I've recently bought two young rats to be company for my one and a half year-old, who's been pining for her companion. They're all female.

For the last week they've been kept in two cages next to each other so that they can get used to each other's scent, and we're hoping to let them meet properly later this week, ideally they'll end up sharing the same cage.

Has anyone else introduced new rats? Is there anything I should look out for, or avoid doing? I'm not going to just chuck them all in together, but not sure how to tell they're ready to share a cage.

Thanks in advance!

I'm glad you've asked this, Knitbird! Thanks, I was going to post the same question.

I have two new rats coming this weekend, and, at first I plan to house them seperately, till I can start to introduce them to each other, then, hopefully, I can put all four in together (they will be all boy rats, BTW, as I DON'T intend to have mixed pairings! :nono: ) .

I look forward to hearing the advice of the more experienced rat-wranglers on here.

It is generally pretty easy to introduce baby rats to adult rats as the older rats don't see them as posing a threat to their status in the cage. There are exceptions obviously but with female rats particularly I wouldn't be too worried!

Let them meet outside the cage in a neutral area and you will probably find that they all totally ignore each other for the first 5 minutes. My biggest tip would be to try and let them get on with it, baby rats are utter drama queens and you've probably heard your two squealing at each other like they're being murdered when they are play fighting. They will be no different when they meet your older rat!

There will be a lot of mounting each other and a few scraps and a lot of "mum! mum! she's picking on me!" squeaking but they do need to figure it out and put each other in their places. It makes you feel horrible to watch them but they really are unlikely to do each other any major injury.

If you notice them beginning to get stressed (puffing themselves up a lot and hissing at each other are generally signs of aggression) then put them back in their respective cages and give them a chance to calm down, then give it another go the next day.

You can let your older girl have a sniff around in the babies cage too if you want. When you think they are ready to go in together thoroughly clean out whichever cage they will all be going into and give it a bit of rearranging so it feels new to whoever was living there before. If your older girl has an igloo or anything that she's possessive of then I'd suggest taking it out for the first few days. Then put them in together when you have a few spare hours to keep an eye on them and be prepared for yet more squeaking :D


Good luck!

I'm glad you've asked this, Knitbird! Thanks, I was going to post the same question.

I have two new rats coming this weekend, and, at first I plan to house them seperately, till I can start to introduce them to each other, then, hopefully, I can put all four in together (they will be all boy rats, BTW, as I DON'T intend to have mixed pairings! :nono: ) .

I look forward to hearing the advice of the more experienced rat-wranglers on here.

Your baby boys could do with a nip or two as they are rather full of themselves right now, one of them is wearing my rice pudding:suspect:

It's not a difficult process they will soon sort out who's boss and settle together.
In the past I've had them out of the cage together first for an hour or so at a time and then moved it so they are spending there hour in each others cages. After a week they're usually settled enough with each other to leave permanently.

Oh, dear, my boys, being naughty already, and they aren't even here with me, for me to be a bad influence on them! :hihi:

The lads got a corn cob hanging treat thingie from me, yesterday, and have been going absolutely bananas for it! lol

Purball said it all really! They are little drama queens but introducing babies is usually very easy, they know their place. There will be some squeaking, some pinning, some boxing which can be alarming to watch but a good rule of thumb is no blood no foul. If you're concerned, get the ironing water spray so you can use it to break up a fight - but only use it if there really is fur flying, it's easy to give a quick squirt than it is to use your hands but I honestly doubt it will come to that. I've never even bothered with 2 cages, just popped them together and let them sort hte pecking order out.

I think the worse thing you can do is put them together and then take them apart and together and apart again when they are getting on just fine - in my opnion and experience that can get them stressed as they have to cover the same ground over and over again. I know some advocate this but it is different for all rats. However - if they are getting stressed and hissing as Purball has said you may need to do this, but it's unlikely with baby rats. It's common sense really - if all is well, let them get on with it.

Clean the cage, introduce on neutral territory have some food and treats ready and stay relaxed:)

*ponders feeding the girls rice pudding* :hihi:

Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes. So far they've just been sniffing each other through the cage bars, and seemed more interested than angry.

Wish me luck for the first proper introductions!

Hopefully it'll get more spring in the step of the older one, she's not been quite the same since her sister died.

Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes. So far they've just been sniffing each other through the cage bars, and seemed more interested than angry.

Wish me luck for the first proper introductions!

*luck*

You'll be fine, bless you - anxious ratty mom :D

Piccies please! :love:

The lads got a corn cob hanging treat thingie from me, yesterday, and have been going absolutely bananas for it! lol
Corn cob...top idea!
That's going on the shopping list! :thumbsup:

Hopefully it'll get more spring in the step of the older one, she's not been quite the same since her sister died.

