One of my rats absolutely refuses to go back in his cage?

Question

He has a friend as well as levels and loads of toys to have fun with in there, and I bring him out every day (I actually only got him and his brother less than a week ago, but he climbs all over me and falls asleep in my pockets, etc. so we've made some progress with one another. The thing is, he waits all day for me to come home from school and take him out to play (so far we've played in the bathroom and on my desk, which is wall to wall in my room so it's a pretty big space). When it's time to come out of hte cage he eagerly comes right up to me, I put him in my pocket, and we take a little stroll to one of the safe places I can let him out, but it is SUCH A PAIN to get him back in the cage. I usually give him a solid 1.5-2 hours to play (during the school week) outside his cage, but when I have to put him back he really puts up a fight about it. It's like he can tell when it's time to go back, because as soon as I pick him up then, he starts squirming and scratching a little (not enough to draw blood or anything) and then after I manage to get him in my pocket he chills out, but when we're next to his cage and I'm about to put him in, he digs his claws into my jacket when I try to pull him out and I end up having to yank him out forcefully (I don't hurt him or anything but there is a lot of resistance on his part).

Is there any way I can make this easier for both of us? I really can't supervise him running around all evening, but I do want both of them to have time playing outside. The other one doesn't do this so idk.


Thanks!

Answer 1

Treats are always your best friend when working with rats. You can:

Put him on the floor with a latter or something leading to the cage, with a treat or two outside the door, and a few more inside the door. This will teach him to associate his cage with food/yummy-ness, haha.

Or, you can hold a treat in front of him so he sniffs at it, and lure him into the cage that way. Pretty much, find a way to get him in with treats and in time, he'll just do it on his own.



Best of luck!

Answer 2

You could try putting him on your shoulder in another room, and then entering the room you keep their cage in and extending your arm with your hand on the nearest ledge, with something tasty in it to entice your ratty back inside. This worked wonders on my reluctant rattie! He is now four months old, and I no longer have to have a treat. I just lay my hand flat on the ledge and he runs from my shoulder into the cage like an obedient little angel. His brother never had an issue, but I have trained him to do the same thing. Not sure if this will work for you, but it is worth a try! Good luck!

Answer 3

Lol. I just read thus and started smiling. It sounds so cute. I'm sorry, I don't know how to answer ur question but I can imagine all this in my head and its just sooooooo cute and sweet. U should really appreciate that ur rat loves u sooo much. I wish my hamsters did that :D

Answer 4

Put a little peanut butter or cheese in the cage so we will go in easier and he might be eager to actuly go back in.