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You will very rarely come across a vicious pet rat, but at one time or another many of us will get bitten. However, this is nearly always down to bad handling, and could have been avoided with a little care and forethought. I've been bitten more times than I can remember, and each time was because I did something stupid or without thinking. Whether a first time owner or a seasoned rat handler, there will almost certainly come a time when we are in a rush or simply not being attentive enough to our rat’s demeanor. We’ve all done it. We need to clean out the nests before we go out and we haven’t checked to see if there is an occupant still inside. In goes the hand – down come the teeth. Our rats are out enjoying themselves, and down we come with a heavy hand to pick them up and put them back to bed. Nip! There are reliable ways of getting bitten, and ways of avoiding it. What you have to remember is that if a rat is startled or
frightened, the only weapon it has are its teeth, and even a small child will appear
gigantic to a rat. A hand, coming down on a rat from above, may appear to be a threat
– like a predatory animal or bird of prey. Many of a pet rat’s reactions can be
traced to its wild ancestors, and we need to be aware of what things may look like from
its point of view. The best way to pick your rat up is to cup your hands under his tummy. Never grab at him from above, and never, ever pick a rat up by its tail. The tail is a very sensitive piece of equipment and the tip, particularly, can become damaged very easily. My rat bit me! OK, now what do you do? Well, you can ignore it and hope it goes away - only, chances are it won't. You could shout at your rat and scold him for biting - but that is totally the wrong thing to do and will only reinforce his fear and anxiety, making biting the last resort to protect himself. You could give him to a rescue or shelter - which will cause even more stress and anxiety to an already unhappy rat. Or ... you could try and understand why he bit you and try to help him. Let's assume you're going for the last option - please!
A young rat needs to learn what's acceptable and what isn't, and it's your job to teach him - with patience and kindness. Never, ever shout at, or smack your rat - for any reason! If a young rat is a lone rat, he has no mother or sibling to interact with, and you become that rat. If he nips or bites, pull your hand away and squeak, yes - squeak. That's what another rat would do if the behavior was unacceptable. No treats or strokes for bites, but rewards and lots of cuddles if he behaves well.
This is one of the most common reasons a rat will bite. Whether he be young or fully grown, he may have had a bad time of it in the past. This is particularly true of rescued rats. Some of these guys have been beaten, starved, abused, neglected and abandoned. If that were you - wouldn't you want to bite? He doesn't know you. He doesn't know if you will treat him the same way as his last owner. He has to protect himself, and the only weapon he has are his teeth. You really need to spend a lot of time and effort teaching him to trust you. Let him know that you will do him no harm. That you will protect him and care for him, with love and tenderness. See the section on Trust Training for a way to help you do this. It may take days, weeks or even months, depending on the rat's age and background. Don't give up on him, and when you've earned his trust - never let him down!
Always let your rat know when you are around and intend to either stroke him or pick him up. Never sneak up on him. If you are cleaning out nests and sleeping areas, make absolutely sure that no one is in there before you put your hand in. I made that mistake with my big buck, The Bear. He wasn't called The Bear for nothing - he was the biggest rat I've ever seen, with teeth to match! I didn't check his nest box before I reached in to grab the dirty bedding. I grabbed Bear instead - down came the teeth! What else could he do? He had been asleep and I startled him. He was very sorry when he realized what he'd done but it was my fault. I still have the scars to show for it! Don’t try and pick up your rat if he is asleep or so engrossed in his activity that he may be either startled or annoyed. Try and think how you would feel if a gigantic hand woke you up from a deep dream, or tried to pull you abruptly away from something you were engrossed in. You wouldn’t be pleased, would you?
If you have too many rats in too small a cage, fighting may break out. If you don't allow them enough time out of their cage, fighting may break out. If they are overcrowded, with no freedom to let off steam - biting is an option. Always make sure your rats have plenty of room to be alone in their cage, with enough beds and dark areas to go round. They will need 2 or 3 hours a day out of their cage to run off steam - at the very least. If you can't provide a large home and plenty of time out for your rats - get a goldfish instead.
I know this shouldn't be on the list but young rats are like young children in many ways. If you try to pick up a young rat during a fascinating game, he may nip to let you know he doesn't want to go to bed yet. This is something that you need to nip (so to speak) in the bud. Don't scold or smack him, just pull away and squeak, and he still goes to bed. Better still, give him a little time and don't try and pick him up when he's engrossed in an activity. Talk to him first and let him know you're going to pick him up. This should indicate to him that he's not to bite. Again, it may take some time. The more you handle a young rat though, the tamer he will become. Look at these little tikes (Jezebel and Willow) on the right. They were SO enjoying playing with my beaded curtain that they just wouldn't listen to a word I said! Don't you just love their little starfish feet?!
