Is Your Rat Very Nervous of You? Make Her Confident

If you want your rat to trust and feel comfortable in your presence, you first need to know how to deal with rats. If you've bought a new rat, and a breeder or pet center representative has not yet handled her, she may be nervous around people. But hold tight. It is still possible to gain your rat's trust. You just need to let her get used to her surroundings.

Since your home is new, give your rat some time to adjust to her new environment. Many rats have the ability to immediately adjust their new home; still, others may take a little longer. Give your rat a special hiding place where she can have some time away from people. Take time to talk to her while she's in her cage. Try to avoid feeding her through the bars of the cage, as she may bite. Instead, allow her to get comfortable and approach you on her own. Just give her time get comfortable.

To encourage her to come to you, read to her. If she approaches you, allow her to sniff the book and anything else she seems interested in. Though it won't be immediate, she may eventually have the courage to sniff and familiarize herself with her new home. To reinforce her good behavior, have a few treats on hand to feed her, if she somehow musters the courage to climb onto your lap. Gently feed her the treat when she gets on your lap, and make her feel at ease by petting her and speaking softly. As time goes on, she will seem more comfortable in your lap. She will see you as a source of safety.

To bond with your new rat, you will need to establish a relationship with her. Eventually, she will see you as a source of safety. At first, it may be scary for her to see your hands approach her. Approach her from the back when picking her up, so she knows your touch will bring her a sense of security. Never leave her food bowl empty. Instead, keep it stocked with food for her to eat once you return her to the cage. She will begin to expect there to be food when you put her in her cage and will associate you with positive things. But this will not be immediate. I have two male rats, Ringo and Billy. They are gorgeous, and before I got them, they were not used to a human's touch. For four months, I have sat with them, trying to gain their trust. They were eventually comfortable enough to trust me.

This took a lot longer than it normally does to make rats get used to you. You can usually get a rat to trust you in a shorter time frame. Now my rats enjoy tummy rubs and chasing my hand back and forth. They also lick my hair. Just be patient; you can establish trust over time. But try your best not to make any loud noises, and jerky movements are best avoided. Rats can make great pets, if you take time to familiarize them with their environment. Imagine how scary it can be when you're a rat. If your rat is not used to being held, or was the subject of abuse, you are giving them a second chance at life. In time, he will trust you.