Should I immediately start bonding with my rats once they have been in their cage for an hour or so? Or should I wait? If I should start bonding immediately where should I do it and how to do it? Do I need treats?
Bonding Right Away or Wait?
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Hi, it really depends on the rat. If they have had socializing and been handled previously, then start with treats (not through the bars) and talking and letting them smell you and taste you and learn your voice before trying to pet them or pick them up. They do need to adjust to their new cage, new home and new owner. More timid rats can take a few days before they feel safe, some take weeks.
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I started bonding immediately with my rats, and now both of them literally can't get enough of me XDD At first they were pretty scared of being in a new home but they adjusted pretty well! If I disappeared for more than a few hours they will be prying their little faces through the bars of their cage and running around trying to get to me XDD
They prefer me over the rest of my 6 family members 100% if I walk near them while one of my family members is holding them and instantly want to get to me XDD (a little needy? Yes, very needy XD)
And both of them have completely different personalities, Dubs is DEFINITELY my more shy child, while Eugene is my little perky mamas boi, but they both took the instant bonding thing very well! (ofc they are both loved equally because I love my little fluff balls of kissies)
This is just my experience!
I'm not a rat genius, just a 14 y/o girl who loves her rats to the point where she'd probably sell her clothes to keep them living a healthy good life XDD
They prefer me over the rest of my 6 family members 100% if I walk near them while one of my family members is holding them and instantly want to get to me XDD (a little needy? Yes, very needy XD)
And both of them have completely different personalities, Dubs is DEFINITELY my more shy child, while Eugene is my little perky mamas boi, but they both took the instant bonding thing very well! (ofc they are both loved equally because I love my little fluff balls of kissies)
This is just my experience!
I'm not a rat genius, just a 14 y/o girl who loves her rats to the point where she'd probably sell her clothes to keep them living a healthy good life XDD
Well just got them today and one is really skittish and one is grooming my hair rn xD
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Awww that's so sweet!!! My one rat, Eugene, sometimes restyles my hair XDDD He moves it all around
What are their names?
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Also yes, at first you want to give your rats quite a few treats(but not too many) and speak to them is a soft nice voice. That's the best way to bond with them.
Let them crawl all over you (even in your shirt 🤭 my rats love that) You could also wear a hoodie backwards my rats used to love that before they found out the wonder of the shirt XD
Soft clothes are their favorite ofc! I mean, I can't see why they wouldn't love that
Practicing tricks with your rats is also another great way to bond!! I use wikiHow to figure out how to teach them tricks, it's very helpful.
Only move on to a new trick once your rats have fully mastered the one your working on. Training rats separately is probably easier than all of them together, but both ways are fine. (The second one might be a bit confusing to them tho if your not clear who your directing it to)
Let them crawl all over you (even in your shirt 🤭 my rats love that) You could also wear a hoodie backwards my rats used to love that before they found out the wonder of the shirt XD
Soft clothes are their favorite ofc! I mean, I can't see why they wouldn't love that
Practicing tricks with your rats is also another great way to bond!! I use wikiHow to figure out how to teach them tricks, it's very helpful.
Only move on to a new trick once your rats have fully mastered the one your working on. Training rats separately is probably easier than all of them together, but both ways are fine. (The second one might be a bit confusing to them tho if your not clear who your directing it to)
No names yet!
Any ideas? The bigger one is black and white on the stomach and half of his paws and the smaller one is all black with one white paw.
Little boys
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XDDD That is a beautiful picture XD you might want to support them a little carefully when holding them especially since they're new to a new house and everything <3 but I totally understand the whole squirmy thing X'D My rats can barely sit still sometimes XD
But he's so gorgeous :'0
You might want to take a look at the personalities, and see what names fit their personalities best. If they're really perky you might want to give them a perky name. If they're really chill you might want to give them a pretty chill name. If they can't sit still for more than 2 seconds then you should name them popcorn or something like that XD it really just depends on what names you like and what names suit your rats XD
But he's so gorgeous :'0
You might want to take a look at the personalities, and see what names fit their personalities best. If they're really perky you might want to give them a perky name. If they're really chill you might want to give them a pretty chill name. If they can't sit still for more than 2 seconds then you should name them popcorn or something like that XD it really just depends on what names you like and what names suit your rats XD
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