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Do you have a pet rat? Would you like to introduce your pet rat to your other pets? Follow these tips to help introduce rats to your other pets.


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Steps

  1. Introduce Rats to Other Pets Step 1
    1
    Keep your rat/s away from any contact with your other pet/s until you introduce them, but be sure that they can smell each other.
  2. Introduce Rats to Other Pets Step 2
    2
    Select neutral ground. When you first introduce them to each other, make sure it's on neutral ground. Where neither of them own territory.
  3. Introduce Rats to Other Pets Step 3
    3
    Remove the rat if there is hostility. If they show hostility, immediately return them to where they were originally.


Tips

  • When introducing make sure that you do not make a fuss more than the other one and when introducing a new one make more fuss of the old one!
  • Make sure both pets are comfortable with you, and with you handling them
  • Certain dog breeds, especially those bred for hunting, will be more prone to chasing or hurting a rat.
  • If you can, try to wash them before they meet, so there is no strong scents coming from either of them
  • Make sure that you are in the right position and make sure that pet can't grab rat in split second and kill.
  • Always keep in mind that they may never warm up to each other
  • If they do not like each other, when you play with them, play with them separately, so they won't get stressed or jealous
  • Supervise them each time you introduce them
  • Never pick a rat up by its tail, as it can injure it.

Warnings

  • If the other pet is considered a hunting animal, it may consider your rat as prey
  • Don't punish your animals if they act hostile, they are just acting on instincts
  • Don't keep rabbits and rats in the same cage, rabbits carry bacteria called Bordetella that causes pneumonia in rats.
  • Rats may try to eat birds or other small animals

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Article Info

Categories: Stub | Mice and Rats

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