Rats: Practical, Accurate Advice from the Expert (Complete Care Made Easy) by Debbie Ducommum

Author:Debbie Ducommum
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: i5 Publishing
Published: 2011-09-26T11:00:00+00:00

Thoroughly clean the resident rat’s cage to remove odors, and rearrange the furnishings so it appears to be new. Before placing them in the cage together, clip their back toenails to minimize scratching in a scuffle. Dab the rats with vanilla extract or perfume to make them smell alike, then put them in the cage together. The best time to introduce them is in the morning, when rats tend to be sleepy. The resident will probably sniff the newcomer and then pounce on her, forcing her over on her back. Don’t rush to take the new rat out.

Observe whether the resident rat is showing the signs of aggression. If so, remove the newcomer, but if not, leave them together. The resident rat must establish her dominance, and it’s normal for her to beat up the newcomer. Just because the new rat is squeaking doesn’t mean she’s getting hurt. This is just a rat’s way of saying, I give up. As long as the new rat isn’t being injured, you should let the altercation run its course.

The resident rat will probably beat up the newcomer frequently for the first few days, but in most cases the scuffle will be over quickly. The first attack is usually the worst, and before long the two rats typically become the best of friends, sleeping together and grooming each other.

Because each rat is an individual with her own personality, occasionally two rats take a dislike to each other. In this case, they constantly fight, sometimes to the point of inflicting wounds. Neutering any males involved usually solves the problem. Otherwise, such rats should be separated.

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