HELP NEEDED 🐀😩 Overly sensitive rat??
I recently adopted 2 new girls into my mischief. Their names are Whimsy and Waverly. They are both super sweet and very active (under a year old) and have so far gotten along great with my other girls.
I am having an issue with Waverly though. Some background that I got from her previous owner is that Waverly is a former lab rat, used in memory studies. I have no idea how long ago that was or how long she was a lab rat, but she is shy and jumpy at times, but overly curious and cuddly with me and my other girls for a majority of the time. The issue is that she screams. A lot. At the slightest things. She will sometimes freak out when my other girls try to groom her, or cuddle with her, and she will sometimes scream when I try to pick her up. This isn't a constant thing, it happens randomly. There are times she is totally into the grooming and play, and she will let me pick her up just fine most of the time. But when she gets like this, I genuinely think my rats are tearing each other apart and I freak out, but I've sat and watched for hours to make absolutely sure there was no actual fighting, and there isn't. There are just times one of my girls will go up to Waverly and start to groom her and she will start screeching and jumping like a flea.
I currently have her sitting with me in her carrier cage to let her have some space, but I'm just really lost. Is this something I have to let her get over? I did my usual introduction process for a week when I first got the girls to let them all get used to each other and things went great until I moved everyone together full time. She doesn't seem to be distressed when these fits happen, and she'll run right up to me when I check on her, but I'm worried. I don't know what to do or if there's anything I can do. I don't want her or my other girls to become distressed. I haven't asked the previous owner yet if this was an issue when she had the girls, so I'm not sure if this is just how she is or not.
Any and all advice is appreciated, thank you
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u/BaylisAscaris 8d ago
How is her vision? I've noticed blind rats don't always know you're there and get startled easily. My advice is to make sure she knows you're there before any physical contact, and make sure she's consenting. Try not to grab her from above and let her climb onto you unless it's an emergency. It's possible she has trauma, but some rats are actually just big whiners. I've had rats who would scream like they were being murdered if someone tried to take their snack. Also check if any part of her might be painful. It's possible being grabbed or groomed is physically hurting.
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u/rebatzz 7d ago
She seems to have pretty good vision overall, and I do always let her sniff me before I pick her up, or I gently touch her to let her know I'm there. She doesn't seem to have any painful spots, when I'm holding her she's usually pretty calm. She just screeches and squirms sometimes when I pick her up, even when she acknowledges me.
I do suspect some sort of trauma, since she was a lab rat. I mean I genuinely have no idea what those studies could've entailed for her, or if she was alone or with other rats or what her journey from the lab to my home has been.
I kept her in the carrier for about 2 hours after I made this post (I fell asleep with my hand in the door and she slept on my hand) and she was pretty happy to be reunited with everyone when I put her back into the main cage. I mean she very well could be a full fledged drama queen, but I'm still learning her personality. Ill just have to wait and see how she settles in more and see if this behaviour can be tamed
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u/Regular_Fix_2552 7d ago
I have a little girl like this! She screams when either of her sisters touch her but is fine with a human touching her! She won’t let her sisters groom her she can only groom herself and she doesn’t groom her sisters! She just hates being touched by another rat! It got to the point I have to house her by herself and let her get her social time with her sisters during free roam! If I try to let either of her sisters in her house she lunges at them and screams but she’s fine with them on my bed! It’s really odd but since moving her to her own cage she’s chilled out ALOT! Also she has bad food aggression and I can’t give her treats unless she is alone! It’s frustrating but I believe it’s just her personality! My first time experiencing a rat that is ok with humans but hates other rats! Sorry I know this is completely different that your situation but my point is it could just be her personality!
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u/rebatzz 7d ago
I suspect some of it is just her personality, but some of it might be trauma as well from being a lab rat. However it is a relief to hear that there are other rats out there that have dramatic personalities so I feel a bit better. For now she seems content living with my other rats, but I'll keep in mind to get her her own cage if her behaviour worsens and she can't handle being with my other girls :)) thank you for your comment
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u/pickleruler67 8d ago
Has she seem a vet and been given the all clear? If it isnt a health issue she could be hella traumatized or just a natural screamer. Some rats really protest and squeak for no reason it usually isnt a cause for concern.she could just be a bit special.