Your Questions | About Pet Rats Answers
QUESTION:
I found a ton of posts telling me how to know if my rats like me, but how do I tell/show my rats that I like them?
ABOUT PET RATS’ ANSWER:
ABOUT PET RATS’ ANSWER:What a wonderful question!
There are SO many ways you can show your rats you love them. Here are 20 ways to get you started:
1. Spend lots of quality time together, preferably several times a day.
2. Feed them a healthy diet and healthy snacks…..no sugary, hi-carb treats and no junk food. They’ll feel so much better!
3. Find new ways to play with them – Intellectual stimulation is so important for our ratties since they’re extraordinarily intelligent. Food puzzles help satisfy a rat’s desire for the new and novel:
4. Teach them tricks – Rats love to learn:
5. Give them as large a cage as you possibly can.
6. Keep their cage super clean.
7. Show your pet rats love by redecorating their home regularly so they don’t get bored.
8. Give them a wheel to see if they like it (not all rats do) – Wodent wheels are my fave, but there are other safe wheels such as Silent Runners (Please note: Silent Runner wheel width accomodates females only) or Treadmill Wheels.
9. Build your rats a maze:
10. Make sure to rat-proof any areas in which you give them free range time – here’s a link that includes information on how to make any room safe for your rats.
11. To show your pet rats love, build a box town.
12. Expose them to new situations and people often – well socialized rats are happier and live longer. This is Twyla meeting her new human friend, Jamie:
13. Take them with you when you travel.
14. Make sure to have at least two rats at a time.
15. Find a fantastic veterinarian. If needed, check out online directories for finding a wonderful rat vet.
17. Give your ratties lots of kisses. They will reciprocate:
18. Always talk softly and lovingly to your rats.
19. Sing to them. Read to your rats. Even better, make up your own bedtime stories for them.
20. Indulge your pet rats with massage.
Updated 5/29/23
I got my baby whiskers a week ago I never dreamed I’d love a rap but he is adorable a week earlier I had got hamsters they’re separate of the baby he bites won’t run the wheel and won’t have nothing to do with it the other one it’s okay let’s run ball 100 will come each other man and pick it up hold on but I can’t quit that other one nippy truck got to get rid of it but the rat whiskers are named me is something else I would love to learn more how to train you how to get him to come to his name he looks at me and you come to me but not I’ll try and want to I made him little house and he loves it and he’s gets in there comes out when he wants I would like to learn more how to train him and get closer to him I take him out four times a day at least and set Smart TV with me could I have any other I did and I live in Indiana Terre Haute do you know I got this little guy from a reptile show a exotic pet show excuse me and I would love to find a breeders there with this little guy again he’s a curly rap and I want to get another one but don’t know where to go if you could let me know thank you
Hi Roberta,
That’s wonderful you’re looking for a buddy for your current rat. They really love having other rats to live, sleep, groom and play with.
I looked up places to adopt pet rats in or near Terre Haute, IN. The best place I found is the Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary (EARPS). From their website:
“Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary (EARPS) is a central Indiana 501C(3) non-profit animal rescue group of volunteers working to help exotic pets, small companion animals, and non-traditional pets.
We coordinate with animal control, local humane societies, and several shelters throughout Indiana and surrounding states, as well as local veterinary clinics to rescue and care for small companion animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, reptiles, birds and more.”
Many times, pet rat breeders and/or rescues are able to drive their adoptable rats to an area closer to you if they are not local to where you live.
Two online breeder directories who have Indiana breeders listed are:
Little Paws Rattery Breeder Directory
The Rat Fan Club Breeder Directory (Unfortunately many of the breeders listed may no longer be active since this list is from 2018.)
I have always had good luck finding adoptable pet rats on facebook. Here are 2 pages/groups you may find helpful:
Rat Breeders
No Rat Left Behind
Craigslist may also be another resource for you.
In case you’re not already familiar with best practices for introducing new rats to one another, you might want to read How to Ace Pet Rat Introductions.
I hope some of these ideas are helpful for you.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Merci pour cet article très compréhensible et absolument magique ! J’ai deux petites rates qui n’aiment pas qu’on les touche. Alors j’essaie tout doucement de les papouiller mais sans toutefois les brusquer. Je voudrais qu’elles comprennent que je les aime. Ce site va beaucoup m’aider. Merci beaucoup ! ;D
Merci beaucoup pour les commentaires positifs! Meilleurs voeux à vous et à vos rats.
Jasmine