My rats won’t play with me

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Karenin

Active Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2020
Messages
30
Location
Northeast
Hi,
I have two baby boy rats and I really want to play with them but they won’t engage in hand wrestling or chase anything on a string. I want to find a game that they would like playing with me but they don’t seem to be interested in anything.
 
How long have you had them? They might need to be more adjusted to you before that kind of play. My boys weren't interested in that for a while, but after a few weeks they'll wrestle and chase strings on occasion while they run around on my bed. Otherwise, just set up a fun area for them to play in, like a playpen or on a bed or couch if they just enjoy that better!
 
I’ve had them for about 6 weeks. If they won’t ever want to play with me do you have any other ideas of things I can do with them?
 
For about 30min to 1hr every day.
I'm going to be honest and say while it's good, it's not enough. One of the things rats need is to feel part of a family. Therefore, doing things with them is a must. For example. when they're awake in the morning, take them out and share breakfast with them. At night when they wake, share dinner with them. You need to spend a lot of time with them for them to open up to you. I'm sure they play with each other and that's what they're supposed to do, so don't feel to bad that they're not playing with you. Rats are familial and highly social. The more time you spend with them, the more they will share with you.

The secret is time spent with them. Sometimes they won't wrestle with you and will enjoy other things. Let them explore you, share treats with them, make boxes and put things in them for them to sniff and explore. Rats are perfect little explorers. They LOVE new adventures and new things and they love having a nice box to hide in with items they've never seen before.

Build trust with them.
 
I’ve heard that if I share food with them I could get sick. is that true? I give them treats and they like being in my shirt that is pretty much what we do during free roam time. If it’s safe to eat food that they have touched I would love to do it!
 
I started out with the rats on my sholders and eventually let them runn around on the couch when I am on it. You do have to watch for chewing but they love the freedom but they come back to me for safety. Good treat to have on hand are shelled unsalted peanuts and salmon cat treats by Greenies.
 
I’ve heard that if I share food with them I could get sick. is that true? I give them treats and they like being in my shirt that is pretty much what we do during free roam time. If it’s safe to eat food that they have touched I would love to do it!
Yes of course you can share food with them. I let my girls take nibbles out of my bowl or plate. If they like being in your shirt, take them for walks to new places and let them look around and sniff. Rats LOVE to explore new things and the fact they like being near you like that is a GOOD thing. Rats can eat most things aside from a few no no's. So during your meals, take them out (if they're awake) and share. Let them take bits off your plate to try. You'll soon learn which rats likes which foods and that can be good knowledge if they ever get sick and need to take antibiotics. You'll know what each rat LOVES to eat.

Take them in your shirt for a walk in the kitchen, let them look around and bring them to places to sniff. Let their noses lead the way LOL.

Spend every moment you can with them.
 
I don't ever eat after my rats, but I do often give them lick or bites of my food (when I'm done). I usually save some just for them. Also, I have had MANY rats that just weren't interested in playing with me. They played with cagemates, but not me. I've also had a few that would REALLY play with me. It's just a personality thing. Some are extra silly. Don't worry too much about if they don't want to play with you. Some are more about snuggles and scratches, or exploring. 😊
 
I don't ever eat after my rats, but I do often give them lick or bites of my food (when I'm done). I usually save some just for them. Also, I have had MANY rats that just weren't interested in playing with me. They played with cagemates, but not me. I've also had a few that would REALLY play with me. It's just a personality thing. Some are extra silly. Don't worry too much about if they don't want to play with you. Some are more about snuggles and scratches, or exploring. 😊
That’s great! I thought they wouldn’t play with me because they didn’t like me (I’m glad I’m wrong). I’ve given them people food a couple times and they really liked it so I’ll definitely start doing it more often.
 
That’s great! I thought they wouldn’t play with me because they didn’t like me (I’m glad I’m wrong). I’ve given them people food a couple times and they really liked it so I’ll definitely start doing it more often.
The way to a rats heart is safety, comfort, family, good food, and trust. You are totally wrong about the rats not liking you LOL. They DO like you and would love to spend so much time with you. I am a bit lucky. I was spinally disabled when I was 28 yrs old due to a major accident. I didn't have pets for the longest time until I turned 50 last year. I got 2 newly weaned rat girls on my birthday from my neighbour who had an accidental litter. Having them changed my entire life.

I got these 2 healthy, happy Agouti sisters who slept right next to me on either side of my chair in two blanket pouches. One rat liked to be next to my leg in her pouch and the other wanted to be under my arm next to my heart in the other. I only have one picture of them together, before one of the sisters escaped one day and I never found her.
Sisters in their backpack.jpg

This is the ONLY pic I have of them together right before Baby Schpog (topmost rat) disappeared.

I still have moments where I miss her and cry. I still have Big Schpog (lower rat) and she is my sweetest girl.

Spend as much time as you can with them. They aren't here for long and they need you.
 
The way to a rats heart is safety, comfort, family, good food, and trust. You are totally wrong about the rats not liking you LOL. They DO like you and would love to spend so much time with you. I am a bit lucky. I was spinally disabled when I was 28 yrs old due to a major accident. I didn't have pets for the longest time until I turned 50 last year. I got 2 newly weaned rat girls on my birthday from my neighbour who had an accidental litter. Having them changed my entire life.

I got these 2 healthy, happy Agouti sisters who slept right next to me on either side of my chair in two blanket pouches. One rat liked to be next to my leg in her pouch and the other wanted to be under my arm next to my heart in the other. I only have one picture of them together, before one of the sisters escaped one day and I never found her.
View attachment 14530
This is the ONLY pic I have of them together right before Baby Schpog (topmost rat) disappeared.

I still have moments where I miss her and cry. I still have Big Schpog (lower rat) and she is my sweetest girl.

Spend as much time as you can with them. They aren't here for long and they need you.
They are adorable! It’s sad that you lost one.
I’m going to spend as much time as I can with mine because you’re right they won’t be here for long.
 
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