Work Inside the Cage to Help Shy Rats Trust

Use the cage as a place to build trust with your rats. Assess for any cage-aggression first - that problem should be dealt with first and separately. (See "Working with Biting Rats" for ideas.) But if your rat is curious and shows relaxed body language, increase the trust with them using the cage areas.

All areas are useful: the cage door, the hammocks or boxes, the floor. Offer treats at the cage door. There you can encourage them to jump up to your shoulder. Back and forth, over and over. They'll learn to like your presence.

Scritch them inside the cage. Bring your hand and as much of your arm as possible, into the cage, and lay them on the floor, and let the rats explore you. Be passive. Become part of the cage.

If they are in a hammock,"knock on the door" by speaking softly to them, touch the hammock door, scritch it, wiggle the edge, and be sure you let them know you are there and wake them up softly. Then offer a treat from the outside. Make sure each rat gets her own treat. After you offer a few treats to each rat, they know you are there, they have sniffed you, and they show some interest, then slowly move your fingers inside and scritch whoever you encounter. Wait for them to sniff and lick you, then move a little more of your hand inside, and repeat the introduction process. Hang out inside for awhile, scritching each rat. They can become accustomed to you belonging there with them.

Bring your face and head inside the cage as far as possible and let them explore you. Lay your head on the door edge, whatever is most comfortable. Or, remain there uncomfortably, for the sake of your rats. :) Become one of the rats in their environment. All these activities will build trust with them and help them avoid becoming cage-defensive.