simonsmom
Junior Member
My younger male (really rough guesstimate 18 months) is a bit of an odd boy. When he first came to be he hid in the corner of the cage from other [dominant] rats, bolted away from hands, tried as hard as he could to get away from hands holding him, wouldn't take food from people, etc. A very shy boy.
Flash forward a year and he finally will:
-take food from me, sometimes a bit hesitant
-come to the front of the cage when I'm there
-climb on me
-let me pick him up, though he doesn't like it
-play with toys and use his wheel
-brux on occasion
But he still:
-shakes when I hold him
-if he's out exploring and having fun and I touch him he goes back into his house and won't come out
-only comes out to explore, wheel, etc. when the lights are off. He stays in his house poking his head out until I turn them off.
-is scared of dominant rats, or at least very uncomfortable around them
I keep him and his mate out with me 90% of the time, we're basically cage mates. The only time they are locked in their cage is when I'm not home and some nights. Otherwise they are always on the couch/coffee table area or bed with access to their cage. So there is no lack of socialization. But with him, I never forced holding, petting, etc. He just seems to hate it so much that I feel bad doing it. Every other rat I've had will go back to doing what they were doing, but one touch and he's done and back in his house and doesn't come out any time soon.
I don't mind, he may just not be a cuddly, pet-me rat. But I want him to be comfortable to and at his full potential. Is this a situation that you would push touching or leave him be?
Flash forward a year and he finally will:
-take food from me, sometimes a bit hesitant
-come to the front of the cage when I'm there
-climb on me
-let me pick him up, though he doesn't like it
-play with toys and use his wheel
-brux on occasion
But he still:
-shakes when I hold him
-if he's out exploring and having fun and I touch him he goes back into his house and won't come out
-only comes out to explore, wheel, etc. when the lights are off. He stays in his house poking his head out until I turn them off.
-is scared of dominant rats, or at least very uncomfortable around them
I keep him and his mate out with me 90% of the time, we're basically cage mates. The only time they are locked in their cage is when I'm not home and some nights. Otherwise they are always on the couch/coffee table area or bed with access to their cage. So there is no lack of socialization. But with him, I never forced holding, petting, etc. He just seems to hate it so much that I feel bad doing it. Every other rat I've had will go back to doing what they were doing, but one touch and he's done and back in his house and doesn't come out any time soon.
I don't mind, he may just not be a cuddly, pet-me rat. But I want him to be comfortable to and at his full potential. Is this a situation that you would push touching or leave him be?