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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2007What to do?
What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive towards others? My friend watched them a few months ago and said that one tried to attack her. Every time she came around she said that he tried again and again, though she never got close enough to let him do any damage. Tonight I was sitting on the couch and this said friend came over. She went over to the cage and this same rat lunged at the cage walls showed his teeth and tried to bite her! I know most of you feel its terrible to have a rat live alone, and for the most part I agree. But at this stage I am frustrated and confused and angry. He started lunging at me after he did it to her. I CANNOT have a rat that attacks. I should not be afraid to go up to the cage, no matter how important it is to have two rats. And Scoot is too old to be adding another rat into the picture. And I dont really want to go through the stages it takes to get use to another rat. The pet store behind my house said they would take him and sell him to a nice home, and I know they would (not as food or anything). Until today I thought my friend was joking, but now I see this rat is crazy and psyco. I am at a loss for what to do. Do I do what my heart is telling me or my head? Do I take him and give him to a family that will love him, or keep him for the sake of Scoot? He isnt always this bad, just when my friend comes over and for the next few days after that. She has never done anything to this rat to cause this reaction from him. I am so frustrated with the whole situation. At this point, he will be going to the store tomorrow morning. I just got a kitten, and I am terrified that he is going to hurt it when I am at work. I know it takes a bit for them to get use to one another, and that's fine, but Scat is evil! What do you guys think? > What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive towards > others? My friend watched them a few months ago and said that one tried [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > guys > think? Maybe Scat got a fright ? How did your friend approach the cage? Or he may have been disturbed from a sleep when your friend went to the cage, maybe he was confused when you went to the cage and still thought it was your friend. he may be feeling ill, if a rat is ill he can act out of character. If him and Scoot are getting along it would not be fair to seperate them, that way you would have two very unhappy rats, if you really can't have Scat around anymore then it would be better to rehome them as a pair. I would make sure that your friend doesn't go near the cage again if it is only after she has been near him. When you are at work keep the kitten seperated from them. Tar bites anyone who goes near his cage and always draws blood, he's fine with me (he is a big softie out of the cage) I just warn everyone not to disturb him in his cage. > > What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive towards > > others? My friend watched them a few months ago and said that one tried [quoted text clipped - 63 lines] > (he is a big softie out of the cage) I just warn everyone not to disturb him > in his cage. Christmas is also a biter - but only when she is in the cage. She is docile as a lamb when she is out of it. One does not willingly put their hands into the girls cage unless Chrissy can see it, and then you still have to watch her. She is two though, and I accept that she is defending her cage. > What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive > towards > others? My friend watched them a few months ago and said that one > tried to > attack her. I know she's your friend but do you think she may have hurt Scat while she was watching him? Does she have pets whose scent might upset rats? My rats always go a bit freaky if I've been stroking dogs or cats. > He started lunging at me after he did it to her. I > CANNOT have a rat that attacks. I should not be afraid to go up to > the cage, > no matter how important it is to have two rats. Perhaps Scat smelled her on you and reacted to the scent, not to you, his mama. > Until today I thought my friend was joking, but > now I see this rat is crazy and psyco. I am at a loss for what to do. Does Scat go for anyone else other than this particular person? If he doesn't I'd just keep her well away from him as there is obviously something about her that sets him off. > Do I take him and give him to a > family that will love him, or keep him for the sake of Scoot? He isnt > always > this bad, just when my friend comes over and for the next few days > after that. Ok, you've just answered my question. It must be something about your friend. Just keep her away from him. > She has never done anything to this rat to cause this reaction from > him. You don't know what happened while she was watching them. It may not be her, it may be a scent she carries. Has she got dogs, cats, ferrets, rats or something that Scat would feel threatened by? If so you have your answer. HTH  SignatureRatty Hugs & Cavy Kisses Jackie Ably Hindered by The Buck House Crew "Behavioral psychology is the science of pulling habits out of rats." Dr. Douglas Busch Does your friend wear any perfume? If so you might try getting a sample of that on a Q-tip or cotton ball sealed in a plastic bag. Then open it near the cage and see what the reaction is. It could be your rat just doesn't like that or it has some components that set off the reaction. >> What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive >> towards [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >HTH Mark G. Of the Royal Estates and "Pagan God of Food" i can't believe how many of you have rats that bite. maybe i've just been lucky. i've only had one that ever drew blood. he had fallen into the "bath bucket" when i was wasn't looking and almost drown. when i picked him out of the water he was in fear of his life. without even thinking, he bit the first thing near him. unfortunately, it was my finger. he sunk his teeth in right down to the gums. i don't know why but i was so pissed off. i held my profusely bleeding finger right up to his nose and yelled at him saying something like, " you want to bite it again?! well?! go ahead! bite it again!" poor little guy was probably so confused. he was always nervous after that. > What do you do when one of your rats has become suddenly agressive towards > others? My friend watched them a few months ago and said that one tried [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > guys > think? not many families would want to buy a rat like that. i've noticed that some rats display those tendencies from a young age. i make sure to warn the stores about these individuals when i sell them. my opinion is that an aggressive rat has no place as a pet. if he continues to display this behavior, either send him to a shelter, give him to the pet store, or have him put down. when i come across this behavior in rats that i am trying to socialize, i get rid of the offending rat immidiately. it can traumatize the other rats in the litter. I appreciate all of your guy's feedback on this situation, and I did come to a decision. I called my vet yesterday and one of the nurses there who has other rats offered to take him. Since he seems to only be this way with this friend I advised her of his behavior and informed her that since she watches them a good amount of time I could not keep him. He is in good hands, and is doing well. Scoot is doing good too. He hasn't shown any signs of depression or trama. He is eating and playing like normal. I may get another rat in the future, but I'm not sure as of right now. For the moment he and Titus are getting along well (Titus is my kitten) and I think they are going to be fine (though I know I will get comments on how rats should not live alone). Thank you. |
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