his partner Techno, just talking to them, getting to know them, gradually would pick them up and place them on the bed, never fully holding them, not till I felt they were ready or comfortable with it. Treats, comforting words, and giving them time of getting used to their surroundings and me, was what helped us bonding. I repeated the same thing with all my ratties and have come with the same results. Granted one of my rats has always been shy and continues to be and i believe its simply because it's his personality, but he's not aggressive at least hehe.

Just give it time, have some patience.

Angel22 · Mar 13, 2013

I've had Jinx for almost four months. Eve for almost three and Ebony for two.

EDK · Mar 13, 2013

Hmm... ya treats, lots of treats then, and gentle hands. Hang in there!

Angel22 · Mar 13, 2013

They get lots of treats. I'm starting to think females r harder to get to trust.

jorats · Mar 13, 2013

Some rats may never learn to trust. So you accept your relationship as limited, love them from afar, talk to them, observe them, offer treats. But keep on trying to interact with them. One day, you might be surprised and they might connect with you.