I feel so sorry for Jack. He has always been a shy boy, preferring to hide under the blanket at playtime or in his bench sleeper in the cage, but since George and Jim died, he's practically launching himself out of the cage whenever I open the door. I think he's lonely.
Unfortunately he's also still showing signs of aggression even just smelling the other rats. Still, I'm holding out hope that maybe he'll warm up to one of the new guys. The first of the rehomes is scheduled to arrive Sunday...it's a long shot, because as far as I know the new rat has been alone all his life...but stranger things have happened.
Posted by Abita at April 26, 2006 08:11 PMAbita, if they have their cages side by side where they can see each other, does that help?
Posted by: Eanna at April 26, 2006 09:39 PMOh NO poor little jack...
I can understand how misserable he is losing his best buddies....
give him a scritch for us all
colleen
When Jack can see the other rats through the cage bars, he puffs up his fur, hisses at them, and tries to dig or bite through the bars! He did this when I forgot to put the cardboard between his cage and Bandit's (and even Bandit just kind of cocked his head and watched, as if to say "What is wrong with this psycho rat?"), and he did it when I moved him to a cage next to the girls. It's like he added George's attitude to his and became twice as territorial.
He's entirely sweet with me, as long as I haven't been cuddling other rats just before picking him up.
You know Abita, we are having the same thing happen with Georgie. He was always a rats rat preferring to associate only with Fig, but since Fig's passing he like to come out and spend time with me. He refuses to get along with any of the other rats, so he has his own "condo" and he watches TV with me. They have their own ideas and stand firm don't they?
Posted by: Poi Mom Jane at April 27, 2006 06:44 PMPoor little chap, I have the exact same problem with Baldrick and it is so heartbreaking