Rats bite because they were not handled enough, have been improperly
handled or are scared.
My first rat that found me, Mom Rat, was an escaped feeder breeder. She
was a nasty biter, likely because she had never been handled. The best
thing we did to cure her of that was to force handle her using thick gloves.
I would grasp and hold her so she couldn't get loose then talk to her
and pet her head. I would hold her for about five minutes and then return
her to the cage with a yogurt treat. That worked after about a month or
more. Later she would sleep with us in bed.
Most rats only bite when you first pick them up. So after the biting
subsides I remove the gloves just after picking them up.
Don’t invade the rats hiding place if at all possible. Rats need
a place they can feel safe from attack. If you stick your hand in that
house you disserve to get bit.
Consider that rats bite because they don’t want to be handled so
conditioning is another key to breaking bad habits. If the rat
bites then pick them up, every time! If the rat does not bite
don’t pick them up right away. This conditioning will reinforce
that a bite will result in being handled and no bite equals no handling.
Rats are very smart and will figure this out in a couple of days.
Cuddling to calm a biter. I pick them up with the gloves
and then cradle them in my arm and hold them against my chest / stomach.
I will place my other hand over there head to give them a hiding place
and make them feel safe. I would watch television while holding the rat
for half an hour or more. Doing this in a calm and quiet place is best.
Don’t be a target! When you put a bare hand in
the cage don’t make it easy for the rat to bite you. Presenting
a flat hand or finger tips pointed in the rats face makes it easy for
the rat to bite. Instead hold your hand like a wall with the back of your
hand to the rat. To bite a wall the rat has to open their mouth wide and
it is harder to get a good bite. Often you will get a teeth scrape and
not a bloody bite.
The right grip. When picking up the rat I slowly come
down from above and try and grab them behind their front legs with their
head in the palm of my hand. In this position the rat is unable to bite.
This is an extraction grip used to get them out of the cage and onto my
chest. Some times I will put my hand on top of them for a moment before
griping them. Once they are on your chest I use the second arm to make
a floor for them to stand on and cradle them in my arms or I will grip
their lower body and then reverse my upper hand to hold them upright.
Fear and Dominance. Rats like most pack animals have
a pecking order, where are you on that ladder? If you are not the dominate
“rat” you have a problem. I cured a young female biter by
picking her up knowing she was going to bite. When she did I kept my motion
steady and had a hand around her while she had her teeth in me. I held
her in front of my face with both hands and scolded her (nicely) as to
why it is not nice to bite people that wanted to help her. Then next day
she nipped me and I followed the same course of action. I handled her
another 8 times that day with no problem. On the second day she thought
about biting, touched me with her teeth and then backed off. She has never
bitten another person since that day. This action convinced the rat that
I was not afraid of her and that I was tougher than she was and therefore
the dominate rat. I would not try this action with a vicious biter without
gloves.
Grab – Kiss – Release – Return - Repeat.
Once you make some progress with the rat you can handle them without gloves
after holding them or a while. When you return them to the cage conveniently
forget the treat. The rat will turn to the door as if to say “What’s
Up”. I then quickly grab them on either side with both hands, and
bring them out of the cage, give them a kiss, then release them back in
the cage. I do this real fast, about 10 seconds total. If the rat returns
to the door I repeat this another 5 or 10 times, and finally give them
their treat. If the rat does not return to the door I make sure to give
them their treat. This condition them that getting picked up is not that
bad. Some rats even like it and think it is a game.
Remember before you judge a biter please consider the life that have
had to live.
Hope this helps.
Good luck with your rats!
Let us know if we can offer any additional suggestions.
Doug B – Spooky’s Dad
Tips On Handling Scared Rats.
First rats are true a friend not blind affection like a dog. Nurturing
a true friendship takes time and effort on everyone’s part.
I would offer treats through the open door with one hand flat on the
floor and the other holding the treat. The rats had to stand on my hand
to get the treat. I would start “short” first, just getting
the rat to put their paw on my hand. Then each time I would get the rat
to come out further to get the treat. This establishes a trust that you
are harmless.
I place my hands on opening of the door and call the rats. I would keep
my hands still and let them check me out without touching them. Often
I would call them or tap on the cage to get there attention. It helps
to make the rats think that they will not be picked up each time you come
to the cage but that your presence is an interesting diversion.
Other times I would put my face in the open door and allow them to check
me out. You should watch out though as Spooky likes to try and open your
mouth with her paw and that hurts. I guess that she is looking for something
good to eat. Mini-Me and Spooky would wash my face, guess that I taste
good. This further emphasizes that you are harmless and helps bond the
rats to you.
When ever I pass the cage I stop and talk to the rats, if they are awake.
If I scare them I open the cage and present the back of my hand, as a
wall to keep from being bit, and allow them to sniff me. Then I remove
my hand without touching them. This helps to reassure the rat that they
are safe and they won’t be picked up each time and helps bond you
to the rats.
When the rats are too scared to be held correctly I would cup the rat
in a ball with both my hands then quickly hold the rat to my chest. The
rat is now safe and unable to get loose. I would hold them there for a
couple of minutes while talking to them. They are able to feel the warmth
of my body and hear my hart beat as they would when in the womb of their
mother. As the rat becomes more accustomed to this I make a hole with
my index finger and thumb to see the rats face. Later I enlarge the hole
and allow the rat to poke their head out. Afterward I always return them
to the cage. This helps the rats feel safe with you and encourages bonding.
One great bonding tip is as the rats become easier to handle. I would
put the rats on the couch or bed and corral them in my arms. I would then
mock groom the rats with my mouth while making smacking noises. Spooky
thinks she is actually being groomed and will close her eyes and sit still.
Often she will return the favor and wash my face. This makes you more
than the Mom it also makes you one of the rats.
The trick of bonding with an animal is to make the animal think you are
the same species they are. Once the animal believes this they are a friend
for life.
Hope this helps.
Good luck with your rats!
Let us know if we can offer any additional suggestions.