Rats suddenly scared of me?

[Venus_rat]

The other day my sugar glider died and I've noticed that my two girls have been trying their very best to stay away from me. Usually, they're all over me. But now every time I move even just a little, they run as fast as they can under their cage. Did I do something wrong? Do they blame me? Or are they grieving?? My girls hated my sugar glider so I don't understand.

 

[lilspaz68]

How old are your girls? How long have you had them?

 

[Venus_rat]

They'll be 1 in December. I've had them since they were 2 weeks old.

 

[jorats]

Did anything change in the room they live in? Like the sugar glider's home is gone? Some rats get spooked from the smallest things. BTW, I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Venus_rat]

Thank you, and yes. I did move the cage almost as soon as he passed because it was too hard to look at it empty. They're acting completely fine now thankfully.

 

[Goatram09]

Hi my rat of 10 months recently has been acting very scared and is refusing to be touched by my partner or myself!

He has been acting traumatised for over a week and still no sign of getting better. Whenever we try to go near him his fur spikes up and I can see his little heart starts racing, but I have no idea what started this?

Please does anyone have any advice?

 

[TheFatRatGirl]

Hi my rat of 10 months recently has been acting very scared and is refusing to be touched by my partner or myself!

He has been acting traumatised for over a week and still no sign of getting better. Whenever we try to go near him his fur spikes up and I can see his little heart starts racing, but I have no idea what started this?

Please does anyone have any advice?

Hiya,

Does your rat have a cagemate?

Are there any other pets in the house, especially new additions?

If not, then your rat could be in discomfort and so unwilling to be touched. Check for lump/bumps, excessive porphyrin from the eyes and nose; poor mobility in his limbs.

Remove him from his cage and handle him outside of it. If he does not puff up fur then this suggests he's exhibiting cage aggression. Could possibly have developed upon sexual maturity; rats with excessive testosterone and most prone.

 

[jorats]

Hi my rat of 10 months recently has been acting very scared and is refusing to be touched by my partner or myself!

He has been acting traumatised for over a week and still no sign of getting better. Whenever we try to go near him his fur spikes up and I can see his little heart starts racing, but I have no idea what started this?

Please does anyone have any advice?

Has there been any changes lately? New noise, changes in the room, new pets? I agree with what was said, your rat may be showing signs of discomfort. I'd bring him to a vet for a good check up. Also, I'd make sure he's not alone. Rats don't do well without a companion, they are a very social animal.

 

[Goatram09]

Hiya,

Does your rat have a cagemate?

Are there any other pets in the house, especially new additions?

If not, then your rat could be in discomfort and so unwilling to be touched. Check for lump/bumps, excessive porphyrin from the eyes and nose; poor mobility in his limbs.

Remove him from his cage and handle him outside of it. If he does not puff up fur then this suggests he's exhibiting cage aggression. Could possibly have developed upon sexual maturity; rats with excessive testosterone and most prone.

Thank you for replying! He was one of two male rats we bought at the same time.

No new additions or pets have been introduced, and no major changes to the cage have occurred to trigger this behaviour as far as I'm aware.

I think you might be on to something about the discomfort! I will take him to a vet asap.