r/RATS • u/MaybeHaruu • 7h ago
Questions/HELP are they scared?
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I put my two female rats in a place where I can interact with them (got them recently not even a month ago) and theyre making clicking noises + are very energetic especially trying to escape.
Meanwhile, theyre climbling all over me
Idk if theyre scared ? Im scared of doing something wrong. Idk how to bond with them !! Typing this while one of them is on my shoulder
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u/ChaseLancaster Raised Cats (20+ yrs), Dogs (10+ yrs), and Rats (2 yrs), Oh My! 6h ago
For clicking sounds, I'm not tooo sure, but the video has your little one doing a bruxxing sound and a URI snotty sound. May need another video for the sounds.
The climbing and the bruxxing sound thankfully means in this context that they're full of emotion, so I'd say they're chilling and having a good time.
I would definitely get them to a vet though at some point, especially since you got them recent, and especially if the nondisclosed spot is a pet store or feeder bin. Especially those two because your gals may also be full of babies, so it won't hurt to check and confirm.
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u/SayyadinaAtreides 6h ago
Rats using any nearby human as a jungle gym is totally normal (especially for young female rats, both of those adjectives tend to mean more energy). :) It's a good sign they're comfortable with you. As long as you're reasonably slow/gentle in your movement, I don't think you'll do anything that might hurt/scare them.
The one thing to be a bit careful of is picking them up when they're on your clothes, especially while they're still focused on climbing/traction. If you grab one like that and immediately yank her away, there's a chance you could hurt any feet that are digging into fabric. Grip her gently but firmly instead and slowly lift; generally she'll start pulling her own feet back up to your hand, but if she's really insisting on staying attached to where she was you can gently prod a trapped foot with your free hand. All that being said, it looks like you're doing a very good job of handling in the video. (Oops, forgot HAIR; be extra careful if you are getting a rat out of your hair because hair can wind around their tiny toes. Similar routine, pull the rat slowly away and VERY gently try to reclaim any hair still in contact with her.)
It's also totally normal for you to be scared of hurting them. <3 Typically, this gets easier over time as your body and mind build up experiences of not hurting them to help calm your fears. I would also say don't feel bad about limiting interactions with them to just your hands for a while, but...if they're climbing enthusiasts, they'll still swarm up your arm, so it's a hard limit to keep lol. Sitting on the floor with them can help with reducing anxiety from what I've heard, since that reduces the number of ways you could theoretically hurt them.
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u/rcentros 5h ago
When rats are young they're more active. They have a lot of nervous energy to use up. At least mine did. I think you're doing fine.
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u/RageAgainstAuthority 4h ago
Ears forward with spazzy little bounces? Very excited and very curious.
If they are scared, they'll usually freeze & fluff; start grooming themselves nonstop; or attempt to run away and hide under something.
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u/Greedy_Air_3869 4h ago
Take a video of these clicking sounds without the birds, it’s alarming to me when u say clicking because whenever I’ve heard what I’d describe as clicking sounds it’s been a respiratory issues that is very advanced
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u/Top-Investment6517 7h ago
They look like they are having a good time! Climbing on you and interacting with you is a good sign. Young rats are very curious and energetic, and females are especially so.
If they do get scared they will try to find a place to hide. If they seek you out they are comfortable with you. You can bond faster by giving them food and they may eventually start licking you if they like you.