Zumbador

Dash and Rose are bored and looking to be entertained.

I had to separate my mischief into two cages because the 3 new sisters are just too tough and boisterous for my 3 older rats. Especially Saffy, who's quite fragile and almost completely blind, they gang up on her, poor little thing!

I don't have space for two big cages, so I got one new small cage, and they have to take turns in the big cage. This morning the sisters are in the smaller cage and they're frustrated.

I'll let them play on the sofa just now, we've got a game where they chase a straw around, and take breaks to groom me.

I am, apparently, an absolute mess, the amount of thorough and systematic grooming I require.

#rats #ratstodon #PetsOfMastodon #RatsOfMastodon #RatsOfTheFedi

Apr 6, 2024 at 7:03amWeb
Show threadocnurbApr 6, 2024

@Zumbador I'm just going through something similar; one of my older boys is being bullied by the younger ones, and I'm going to have to split them up by age so he has company. It feels like a failure as the point of getting the younger ones was to keep the older ones company!

I'll be letting the non-bullied older one free roam with the younger ones to try reducing problems with any future reintegration. How about you, any such plans or thoughts?

Show threadZumbadorApr 6, 2024

@ocnurb My situation is exactly the same. I got the younger ones because I thought my Saffy needed company, and I felt terribly guilty when they decided to bully her.

I have been trying to get them to socialise during free roam, which worked at first, but since I separated them, they are actually MORE aggressive when they meet, which makes sense, as by separating them I turned them into rival groups.

I realise now that I should have gotten one baby rat, which would have been easier to integrate than 3 adults! So that's my learning curve.

It's confusing because I think if I were to ask Saffy, her answer would differ from moment to moment. When she's sleeping with them in the rat pile, she'd say "I wanna be with my sisters forever!" but when they're all three chasing her and beating her up, she'd say "OMG please save me and put me somewhere safe where these monsters can never find me again!"

So I have to just do my best with my inadequate human understanding.

Show threadocnurbApr 6, 2024

@Zumbador it is very difficult watching rat behaviours like this and accepting it's just their way.

I'm having thoughts about castration too as the new bits are showing bites. I suspect it wouldn't fix the bullying as part of the behaviour is learned. My bullied boy is not well and his brother was always the tough one so I'm looking ahead and making plans based on life expectancy, which isn't nice.

Sorry that Saffy is having to deal with this, and you.

Show threadZumbadorApr 6, 2024

@ocnurb

I had all my boys neutered. I believe it made a big difference to their behaviour.

The rescue group I got them from is very keen on all the rats they deal with getting neutered.

Show threadocnurbApr 6, 2024
@Zumbador thanks for that, it's an unknown for me still.
Show threadClarissaApr 6, 2024

@Zumbador @ocnurb What would happen if you did NOT separate them by age but instead put one of the young sisters with Saffy? (I assume you don’t wanna separate the sisters because they are close, but might this break up the group dynamics?)

If it makes you feel better, I made exactly the same mistake - got a second cat so mine wouldn’t be alone when I left the house, and they never got on. (I know, cats solitary unlike rats. But he grew up as a pair and had serious separation anxiety.)

Show threadocnurbApr 6, 2024
@clarissawam @Zumbador for my boys, I have considered that but it appears that all of the younger boys are bullying the unwell older one.
Show threadClarissaApr 6, 2024
@ocnurb @Zumbador Oh ☹️
Show threadZumbadorApr 6, 2024

@clarissawam @ocnurb

I did think about that and tried it for a bit but I wasn't sure how stressful it was for them. The quietest of the sisters, who might work for this, is also the most anxious and I don't know how that would work out.

I don't feel confident enough in my ability to read rat body language to judge these things!

Show threadClarissaApr 6, 2024
@Zumbador @ocnurb I see.
Show threadLooking for explanations…Apr 6, 2024

@Zumbador

I’m glad you’re being well looked after. 😁