Young uns being shy

The babies have been really shy and skittish since we got back. they will come and sniff my hand and let me stroke them but wont be picked up and will back away and hide if I try and get them out of the cage.

Theo was like this when he was young but it was consistent, not like this which has come on suddenly. I dont know if it's a normal reaction to them not being handled much for the 2 weeks or whether it's because of losing their cage mates as well as the stress of us going away and having strange people come in. I know that I took Switch out of the cage and he never came back - could this have scared them?

Basically I want to know if this is normal or not

Hmm... usually, even if I go away, mine are grand with me when I get back :/ I wonder if something has scared them?

Just keep working at it, hopefully it won't take long for them to come round, keep taking them out whether they like it or not, and spending extra time with them, just cuddling on the sofa or whatever

xx

They're on the sofa with me now

Maybe I'll get the rat bag out again

They missed you,lots of Katherine cuddles and theyl be fine

Yeah I think it's the way to go I'll get them out again when I go to bed. Little and often they'll learn to not be scared of me.... I do wonder what could have spooked them then

This has happened to mine a few times before, once when we've been away for a weekend and two or three times when I haven't even left the house! I don't know what possibly could have spooked mine, but for days they'd be terrified of me and wouldn't want to come out for free range or anything! They always came around after a few days though.

Oh that's good to know, They were better today

Isambard's ok but Septimus is worse today Had him out twice and he seemed frantic to get back to his cage both times, even though I took him away from it. I put him back in the end because he seemed distressed. Could it be because I'd been handling the cat earlier?

I don't know... it's very odd indeed! :/ it's very very rare I see this with bucks, it's mostly does who get mad skittish weeks. Also, odd that even with the extra work he's getting worse :/ it might be that he's scared of the cat smell...

xx

I will try a change of clothes next time and see if he gets any better - after all maybe he was scared by the cat getting into the room while I was away

OK more weirdness - everything seems to come at once I've been picking them up now before I feed them - so they have to come to me and be picked up to get their dinner (and a treat). Septimus is totally fine with it. He comes straight up and makes no fuss, and now Isambard is weird and I practically have to chase him round the cage to get him - it's like he's terrified of me. They both sat happily in the rat bag last night but Septimus let me stroke him while I fed him treats and Isambard didn't. On the other hand Isambard is really happy to come and explore my hand if I just leave it in the cage without touching him. I've tried wearing non catty clothes too, seems to make no difference. It's very odd.

I can't explain it at all! :/ my only guess would be something about the environment that's really knocked them for 6 :/ but I can't think what!

xx

And yesterday...... All better again. No idea WHAT that was about

Just to keep you on your toes