Some rats are calm, people-oriented, and love to play. Others may love people, but can’t stay in one place terribly long as they are busy exploring. There will be rats that are plain nervous. How do you welcome new rats into your home and how do you gain their trust whatever their natural disposition may be?
With patience, most rats become quite friendly.* However, not every rat will be super confident around people. Much of temperament is due to genetics. I can’t specify exactly what mechanisms are at play, but breeders who select for a specific temperament are generally able to achieve it over time, just like any other trait.
However, handling is important, too. Many breeders not only handle their rat kittens daily, but make sure that their adults are regularly handled, so that they can notice any small changes over time. However, not all breeders will do this, and certainly pet shop rats will have come from rodent mills in which handling would be out of the question.
If you are lucky enough to get rats from a breeder who spends time selecting for and cultivating a nice temperament, then you’re lucky! The rest of you may have work to do, but don’t despair! Many a shy rat has learned to trust and love their owner over time. Here are some quick tips for dealing with shy rats (I will add some more later!) and the video above shows you the techniques I use for handling my own kittens at home:
If the babies are used to being handled by their breeder, start with their regular cage, but if they are shy, start with a small cage or part of your big cage. While I love a big cage, sometimes those smaller cages do come in handy. With shy rats, you may find that a smaller space is helpful for you in the short term. It means you can sit by the cage with your hand inside and not be too far away from the babies.
Be patient. With very shy rats you may have to sit by the cage and offer treats or even just sit by the cage (see video)
Put their favourite hammock by the cage door. That way, when you sit by the cage you are near them as they sleep/rest.
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