My rat Bella

Question
I just bought my rat Bella about a month ago at petsmart. I hold her everyday and i feed her and change her water everyday. I also try to put her in her ball everyday. She hates it. she will fight to stay on my hand if i try to put her in it and when i do she just sits there and poops. I got her a small ball first and then i got her a big ball they dont work. she also doesnt like to be pet very much. what do i do? sorry that i am asking so much.

Answer

Poor Bella.  Rats hate balls.  They are just too smart to be trapped inside a plastic ball.  I say take them back and get your money back.  She needs to explore and climb things not be hidden inside a plastic container away from you.

She doesnt like to be handled because of the fact she has not been allowed to bond with you properly by playing etc.... and I think putting her in the ball made her a bit untrustworthy and fearful of you for this reason.


Your not asking too much, by the way. This is how we learn about our pet rats, by asking, and its good you want to know what is best for her. You came to the right place.


For starters, take the ball apart if you cant return it and put it in her cage. Give her some paper towels and she will build a fantastic nest in the ball.  At least it wont be a total waste of money.  I wish petstores will stop selling those things! They are almost cruel to use in a way, because the animal becomes scared and tries to run, making the ball move, and the owner thinks the animal is having fun, but in reality they are scared to death inside it.  Her pooping in it shows she is scared to death in it, too.  

The best thing to do to keep her safe is to make a play area for her.  Check out my website and read about how to make a nice cardboard playpen wall and the rat cant climb smooth cardboard!!  You can make it as large as you want, big enough where her cage fits inside and also where YOU can sit in it with her and make her some toys to play with such as using cardboard boxes full of socks or toilet tissue! I love to give my rats a roll of toilet paper and watch them rip it all up.  Hide treats inside paper and watch her dig and play to get them.  Let her explore YOU and have her paws on things rather than be stuck in a plastic ball.  I promise you, she will become a happier more trusting pet. Check out my website for ideas on play time and remember, forget the ball. They are no good for rats or any small animal for that matter that likes to interact with humans.

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/gettingstarted.htm