How To Calm Down A Rat
Rats can be very skittish creatures, and when they become agitated, it can be difficult to calm them down.
In this blog post, we will provide some tips on how to soothe a rat and get them back to their normal selves.
The steps you should take
First, try to make yourself as small as possible. crouch down or sit on the ground so that you are not looming over the rat. If the rat feels like it is in danger, it will only become more agitated.
Second, speak softly and calmly to the rat. Try to reassure it that you are not a threat.
Third, offer the rat some food. A piece of fruit or a nut can sometimes be enough to calm a rat down.
Fourth, try to provide the rat with some environmental enrichment. This can include hiding places, toys, and tunnels. A rat that has something to do is less likely to get worked up.
Finally, give the rat some time to calm down on its own. If you try to force it, the rat will only become more stressed. Rats are creatures that need time to adjust to new situations.
Why your rat is getting stressed
There are a number of reasons why your rat might be feeling stressed.
It could be that there is another animal in the house that is making it feel threatened.
It could also be that its cage is too small or doesn’t have enough hiding places.
Or, it could be that you have been handling it too much and it needs some time to itself.
Whatever the reason, it is important to try to figure out what is causing the rat’s stress so that you can avoid it in the future. Calming a rat down can be a challenge, but it is important to try.
These creatures are very delicate and can easily become sick if they are stressed for too long.
Can other rats help?
If you have more than one rat, it is possible that they can help to calm each other down. Rats are social creatures and often form close bonds with each other.
So, if one of your rats is feeling stressed, the others may be able to help calm it down. You can also try to introduce a new rat to the group.
Sometimes, a fresh face can help to take the focus off of the stressed rat and give it a chance to relax.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to calm down a rat, remember to stay calm yourself. Approach the rat slowly and speak to it in a soft, reassuring voice. Offer it some food, and hopefully, it will soon be calm.
Do you have any tips on how to calm down a rat?
Let us know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
We get asked — pet rat food FAQ
What should make up most of a rat’s diet?
About 80% lab block (Mazuri, Oxbow Regal Rat, Envigo Teklad) or a high-quality multi-grain rat mix, and 20% fresh toppings — vegetables, small fruit pieces, lean protein. About 15-20g of base food per rat per day (one heaped tablespoon).
Are rats really omnivores?
Yes — closer to a small dog than a guinea pig. They need protein (cooked chicken, egg, mealworms a few times a week), tolerate dairy in small amounts, and handle cooked grains and most cooked vegetables. The big exceptions are the citrus-peel issue for male rats and the carbonated-drinks issue (rats can’t burp).
Which signs send me to a vet?
- Red or brown crust around eyes/nose (porphyrin — stress or illness)
- Wheezing, sneezing more than once a day (mycoplasma flare-up)
- Lumps anywhere, especially in older females (mammary tumours)
- Hind-leg dragging or weakness in older males (HLD)
- Head tilt (middle-ear infection)
- Not eating for 8+ hours
Related reading
- The complete pet rat care guide
- Master food safety table
- Cross-species toxic foods reference
- RSPCA UK — Rat welfare standards
Portion sizes & serving rules
Rats are tiny, so portion sense matters. The standard fresh-topping serving for a single adult rat is roughly one teaspoon. With a trio that’s a tablespoon total. Anything larger and they cache the rest, often leaving it to spoil in a hammock corner. Removing uneaten fresh food after a few hours saves cleaning time later.
Our 80/20 split: ~80% lab block / quality rat mix, ~20% fresh toppings. The toppings should rotate through proteins, veg, and the occasional fruit treat. Two protein meals a week (cooked egg or chicken or mealworms) keep muscle tone up, especially in older rats.
Male vs female food sensitivities
One genuine sex-specific issue: d-limonene, the compound in citrus peel, is metabolised into a kidney-toxic metabolite in male rats. Female rats handle it without harm. Tiny amounts of orange flesh are fine for both — but no peel, ever, for males, and to keep it simple we avoid citrus across all our rats.
Older males (over 18 months) also benefit from higher-protein, lower-fat toppings as they trend toward muscle loss. Older females need closer monitoring for mammary lumps, which respond well to early surgery.
Enrichment-feeding ideas
- Pea fishing — frozen peas in a shallow dish of water
- Mealworm scatter in a dig box of shredded paper
- Treat ball with dry mix to puzzle out
- Smear of peanut butter on a cardboard tube interior
- Yogurt dot on a flat plate — they lap it like cats
Warning signs after a new food
- Soft or runny stool within 24 hours
- Excessive thirst (especially after sugary fruit)
- Reduced appetite for normal food
- Lethargy or hiding behaviour change
- Porphyrin (red/brown crusty) around eyes or nose — stress flag
Most issues resolve in 24 hours when the suspect food is removed. Anything persisting longer than a day, or symptoms that worsen, is a vet call. Full warning list in our complete rat care guide.
Page last updated 17 May 2026. We re-check our pet-care content regularly and update when something changes.
