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Rat Introductions

© Karen Yang

Now that you've fallen victim to the rattie conspiracy, others will doubtless be joining your household. Introducing one rat to another can sometimes be a tricky thing to do. Here are some tips to help the process go smoothly.

Quarantine your new rats for 2-3 weeks

I know it's very tempting to see how everyone gets along right away, but if the new rats are sick, you don't want to spread a nasty bug to your old rats. Waiting for about 2-3 weeks gives you a chance to evaluate the health of your new rats and also gives them a chance to adjust to your home and habits without dealing with new cagemates as well.

Introduce them on neutral ground

Rats can be very territorial animals, so by introducing them somewhere they don't feel is theirs works best. Take them both to a room where they don't go often and put them together somewhere they can't hide from you, but where they have space to run away from each other if they feel threatened. A bed with a blanket mountain in the middle provides them both a place to hide from each other and play together and is a small enough area where you can reach them quickly if they need separating.

Watch how they interact with each other. One rat will usually play a dominant role and will attempt to boss the other rat around. If one grooms or flips the other rat, watch to see how the one on the receiving end reacts. If they submit without a fuss, chances are it'll work out. Try repeating these meetings for a few days before you move them in together, and afterwards keep an eye on them for a day or so. If one or both rats try to bite or kick the other or one or both start screaming and running away, things are going to take a long time to work out, and they may never be friends. It may be worth trying to introduce them again, but if one is getting too hurt or scared, it's not worth it, and you may as well give up. If they both start playing with and grooming each other, you're off to a very good start and they can move in with each other immediately - just keep an eye on them for a few days to make sure they still like each other. If the two rats completely ignore each other, they need more time in this stage. It may take a week or so of visiting on neutral ground before they get brave enough to interact with each other.