Scared ratties...what should I do?

[WeeRaffins]

I took Evelyn and Caldecott out to the garden today, just to see if they wanted a little play-time outside. Hehe...aparently they did not!   Both ratties clung to me with all their might, and I could just hear them saying "Oh Mommy...please don't make us go down there...please?" Then their noses started 'leaking' pophyrin (sp?). I was kind of scared!

Have your ratties ever done this? Can they get past their 'garden phobia' or should I just not take them outside any more? Thanks for your input!

[Marybelle]

If you're really determined to get them to play outside, you might want to take it slow.  Start with sitting them on an open windowsill so they can get used to the smells/sights of outdoors without actually being outdoors.  Stay with them, so they have a safe place to be, and maybe grab a toy from their cage so they have something familiar, too.  Then take them outside without any signs of trying to set them down.  Eventually, they may want to get down and play.  If, on the other hand, they continue to be terrified, it may just be that they smell a predator (neighborhood cat or racoon maybe), and feel it wouldn't be safe.  In which case, they will probably never want to go outside, and you may have to just be happy with a digging box.  

[Suebee]

I never would have thought about predator scents... that is definitely a possibility! Their sense of smell is far more delicate than ours...

[WeeRaffins]

Since it's been warm here, I've opened the window almost every day. The rats do fine with that, but I guess just being outside is kind of scary, especially if you are normally the prey!