A few weeks ago we looked into how best to tame rabbits showing aggressive behaviour, so this week we’re going to tell you all about the best way to encourage your furry rodent friends to be sociable. Young rats are usually very easy to get used to handling and human interaction, but older rats can often be very wary and may even bite if they feel particularly threatened. This can differ between male and female rats; male rats are much more likely to be aggressive.

If they come from a good breeder, baby rats will be well socialised before they are sent off to new owners or to pet stores, however, this isn’t always the case and some rats are just naturally fearful. The best thing to remember with young rats or older rats, is no sudden movements. Rats, like a lot of animals, are easily spooked by sharp movement so always remember to be slow and careful. If your new rat/rats don’t automatically run to you for attention, allow them to get used to the new cage first before attempting to handle.

First of all, very slowly put your hand into the cage, near to but not right beside your rat. If they don’t run for cover, very slowly move closer until you are touching their fur and if this still causes no reaction, gently stroke the top of their head. It’s best to avoid stroking anywhere else on their body at first as this can startle them! If you repeat this process until they seem comfortable with it – not very tense and on edge – then you can move onto the next step.

Some rats just don’t enjoy being held. If this step doesn’t work, you have to just accept that. First of all, now they are comfortable with being stroked and petted, very gently lift your rat – don’t move them, just place them down again. When they seem happy with this, move them around the cage, gradually increasing the amount of time your rat is in your hands. Once this step is complete, try removing them from the cage and see how they react. If they show signs of stress, don’t try to hold them tighter, just let them hop back into the cage and repeat the process as many times as necessary.

A good way to build up trust between you and your rat is by hand feeding. Try treats or normal food. Babies are usually relcutant to take food, purely because they’re unsure what it is. They might nibble it a little to test and and seem otherwise disinterested, but once they get used to you, they will probably snatch it from your fingers the second they see it!

We understand what it’s like when you decide you’re going to get a new pet for yourself or for the family. It conjures the image of Christmas morning, the kids coming down to an adorable bundle of fluffiness raring for love and attention. Sadly, not many of you are even aware that there are thousands of pets that are either abandoned or given away that desperately seek new homes and new families to care for them. To say we are a nation of animal lovers, there has been a steady rise in abandoned pets over the past couple of years with owners offering myriad unjustifiable and often utterly bizarre excuses for the neglect and cruelty of their animals, anything from ‘my dog hurts my leg when he wags his tail’ to ‘my cat doesn’t match my carpet’

The recession hasn’t helped matters, and a staggering number of pet owners can no longer cope with the cost of keeping an animal. Thankfully, not all of these individuals will leave their poor pooch or cute kitten on the side of the road and they will do the right thing and take them to the RSPCA, but there is still the problem of finding them new homes.

The common misconception is that animals that have been left with the RSPCA have behavioural problems that make them aggressive and unpredictable, but this is not true. Many larger pets like cats and dogs find themselves in the hands of the RSPCA simply because their owner couldn’t afford to keep them any longer, or worse, because they have been mistreated and abused. It’s not just cats and dogs that find themselves in need of new homes, though. Various pet shops around the country provide a specific area that is exclusively for pets that have had previous owners and are in dire need of a new one. Rats, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals are often overlooked because they’ve grown up and no longer have the more appealing appearance of a baby. These animals are the ones that need a home more than any of the others. A life spent in a small cage in a pet shop without anyone to give them the attention they deserve is no life at all, so think twice before you decide to buy a baby. The chances are, a puppy, a kitten or any other young animal is destined to find a home very easily, but an older animal needs one more. Have a heart. They can’t take care of themselves…

Sonic the Hedgehog fans might have a distorted view of everyday hedgehogs.  Contrary to popular belief, the life of a hedgehog does not revolve around rings and gemstones and, sadly, they don’t get to befriend grumpy echidnas in their time of need. Wild hedgehogs are neither electric blue, cocky nor particularly speedy, but a specially bred mammal known as the African pygmy hedgehog can make a wonderfully fascinating, unusual and loving pet. At just a quarter of the size of a wild hedgehog, the pygmy hedgie can live between 3-6 years and will often weigh between 12-18 ounces. They normally arrive in chocolate brown colours, but there are also albino varieties that often have ruby-red eyes.

Believe it or not, the waiting list for one of these cuties can be up to a year! On the plus side, they are 100% domesticated and completely free from diseases, tics and fleas. Much like their rodent friends the rats, pygmy hedgehogs love to be handled and providing they are given enough care, love and attention from a young age, will grow up to be very cuddly, affectionate little prickle-puffs. They are also relatively easy pets to keep. They need a decent sized enclosure to run around in (something around the size of a rabbit hutch) as these spiky little critters are fond of exercise. You also need to provide them with plenty of toys and ensure you give them a wheel to run in – they can run up to 8 miles in a single night! Maybe they’re speedier than we first thought…

Their diet is simple and easy, too. They are carnivorous creatures and so need to be fed a delicious variety of meat; cat food, chicken, turkey and mince. Beware, though! Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so never give them fatty cows milk. Pygmy hedgehogs also need to be kept in a warm environment, otherwise they are likely to start hibernating!

Unfortunately, the African pygmy hedgehog is likely to set you back anywhere between £100 to £200 pounds, but as far as we’re concerned, they’re worth every penny.