NezumiNeko
Well-Known Member
I got my rats back yesterday. I literally haven't seen 'em in 3 months, and the person who was watching them gave them very little attention, fed them the wrong food, and probably fed them through the bars of the cage. I get my rats back, and they're shy and skittish, but they seem to have some memories of me. (I had them for 3 months before they were gone for 3 months.) They seemed to be settling in, last night Onigiri was grooming me, and they enjoyed being scratched. Before I fed them, Yuki bit me hard, but I assumed it was because she was hungry and thought I had food. (They usually have an everlasting supply, but the cage had just been cleaned.) I added some fleece stuff to the cage this morning, and the rats were being curious and sniffing my hand when I was hanging stuff in a very innocent way. It tickeled :joy: ! Just a few minutes ago, I went up to take them out, and they were cuddling in a tube. I tried to coax them out, And I managed to get get Onigiri to come partway out, a she was sniffing my finger, and then BAM! She bit me, hard. My rats never bit before this, unless of course they nibbled my finger because they thought it was food. But I really want to get my sweet ratties back, how can I re-socialize them? I want my rats back! :sad3:
Update 9/8- When I put my hand in the cage, my rats seem really curious about it, and sniff it a lot. However, they also bite it, as if they're really curious about it, and just don't get it. It doesn't hurt, it's just like a little pinch, but they insist on doing it. They seem really freaked out when I touch them, and hate being picked up in the cage. Once they're out of the cage, they're extremely friendly, but to get them out, I take a party hat (I have a bunch, the cheap colourful ones.) and they climb into it, and from there I take them out of the hat, and the ride my shoulder, even rub up against my cheek. And when I took them out the other day, after running around, they climbed into my lap. Now they ignore the hat. But they're really weird in the cage. I can pick them up, but they squeak. I'm pretty sure they're just territorial, but no matter how much they sniff my hand or take food from me (they don't bite because of food, if I hold out an undesirable piece of food, they ignore it, and go for my hand.) they still don't trust me. :gaah: What can I do?
Update 9/8- When I put my hand in the cage, my rats seem really curious about it, and sniff it a lot. However, they also bite it, as if they're really curious about it, and just don't get it. It doesn't hurt, it's just like a little pinch, but they insist on doing it. They seem really freaked out when I touch them, and hate being picked up in the cage. Once they're out of the cage, they're extremely friendly, but to get them out, I take a party hat (I have a bunch, the cheap colourful ones.) and they climb into it, and from there I take them out of the hat, and the ride my shoulder, even rub up against my cheek. And when I took them out the other day, after running around, they climbed into my lap. Now they ignore the hat. But they're really weird in the cage. I can pick them up, but they squeak. I'm pretty sure they're just territorial, but no matter how much they sniff my hand or take food from me (they don't bite because of food, if I hold out an undesirable piece of food, they ignore it, and go for my hand.) they still don't trust me. :gaah: What can I do?
