First time poster, but I've been lurking for quite a while.
I have a pair of female rats, who are around 9 months old. They started off very skittish, but lots of care has helped. They will still bolt if there is a noise or a fast movement, but they'll come out onto my lap for a treat, or hop up from my lap to my shoulder for a look around. They are obviously unhappy if I pick them up, or pet them, and they'll run back to their cage at the slightest suggestion of peril.
It's great that they are coming to me for treats, but I would love to be able to pick them up and give them scritches, or have them less nervous at least around us.
Any suggestions, or should I be content that they are this far along? They used to be terrified of us!
I have a pair of female rats, who are around 9 months old. They started off very skittish, but lots of care has helped. They will still bolt if there is a noise or a fast movement, but they'll come out onto my lap for a treat, or hop up from my lap to my shoulder for a look around. They are obviously unhappy if I pick them up, or pet them, and they'll run back to their cage at the slightest suggestion of peril.
It's great that they are coming to me for treats, but I would love to be able to pick them up and give them scritches, or have them less nervous at least around us.
Any suggestions, or should I be content that they are this far along? They used to be terrified of us!