With special thanks to Katherine Milligan
Rats are super social animals… very similar to humans. (Well, except for me, where my idea of fun is staying at home all nights of the week while eating a whole bag of Doritos by myself, followed by two packs of Ramen noodles and binging Criminal Minds on Netflix. Just to remind you, this is a no-judgment zone.) And because rats are super social animals, generally, it’s pretty safe to say that they like to live with other rat friends. However, suppose they weren't together from the beginning of their young rat lives. In that case, introductions still need to be done with supervision and care. Therefore, we’re going to walk you through how to introduce a new rat to another.
Is it possible to introduce rats who have always lived alone?
The answer is yes, it’s definitely possible. However, understand that positive introductions and bonding aren't always guaranteed; not every rat is willing to accept a new friend. But seriously… don't be discouraged by this. Many rats (especially if they’re younger) will happily settle down with a BFF if you take the right steps and make a proper introduction.
Take it slow...really!
We think it’s fab that you want to give your rat a friend and bring another little one into your home. But, here, we’ve gotta think what they’re thinking. Turn the tables. Time to think like a rat.
You may like other people, but just because you like 'em doesn't mean you wanna be forced to start living with someone you've never met.
Same with the rat that's being introduced. I wouldn’t want someone to just drop me off at someone’s house and say, "you're here to stay, bye." What a traumatic experience.
When you introduce a new rat to another, we want it to be a pawsitive experience, so follow our steps for success.
Step 1: Healthy rats
Before you bring home a new rattie, have your trusted exotic vet perform a wellness exam on your current baby. Then, do the same on the new addition. However, even though your vet has pronounced him "safe," quarantining is a must! Keep the new friend away from your rat for 14 days and watch for signs of any illness. In particular, red nasal discharge is a sign of respiratory disease.
Step 2: Fences make good neighbors
Have you heard the saying, “Fences make good neighbors?” It works for ratties too! To start the introduction, place their enclosures side by side, but not close enough they can reach each other. Try this setup for a week, but you’ll want to watch for any aggression and hissing.
Step 3: Understanding normal dominance vs. aggression
When you're ready for the ratties to meet, it's essential to know the difference between usual dominance compared to aggression. You might even hear the submissive rat make little whispering noises that mean they are waving the white flag. This is entirely ok.
Normal Dominance | Aggression |
|---|---|
Pinning | Loud squeak/scream |
Grooming | Hissing |
Chasing | Pulling other rat's hair out |
| Bites that draw blood |
| Tail swinging (like cats) |
Step 4: Introductions in neutral territory with snacks
While you probably don’t live in Switzerland, neutral territory MUST exist. Think back: dropping a stranger off at your house? Yeah, not neutral territory. It's highly likely that if there's no neutral territory, a huge fight will be underway. Therefore, you need to find a space that neither rat sees as their stomping ground. You’ll also want to wear work gloves or an Ove Glove to protect your hands if you need to break up a fight. Finally, we know that “M&Ms make friends." Therefore, providing some delicious snacks to help them bond. We can definitely recommend a few yummy varieties!
Examples of neutral territory
- A brand-spankin’ new cage is a good option. But remember to remove all toys, etc.… if a fight does break out, you're going to need to get in there lightning fast.
- A bathtub. But again, it absolutely MUST be big enough for you to either get in quickly or get the rats easily if something goes wrong. Also, be sure to line the tub with towels, so they have traction.
FYI, introductions likely aren’t going to happen with the snap of your finger… they're going to take several days. Just because your rats may not fight day one absolutely does not mean they're not going to fight on day two, or three, or four. You get the picture.
Once you've decided on neutral territory, place the two rats together and observe, observe, observe. Do not take your eyes off of them. Not even for a second. (It's ok to blink, though. We get it.)
A few minutes of together time on day one is fantastic. Don't overdo it. If it goes well, repeat the session on day two, maybe even twice. Every day after, gradually increase time spent together.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DON'T FORCE THEM TOGETHER
Sometimes it’s just not meant to be, or they need more time. Don’t rush it.
Step 5: The big move
If you feel right, and everything is smooth sailing after a few weeks of introductions, congrats… it’s time for rat roommate status. But again, you need to be cautious here.
An ideal scenario is a new cage where neither rat has lived. If you can't provide one, get busy scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing the old one; it absolutely needs to seem and smell brand-spankin’ new. Or, there's potential that the rat who used to live there will try to defend his old territory. You'll also want to re-arrange the cage interior, so it's "new" to both. Change the water and food locations, wash and move the sleeping hammocks, add new toys, etc. You get the idea.
Remember, the cage needs to be large enough for both rats to live comfortably and sleep separately. If they want to. But honestly? If you introduce them properly and successfully, they're gonna be snuggled up together soon. So adorable. But the snuggling up is much more likely if they both feel safe and secure in their space.
Precautions
Regardless of just how careful you are with the introduction, it’s never without risk. Either rat has the potential to harm the other. This risk seriously grows if there’s a significant size difference between the two, especially if one rat is significantly older than the other. If this is the care, wait until the young rat is big enough to stand up for himself.
We're thrilled that you want a pal for your rat. And you’re obviously a caring, loving pet parent. But remember, when you introduce a new rat to another, older rats who have always lived alone will probably be much more set in their ways and say "no way." But it IS possible. With cautious introductions, your rat can grow to love his new roomie and start enjoying a much more social life. Which is what they like, anyway.
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