Reply for Sandra regarding Mousekins

Question
Sandra, thank you SO MUCH.  Something in my heart told me it might not be right to set her free in the wild.  It feels good to know that she is not truly 'wild', and that she does indeed need a good home.  And to answer your question, she is not vicious ... she does not bite.  She actually trusts me quite a bit, she also no longer hides from me when I approach her cage, although she's sort of calculating to be honest (she waits for me to open the cage so she can literally shove her way past me, it's ridiculous!!!).  Very aggressive personality, and shes a really large rat now (maybe 1/3 the size larger than that photo).  Frankly, Mousekins is a character - I'm glad I'm keeping her ;-) She has a little den I've made her, and if I put my hand in there she uses her paws to push me out (pretty ridiculous!).  She just needs her privacy I suppose!

I will continue to take care of her, I don't trust anyone else being with her. I will have to separate her from my other female rats, but that is fine.  I am constructing a large rat mansion out of a bookcase (via online instructions - the Dapper Grotto) and will put her on the bottom level with her Wodent Wheel and SEVERAL chew toys.  The other domesticated girls will be in the upper level.  

Thank you so much again,
Hana

Answer
You made my day!  I was so happy to hear this, you have no idea!!

I always tell people that have rats like this not to be disappointed in them, but try to put yourself in their place and see where they are coming from.  I always blame the source (the breeder or previous owner) rather than the rat herself for the way she acts. Even if its genetic, its still the fault of the breeder.  The only rats that should be bred are rats that have a known genetic background such as health and also temperament.  Known health history will keep the breeder from producing rats that are prone to such ailments that are usually genetic like mega colon, malocclusion, bumblefoot(yes it can be inherited) heart disease, diabetes, etc...  rats are bred by a hobby breeder to create a healthier, heartier rat and are socialized from birth so by the time they are going to their new forever home, they are so used to humans they will walk right into their new owners hand after they get to know them first for a few minutes.  Rats are shy by nature and that part cannot be erased from their genetic make up.  However, it usually only takes a bit to get used to a new face and a new "giant hand in their cage" and they are comfortable enough to sit in your hand and thats when the trust starts to build.  It doesnt say much good about the breeder when the new owner brings their new rats home and it takes weeks for them to stop having "fear poop" and stop hiding when you try to pick them up and of course biting is always a sign of poor breeding.  None of this is the fault of the rat. That would be like saying it is a human babies fault he or she was born with a handicap...but of course in that case we cant blame mom since but thats a different ball of wax.

Seems to me you already know about rats since you have them now...but I do want to say a few things, possibly change some words around that you used.  For starters, my rats push me away with their little paws too.....the little snots!  I love the way they use their paws like hands!  You said she is calculating, I like to say they are clever because they are so smart its almost eerie how they can pre-suppose a situation. They dont forget as easily as we are taught that they have a short term memory. I never witnessed that with all the rats I have been exposed to, so I dont go by what the text book says. I rarely do.

Also, its OK she is alone. Really, it is. Despite what these other rat sites say, its ok in many cases, esp if it is by choice.  She has chosen to live alone. She wants it her way and no other way and when you live in a rat mischief, there is usually some room for compromise unless your Mousekins...or some of my past rats like Kirby, or Twizzler, or my wild rat, Holly.  None of them wanted any part of being with other rats.  My wild rat used to walk sideways, pressing her body against the other rats cage and would hiss and spit. Talk about ridiculous. She was all but 200 grams at the time and had no fear of the 700 gram bucks behind the cage bars. She would swat at them from the bars and squeak and yell....the little thing was a terror around them. She was totally content being with me and living alone.  Never go by classic text book...there is always room to bend the rules a bit when it comes to animals. We only learn about them through observation of their behavior and necropsy of their body after death, but thats about the only means we have to learn about them since they cannot speak for themselves any other way but through behavior.

I see a little rat that needs to mature and grow yet, she looks under 6 months in that photo...how old would you say she was?

Anyhow, you may have to love her from a distance, or maybe not. Sounds like she is willing to warm up to you, just give her as much time as you can....be patient.   Once again THANK YOU for keeping her I have a strong suspicion she will be your heart rat someday.


Wanted to add this:  I got this today.  Ironic how we talked about wild birds going after the rat and here is what happened to this lady:

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A crow dropped a rat on street from approx 15 ft. Bird kept swooping but rat just kept running in circles and bumping into things. I chased away bird but rat wasn't able to stop running in circles and couldn't hide. I put a box over the rat and transferred to a cage as it was unable to get away . It was climbing up walls and jumping all over cage for a few minutes then quieted down. I put food, water and a shoe box for nesting in the cage. I also put care fresh litter and timothy hay in since I have it for my guinea pig. Rat is being kept in a secure cage in covered patio.
Any thoughts as to why it stumbles and runs in circles? I've experienced similar symptoms with rabbits due to ear infections.

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