How To Safely Handle, Hold, and Pet Your New Pet Rat

Having a new pet, especially if you got a new pet rat and it is your first time having one is one of the most exciting events in your life. You will feel the urge to pick them up once you get home, but it is important to follow a process for you to have a good and proper life with your new pet rat. It is important to build trust with your new pet rat and also you will need plenty of patience for that.

Let your new rat settle in their new home.

After bringing home your new pet rat, it is important to just leave your rat to settle down in their new home. You should not try to bond with your rat immediately. Travelling from their previous home to their new home has likely stressed your new friend or even they feel nervous after the long ride. Just leave him in his rat cage with all the necessities he need like food, water and even some chew toys so that he can play with it or even relieve their stress. Having a nest for your rat is also important whether it is just made of soft bedding or material or even a nest bought from the store so that he has a place to retreat to. It is important to be patient and understanding and do not force your pet rat out of its cage.

Let your new friend come to you.

Right after a couple of days chilling and relaxing in the their new home, you can now start to bond with your new friend. In order for this to work properly without any problem, let your new friend come to you. It is very important that you will not force your rat out of his cage or you will lose his trust. As you try to call out for your new pet rat, expect him to be very cautious at first. That behavior is normal for them so just be patient. You must introduce yourself to your new friend in a slow, step by step process. The best way to do it is by luring or calling out your friend rat further and toward the door of the cage and towards your hand.

Give your new friend some treats.

Giving treats to your pet rat will help out in coaxing them out of their nest and into your hand. Having treats to munch on is one of the best experiences a rat can have and it also is a good bonding experience for the rat and its owner. As time will pass and with all the treats you have given your rat, your rat can go further out of its cage with less effort and it is also a sign that your new friend trusts you. Give your rats store bought treats like dried fruits and nuts or homemade treats that are safe for rats.

Have your new friend smell your hand before petting.

By the time your tiny friend can leave its nest and go towards you, you will both be curious about each other. Just simply place out your hand where your pet rat can reach it and just let him smell it. They learn a lot from their environment with the use of their sense of smell and taste. And as time passes and you bond a lot with your pet rat, he will recognize you by your smell and will act friendly to you because you are familiar to him. It is important not to make any sudden moves when he is trying to sniff you for it might scare him and make him feel nervous. If your pet rat tries to nibble or bite your hand, don’t be discouraged by this. It is normal for them because they also use their teeth in determining things in their environment.

Petting your pet rat.

During this time, your pet rat is already comfortable being handled by you. They can now crawl into your hands without any issue. Now, you can try petting them. Petting rats is a good way of bonding with them. They are social animals and enjoys being petted. Most of the rats love being petted in their head, especially behind their ears. Be sure to do it slowly and gently when doing it for the first time. Petting them suddenly or harshly will scare them or even hurt them. The best thing to see is your pet rat feeling happy and comfortable being petted by you in your own hand. The best feeling in the world is seeing your pet rat trust you and not getting scared by you.

The most important thing in handling your new pet rat is patience and understanding. Do not rush everything for it will lead to mistrust. Take your time with your new friend and you will be rewarded in the long run as you live with them.

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