Rattastic

My ratties have never been keen on actually coming out - I always have to pick them up, but they enjoy being in the playpen. However, with my holiday and my sciatica, we stopped their morning routine. Now they run away when I try to catch them. Sometimes I can get one at a time and fuss them, but I hate stressing them for the morning run.

They love coming to the cage door - and half out - for treats, but just don't want to come right out - even into the pouch!

Any ideas?

just keep tempting them out with smelly food to get them confident and stroke them when come to the door.. should be better after that.

We're getting somewhere! They all come to the side of the cage very inquisitively and aren't jumping like they were after I scared them. If I put the pouch by the shelf, Ratina and Ratara are in very quickly and I've been having them out, although not for a proper free-range yet. Poppy puts her head in the pouch, but can't seem to find the courage to get in. Poppy is the 2-year-old that I rehomed. It's only since she went with the babies at the beginning of February that she's been as good as she is.

This afternoon I'll certainly have the youngsters in the playpen. The question is, do I pick Poppy up gently - as I always used to - none of them have ever come out voluntarily - or do I leave her behind?

It's lovely to see them asking either for food or to be let out!