How to Make Friends With Fancy Rats
Pet rats come with a variety of different colors, type of fur and features, including dumbo rats, which have ears on the sides of their heads. The various breeds of fancy rats can all be friendly, affectionate little animals if you approach and treat them properly. Rats relate exceptionally well to people compared to other small rodents and are easy to make friends with.
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Instructions
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Set up the cage before you acquire your rats. The cage must be at least 2 feet high by 2 feet wide, but preferably larger. Include plastic or cardboard nest boxes for the new rats to sleep in. Place the cage in a quiet room rather than the main family room at first.
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Adopt two fancy rats of the same gender from a reliable breeder. Rats need companions of the same species, no matter how friendly they become with their owners.
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Put your rats into their home and allow them to settle in for a couple of days before you start making friends with them.
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Stroke your rats gently on the heads and bodies. If the rats are very friendly, let them climb onto your arm.
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Pick the rats up one at a time, using both hands to cup the rat's body, one on top and one underneath. Never pick a rat up by the tail or squeeze. You can hold rats on your lap and allow them to explore a secure room, a pet playpen or a sofa.
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Spend time handling your rats and letting them out of the cage every day. Rats need at least an hour of attention and exercise daily.
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Train your rats to come when you call. This is helpful when you let them out. Whistle, call their names, or rattle a bag of food before you feed them or give them treats. Rats are intelligent and learn this simple trick very quickly. It saves you having to move furniture or go searching when you need to put them back in their cage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to pet somebody else's rats, ask their owner what to do. Some rats may nip strangers.
Neglected rescue rats may be nervous to begin with, but often open up if you are patient. Many experienced rat owners recommend, however, that your first rats are well-handled, friendly young animals from a breeder, rather than rescues with special needs. Once you get used to rats and their needs, you can adopt from an animal sanctuary.
Don't buy rats from a pet shop. These rats are often not socialized and may be unwell. Many pet shop rats are bred not as pets, but for snake food. It might be tempting to rescue such rats, but that only encourages irresponsible breeders. Socializing rats that have never been handled is difficult. To find a responsible fancy rat breeder, get in touch with a local rat club.
References
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