Earlier in the year I lost one of my girls which left two behind, one of whom developed a tumour on her chin that unfortunately couldn't be removed fully. She was really depressed and I ummed and ahhed about introducing two babies in case it upset her and made her worse (but I knew I had to because she was on limited time and that would leave my other girl on her own)

I waited a while and finally introduced two baby girls and the change in my poorly rat was absolutely amazing. She went from sleeping all the time and looking miserable to bouncing around the cage like a loon, it really gave her her spark back. Sadly she did succumb to the tumour but it had the same effect on my other older rat. Talia is now coming up to three years old and you wouldn't think it, the babies keep her on her toes :D

Would I be able to introduce some babies to my daughters one year old female rat she has been on her own since she was given my daughter by a relative last xmas but I really think she needs some companionship but I am worried she may have been too long on her own now?

Would I be able to introduce some babies to my daughters one year old female rat she has been on her own since she was given my daughter by a relative last xmas but I really think she needs some companionship but I am worried she may have been too long on her own now?

Yes, she'll be just fine with some company. Ratties are very social creatures, you will probably find it breaths a whole new lease of life into her! In fact, I'm sure there's a lady on here looking to rehome her two young rats, I'll find the link. Also theres:
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community/viewforum.php?f=61
There's girlies there looking for loving forever homes.

As for introductions, there's best done on neutral territory (where you other rat hasn't been recently, but a safe place. Here you can let the girlies all meet each other, they will hump, pin, box and squeak like little drama queens but there's already been some excellent intro advice in this thread! Best of luck to you, I'm sure you'll find the right ladies for you and make your current rat very happy that she has someone to snuggle up to:love:

Yes, she'll be just fine with some company. Ratties are very social creatures, you will probably find it breaths a whole new lease of life into her! In fact, I'm sure there's a lady on here looking to rehome her two young rats, I'll find the link. Also theres:
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community/viewforum.php?f=61
There's girlies there looking for loving forever homes.

As for introductions, there's best done on neutral territory (where you other rat hasn't been recently, but a safe place. Here you can let the girlies all meet each other, they will hump, pin, box and squeak like little drama queens but there's already been some excellent intro advice in this thread! Best of luck to you, I'm sure you'll find the right ladies for you and make your current rat very happy that she has someone to snuggle up to:love:

Thanks for the advice I think we may have found a companion from one of the other forummers already.

We love our little Princess (as she is called) to bits but I just think what we would be like without any one to talk to so she must be lonely without other ratties.

Thanks for the advice I think we may have found a companion from one of the other forummers already.

We love our little Princess (as she is called) to bits but I just think what we would be like without any one to talk to so she must be lonely without other ratties.

Aww that's great news, there's nothing like being greeted by the site of a rat-pile, they always look so snuggly! :love:

I'm sure Princess will be very pleased with her companion, it will give her a whole new lease of life!

Well, mojo brought my new boys round, this morning, and they are just adorable!

I didn't realise they were Dumbo rats, with the slightly different ears, till I looked closely.

I'm smitten!

Awwww, I love dumbo rats:love: Only the fat Hex is dumbo, the other 4 tykes are top eared - strangely Hex is the only one who's ever ripped her ear in an over enthuastic fight :rolleyes:

Errr, PT - where are the pictures? Hmmm? You can't post about cuteness without pictures, it's not allowed!

I need to get the hang of connecting the cameraphone to the PC, and extracting the photos, first lol. I've got the cable and can now connect the two, it's a matter of getting the pics downloaded.

I need to get the hang of connecting the cameraphone to the PC, and extracting the photos, first lol. I've got the cable and can now connect the two, it's a matter of getting the pics downloaded.

*taps foot impatiently* :hihi:

Well, mojo brought my new boys round, this morning, and they are just adorable!

I didn't realise they were Dumbo rats, with the slightly different ears, till I looked closely.

I'm smitten!

They've not trashed the place yet then?:hihi::hihi:

I'm so glad your smitten, the other boys went today aswell and most of the girls are going next weekend. The boys were a little on the young side but were starting to express an interest in mum:hihi: so they had to go:(.

Yes, mojo, i'm really struck on them, they are a lot friendlier than the other two, they don't seem to like being handled as much.

I must get the hang of the camera and cable.

Did you know they liked Cheesy Wotsits, mojo? I thought I'd treat myself, and have a packet with my tea.... hmmm! "Ooh, yeah, mum, we like these!"

....snarfed!!

Intorduced the little ones today. A few small squeaks but no trouble at all, they took to each other immediately.

Whether this is because they've had a couple of weeks to get used to each others scent or not I don't know. Currently all tangled up and asleep together in the same tunnel. Pictures will follow once they're out and stand still long enough!

Yay, glad it went well and they're all snuggled up together :love: