My Thoughts

[@warlockcraft21]

Thank you the video. Keep well and stay safe.

[@FizzyStarRats]

Thank you for watching, I hope you are well and safe.

[@hazelbuckfield8770]

It's so frustrating when people flout the lockdown rules. As you know I live in Wales and our lockdown is still going. It will be reviewed on the 18th June. I had to have my sweet boy Chip put to sleep on Tuesday. I was lucky the vet let me come into the surgery so I could be with him. It was the first time I have had a rat put down. I can understand how upset you were having to go through this. My neighbours are lovely here but when I lived in West Sussex there were people who never said hello. Even though we lived opposite each other for years. I know it's stressful dealing with your house but you will have rats again. Take care and stay safe. x

[@FizzyStarRats]

It is very traumatic having a rat put to sleep and it does not get any easier, it takes a long time to get over the shock and grief. How many rats do you have now? When we lived right in the centre of town people were really friendly and would always stop to chat, I knew all of my neighbours. Now living on the edge of town it is totally different, a few people are friendly but most of them do not even say hello. xx

[@TheBlueKnitter]

Help! I just adopted 2 babies almost 6 weeks old. I can’t even pick them up! What do I do? I have had them for 4 days now.

[@TheBlueKnitter]

They keep hiding from me. I give them treats and baby food they still hide.

[@carloscastrejon1940]

Hand feed them or lure them out with food

[@FizzyStarRats]

It takes a while for new rats to get used to you, especially if they came from a pet shop, they probably have not been handled much. Spend as much time as possible sitting next to the cage with your hand inside the cage, talk quietly and avoid any sudden noises or movements. Your rats will get used to you, they may gently nibble your hand but this is just them exploring their new home. Make sure your hands do not smell of food, wash them with unscented plain soap and water. Do not wiggle your fingers, hold your hand still with your fingers tucked in, as the rats get used to you, hold your hand open and they will soon climb onto your hand. Do not try to take them out of the cage until you can safely hold them inside the cage. Always make sure your room is rat safe when the cage door is open, shut all doors and windows in the room, rats can be easily scared and when scared they jump. It is not a good idea to tempt young rats with food and treats, it stops them from eating their main food. They need to come to you without being bribed and this will happen with time. Try to relax as your rats will sense it if you are nervous and it will make them nervous. If you have other pets remove them from the room while the cage door is open.

[@TheBlueKnitter]

Thank you. I have held my hand in the cage from day one. They will hide until it is removed. The poor things would rather starve than come close to me. It makes me so sad. Should I just clean the cage while they are in there. I was going to scoop them up out of their hammock but the first and last time I pet one I the space pod (sputnik) they freaked out and refuse to sleep in it ☹️ I don’t want them to be afraid to fall asleep but the longer I go without picking them up, I fear the worst it will become.

[@FizzyStarRats]

​@@TheBlueKnitter It sounds like your rats have not been handled or may have had a bad experience before you got them. It can take a while for very nervous rats to get used to you but if you put in the time now, it should not take too long with such young rats. I would not worry about taking them out of the cage to clean it for a day or two unless it is very messy. Just clean the bits you can every day, the food bowl, the toilet corner and the shredded paper. Wipe the platforms with plain water, do not use any cleaners while the rats are inside the cage, this includes pet safe cleaners. You need to spend the next two days spending as much time as possible right next to the cage talking to the rats very quietly and keeping your hand inside the cage. You do not have to sit there all the time, give them time to eat from their bowl and sleep. But during the day I would spend at least 10 minutes every hour by the cage. You cannot just do this once of twice a day it will take too long, they need some intensive getting to know you time. This is the method I use and it does work. But you must not try to rush the rats. Obviously you will need to remove the rats safely to give your cage a really good clean. Have you got some small rat tubes. I use them to move nervous rats. I will find the link and post it in a new comment.