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Introductions

 

 

by Debbie "The Rat Lady" Ducommun

 

The willingness of rats to accept a new roommate depends on their personality and age. It will take more time, sometimes up to several weeks, to introduce a newcomer to adult rats, but it can be done. With time and patience, almost any rat will accept a newcomer.

 

The introduction process has several steps and the time required for each may vary. The easiest pairing will be two young rats, while the most difficult introduction is between two adult males, especially if they aren't neutered. On the other hand, as rats start to age they can mellow out and be more accepting of new roommates. A young rat is the best choice for a new roommate for an adult male, but the newcomer should be at least six weeks old. This is because adult males will sometimes kill strange baby rats younger than this.

 

When introducing rats, you should have two cages so the new rat can have his own cage at first. (The second cage can be the resident rat's travel cage.) Never just plop a new rat in the resident rats' cage because the residents will always defend their territory.

 

During the introduction process, you should only advance to the next step if there is no sign of aggression within 30 minutes. A resident rat will express aggression by puffing up his fur, arching his back, and swinging his body sideways at the newcomer. If you see this behavior, remove the new rat quickly to prevent an attack. Use care when picking up an aggressive rat as they will sometimes bite. Pick them up with a towel if you need to quickly break up a fight. If an introductory session results in aggression, try again later, or go back a step.

 

When introducing a new rat to a group of rats, usually only the dominant resident rat will be aggressive toward the newcomer at first. This is the dominant rat's "job". Once the new rat is accepted by the dominant rat, the others may show aggression in turn, but it usually won't be as severe.

 

The Introduction Process

 

The first step is to place the cages near each other so the rats can see and smell each other. Place wire cages far enough apart so the rats can't reach through the bars to the other cage, or the result may be bitten toes or tail. The next step is to switch the rats to each other's cage, even briefly, to allow them first-hand experience with each other's scent. You may have to do this several times.

 

The next step is to introduce the rats in neutral territory, which should be someplace where the resident rats are not used to playing. The bathtub is a good place. This will give them a chance to become acquainted without the residents feeling the need to defend their territory. Another technique that can work is to take the rats for a car ride in a neutral carrier.


The next step is to let them interact in an area where the residents are used to playing. Watch them carefully, because this is where some fighting may break out. It may also help if you put the new rat(s) in your lap along with the other rats. By holding everyone at the same time, it may let the residents know that YOU have already accepted the new rat.

 

The final step is to clean the larger cage out completely and rearrange the furnishings so it appears to be a new cage. Trim the back toenails of the rats to minimize scratching in a scuffle. Put a tiny bit of vanilla extract or perfume on all the rats to make them smell the same. Then put the rats in this cage. The best time to do this is in the morning when rats tend to be sleepy.

 

The dominant resident will probably sniff the newcomer and then "attack" him, forcing him over on his back. If you've followed the introduction process correctly, don't rush to take the new rat out. Instead, carefully observe the fight. Observe whether the resident rat is showing the raised hair, arched back, and sideways approach that are signs of aggression. If so, remove the newcomer, but if not, leave them together. The resident rat must establish his or her dominance and it's normal for them to "beat up" the newcomer. Just because the new rat is squeaking doesn't mean it's getting hurt. This is just a rat's way of saying "I give up". As long as you have followed the introduction process step by step, and as long as the resident rat isn't showing the signs of aggression, you should let the fight run its course. If you take the new rat out, you'll prolong this adjustment phase.

 

However, if it appears that the new rat is being injured, or if the attack seems especially vicious, then of course you should remove him from the cage. But in most cases the "fight" will be over quickly. The dominant resident rat will probably beat up the newcomer frequently for the first few days, and you shouldn't interfere as long as there are no injuries. But the first attack is usually the worst, and before long the rats will typically become the best of friends, sleeping together and grooming each other.

 

One of my members also suggested something that worked well for her. She smeared all her rats with pudding! After they got it all licked off each other, they had bonded! But this was a group of rats who had lived in the same house for a while, not brand new rats. You would still need to go through all they preliminary steps first.

 

Because rats are individuals with their own personalities, occasionally two rats will take a disliking to each other and constantly fight. In some cases, this means the pecking order is changing and the fighting will stop eventually. Neutering any males involved will usually solve the problem, but once the male is neutered it can take up to 8 weeks for their behavior to change.  If these fights continue for more than several weeks, such rats should be separated permanently.

 

Notes From Tiny Toes Rat Rescue

 

Many thanks to the insightful Debbie Ducommun for yet another excellent article above! As a proud rat mom myself since 2001, I’d like to emphasize some things Debbie said and add some of my own comments since I’ve introduced a lot of rats and think I can contribute to this topic.

 

First, let me preface my comments by saying that, like humans, rats need companionship. It is said that an only rat is a lonely rat and I promise you it is true. Rats are happier and healthier when they have roommates, but when they live alone they are sad and yearn for a companion with whom they can snuggle through long naps and participate in the social ritual of grooming. Rats are truly worth the investment of your time and patience so I encourage you to honor this wonderful animal by going through the process of introducing them so you can offer them a happier, fuller life.

 

Rat introductions can be dangerous though and result in serious life-threatening injuries. I’ve rarely had problems introducing new female rats as they seem to get over their differences rather quickly. Male rats, with their raging hormones, are a bit more challenging. When you actually combine new rats with your existing rats, I can’t stress enough the importance of always doing it in neutral territory and under close supervision. To be clear, that means you actually being within inches of the rats, should you need to quickly separate them, and not taking your eyes off of them. If you have to leave “just for a minute” to answer the phone or door, please separate the rats and then rejoin them when you can again fully supervise the introduction process. While putting males together I’ve witnessed everything from instant acceptance to an aggressive male slicing open, with razor sharp hind feet claws, another male’s belly so badly that guts hung out of a gaping hole. I was right there, but it happened in seconds. Fortunately, after emergency surgery and antibiotics the injured rat made a full recovery and went on to live a happy life with a ratty roommate until his death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw

her first!

Tiny Toes Rat Rescue

of New Mexico, Inc.

 

a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue

 

Just because they're tiny doesn't mean they're disposable

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