Another reason a rat may bite is if it is in pain or is sick. If your rat gives you a nip when you pick him up, it may be because he’s injured or in pain. Look carefully at him and gently check for lumps, bumps or wounds. Does he have red staining around his eyes or nose? If you feel or see anything unusual, or if your rat is behaving in a way that is not normal for him, take him for a check up with a good rattie vet. A pregnant female or young mother rat will defend her babies to the death and may bite if she thinks you are a threat.
One of the cardinal rules of keeping rats is – never poke your fingers through the bars of the cage, and this is something that children really have to be told. It’s always tempting to push a finger through the bars, especially by young children, and try and stroke the rat. Not a good move! Don’t feed your rat through the bars either. This will only lead to a grabby and nippy rat. Always wash your hands if you’ve been handling food. Rats have a remarkable sense of smell, and I’ve even had a nip or two because I’ve been wearing cocoa butter hand cream. They smell food, therefore they think it is food. A rat can smell food a long time before it can actually see it. They have very poor eyesight and may make a mistake. If you have both males and females – in separate cages, of course – you should wash your hands before handling the opposite sex. Again, they can smell before they see, and we know what that could mean!
After a day or two, or when you feel your rat has settled
in, open the cage door and sit down Don’t worry if your rat doesn’t come out at first, even with the cage door open. He will come out to you in his own time, when he feels secure. It might take some time, and he may prefer to have some contact with his cage. Talk to him gently, using his name, and try tempting him with a food treat. He will probably rush off with his treat to eat it in private, so don’t take it personally if he does. Each time he comes to you and allows you to stroke him, give him a treat. If he nips or bites, don’t reward with a treat. This trust training is all about rewarding good behavior with nice things – strokes and treats – and bad or unacceptable behavior gets nothing. Never, ever scold your rat or smack him for bad behavior. This will only reinforce his belief that he cannot trust you. Always treat him with kindness. Don’t be alarmed if he wees on you. This is his way of scent marking you as his property. It’s a great honor! If this continues when he is used to you, or if your rat is a baby or youngster, you could sit him in his litter tray when he wakes up. Hopefully, he will relieve himself somewhat. Rats can’t hold their water very well, especially when they’re young, so don’t sold him for this. It isn’t exactly unacceptable behavior, as it is natural and something he can’t really help. You'll need a small tin and some treats to put in it. We use hamster yogurt drops, which taste good and make a lovely noise in the tin. Shake the tin and call out "Sweeties!" Then offer your rats one of the treats. You can do this while they're in their cage at first, but not through the bars, so that they actually realize what the sound means. Shake the tin when they're out of their cage and, in time, they will come running for a treat. It's a good way of rounding them up when it's time for bed. It's also a good way of teaching a new or nervous rat to associate you and your voice with nice things. Never grab at your rat when he comes to the sound of the tin, and always reward him. They'll soon come running to you whether you have the tin or not. With time and patience, and a lot of love and kindness, any rat will learn to trust and to give love in return. Depending on how he was treated in the past, this could take anything from a few days to a few months. Be patient, be gentle, and love him despite his faults. The rewards are very worthwhile. |
A rat’s bedroom (i.e. the nest) is his domain,
and should only be entered by appointment, or if the occupant is not around. The nest
should always be kept dark, cozy and dry, and should be out of bounds for everyone –
except when cleaning – and then only when your rat is occupied elsewhere. Having an
area that feels safe and secure is a must for your rat. This is where he can snooze the
day away, or retreat to if he feels threatened or anxious. Imagine a teenager having his
bedroom entered and cleaned by a parent … without his permission! The nest is the
inner sanctum for a rat, and you should respect this.
The more you handle your rat, the tamer he will become.
However, if you have brought him home for the first time – you’ve just bought
him or have rescued him from a shelter or rehoming organization – you need to give
him time to settle in and become used to his new surroundings. Make sure he has a dark
nest area in his cage, where he can feel secure and retreat to should he feel threatened,
and let him settle in for a day or two. Carry on with your normal routine, but try to keep
sudden or loud noises to a minimum and keep visitors, small children and other pets well
away. Your rat will need some time to learn to trust you and feel comfortable in his new
home. He has just been taken from a place he was used to, and possibly away from his
brothers or sisters. This is one reason why it is always advisable to have a pair of rats,
of the same sex and from the same litter if possible, or cage-mates that may have been
together for some time. They will be company for each other and be a form of stability,
allowing them to settle into a new home far more quickly. Don't take a rat away from his
companions if you can help it, especially if they are rescues and may have had a bad time
in the past.
to read a book or watch TV. Make quite sure that
any area you allow your rat access to (or any room) is completely safe and 