Rats part 3.

[askygoneonfire]

Anyone want two boy rats? I've had them a month now. We have no interaction. They are unpredictable, they bite, they cower in the corner. Patience doesn't affect any progress. Forcing them out the cage is similarly fruitless. I don't like them. I don't believe there is any hope of making them pets much less shoulder rats. I think I should give them up. Unreasonably, the thought of doing that makes me cry. Fucks sake.

Comments

[forthwritten]

I'm sorry things aren't working out :(

Do you know of the fancy rats community? There are rehoming boards and some pretty experienced rat people there.

[askygoneonfire]

Thanks, I hadn't heard of that site, will have a look and maybe see if I can ask for advice on helping them settle. I really don't want to give up on them but it's been a bit of a shock it hasn't been easy thus far, the girls couldn't have been easier.

[forthwritten]

There's a forum on behaviour if that helps? One of the suggestions is to offer them something like yoghurt off a spoon - that way they can't grab the treat and run off, but have to stay near your hand. My two are rather partial to a small teaspoon of tea with honey.

It is weird getting new rats - when I first got Asha and Rowan they were so pingy and active I worried that I'll never get used to them or be able to tame them. They still aren't really shoulder-rats and they don't do this sitting still business, but I think we're getting used to each other.

Good luck!

[askygoneonfire]

Just had a read through various articles, including one on taming. Disappointingly I have done everything on there and then some.

That said, last night they both came out of the cage on their own and Reux was very calm when I picked him up to put him back in some 20 minutes later, Nico wasn't so calm but did let me move him into the cage without trying to bite or wriggle free. We are making some progress, it's just very haphazard. I will try the tea and honey or natural yoghurt trick tonight. I think something that draws them out and encourages them to stay near me for a few minutes for a positive reward is a great idea.

Perhaps they're just going to be incredibly slow to tame. Most of this entry was bourne out of shock/distress as Nico had really gone for me when I went to stroke him, as I had done several times before with no ill reactions.

[askygoneonfire]

Just been reading the forum and suddenly I feel much less like a rat-Mum-failure. Loads of people having problems with socialisation and lots more aggression being shown by other people's rats than the boys have ever even hinted at. I think I just realised most of my frustration is born out of feeling like I'm doing something wrong and won't ever win them round; on the contrary it seems like the girls were exceptionally friendly and that I should continue doing what I am and perhaps try a few tricks I hadn't thought of. Suddenly feeling very optimistic, thank you so much.

[cyanidecluster]

how long did Hampork and Dangerous take to settle?

I hope you don't give up.I hope they get happier

[askygoneonfire]

About a fortnight. I'm not giving up just yet...I did need to vent that it wasn't going well though.

[alien_zero]

It sounds really heartbreaking, but I think you should give them a little bit longer.
Could it just be in their personalities to be less social than the other rats you've kept? I rarely leave my apartment, but I'm (mostly) happy. Heh. :S

I've never kept rats (but I'd love to, they sound wonderful), but I once stole adopted a neglected little spiny mouse which I quickly decided to name Hannibal, due to his habit of biting me. Not that I could blame him - he'd been kept on the top shelf of a dark closet, in a disgustingly filthy cage, for a year. It took a lot of work, but eventually even he warmed up to me to the point where he'd get excited if I were near the cage and I could pick him up without losing a hunk of finger. I never ever thought it would happen. But he just needed time. It's a bad comparison to your ratties, but it's something. Maybe.

Anyhoo, all the best with the ratties. I hope you're not as upset as you were when you wrote this.

[askygoneonfire]

Felt a lot better after writing this actually. I am going to wait a bit longer, I really don't want to give up on them, but getting bitten, which prompted this entry, really surprised/upset me. Going to try asking round a few communities and see what people say.