kaytee
Member
I have an almost-2yo male (neutered), Zeke, whose cagemate died at the beginning of July. He was pretty stressed and needy after this. I adopted two new baby boys a few weeks ago, did a 2-week quarantine, then did some introductions. There was never any aggression during the intros--not even a whole lot of interest or attention on any of their parts.
So on Friday evening I tried them out in the same cage... did a full clean, put them in to the empty cage... everything was fine. Added some more gear, still good... a few minor pinnings, but no squeaks, nothing that raised any flags, so I let them all stay.
Yesterday Zeke seemed a little stressed... I chalked it up to the newness of having crazy babies flying around the cage all the time. One of the babies crawls over him and urine marks but again nothing major.
So today, Zeke seemed like he had completely given up. He stuck himself in a corner and wouldn't move. Stopped cleaning himself. I was still hoping he'd come around but after supper I found him sitting in his litter box, all puffed up and shivering. I removed him and he stinks of urine and just seems... not himself. Poor little dude. So I haven't put him back in with them, he's out with me, and I'm guessing he should be put on his own again, but... what gives? There was no aggression that I could see. Is this something he just needs to get over? How do I give him enough exposure to them to become familiar without stressing him?
So on Friday evening I tried them out in the same cage... did a full clean, put them in to the empty cage... everything was fine. Added some more gear, still good... a few minor pinnings, but no squeaks, nothing that raised any flags, so I let them all stay.
Yesterday Zeke seemed a little stressed... I chalked it up to the newness of having crazy babies flying around the cage all the time. One of the babies crawls over him and urine marks but again nothing major.
So today, Zeke seemed like he had completely given up. He stuck himself in a corner and wouldn't move. Stopped cleaning himself. I was still hoping he'd come around but after supper I found him sitting in his litter box, all puffed up and shivering. I removed him and he stinks of urine and just seems... not himself. Poor little dude. So I haven't put him back in with them, he's out with me, and I'm guessing he should be put on his own again, but... what gives? There was no aggression that I could see. Is this something he just needs to get over? How do I give him enough exposure to them to become familiar without stressing him?