Rat hasnt gotten over Slayers death, it's been 2 weeks. :(

[~*~Perfection~*~]

She's not eating, She's not coming to me, She wont even come out of her cage no-more. She's waiting, but i've told her that slayer isnt coming back.
Slayer was her best buddy, How can i encourage her to eat, or come to me?

[Orion510]

Have you tried introducing another rat into the cage? When my rats buddies died sometimes a new friend helped to ease the pain. I remember when Ashley died, Penny was depressed until I introduced her to another friend.

[MeGz]

maybe she just needs more time i mean how would you feel if your best friend that you've been with for most of your life died??  try to see it from her perspective except that you would know your best friend is never coming back she doesn't understand where her friend went she thinks that slayer has just gone away for awhile and is coming back rats are intelligent but they don't understand what death is give it another week or so if she's still really depressed i'd say take orion adice and get her a new friend and see how that works out.... sorry i'm not trying to be pushy or impolite or anything thats just my view.....

[Beth]

Are you sure that there's nothing physically wrong with her that's causing her changes in behaviour? If there isn't anything going on then the best approach you can take is to try to be a ratty substitute (however poor!). Spend all your time with her, even if it's just sitting by her cage and talking softly and calmly. If she'll let you give her a good groom, a little wash around the head (you know how a rat will give another one a good clean around the ears?).

I would strongly suggest you think about getting her new cage buddies. If she's fairly old then get two little ones so that when she goes a little ratty is not left on their own.

Have you tried putting in a soft toy with her, something for her to snuggle up to? If she's not really eating/drinking then try everything and anything you can to tempt her (oatmeal, baby food, yogart, soups, boost, tuna, eggs etc etc etc) and keep an eye on her, you don't want her dehydrating.

It's tough when they grieve isn't it?

Beth

[~*~Perfection~*~]

i have 3 rats, i always have. there's nothing wrong with her shes just so miserable.
Good news! She ate a treat i gave her!

[MeGz]

well thats good to hear.....she must be getting better then......

[jeepharm]

My Avory lost his brother in June.  Yes~very depressed rat.  He was eating, but less.  He wouldn't go in Efram's favorite sleeping spot for 2 MONTHS.  Yes, months.  He occassionlly goes there now~just to eat~will not sleep in there.

If she's not eating her regular food, you might try baby food.  I think there is an apple/chicken one~my boys like that. 

Sending healing thoughts to your sweet litte girl. 

Oh, I did get Avory 2 new friends.  We're still doing intros~but thinks look really good and he was atually playing and tussling with them yesterday!

Ann & my gorgeous boys Avory, Elam, Iverson, Owen & Urie!
Play hard at the bridge Efram!

[Rattenburg]

rats are intelligent but they don't understand what death is

Have you talked to them? I just don't understand how people just go ahead and assume that animals don't understand stuff like that. I think that the rats know that their buddies are gone, after all, they most likely saw their buddy die and sat there with the dead body for a little while. Please don't assume that rats aren't intelligent enough to understand what death is. But I do agree with the first thing you said, this rat just lost her best friend, and it's only been 2 weeks, would you get over your best friend in less than two weeks? If so, you'd have to wonder about your compassion and such.

[Suebee]

I think rats do understand what death is, which is why they grieve in the first place.

I also agree that she may just need more time. I still really haven't gotten over my grandfather's death, and that was in 1999... *sigh*

[pigsandrats]

I think rats do understand what death is, which is why they grieve in the first place.

I also agree that she may just need more time. I still really haven't gotten over my grandfather's death, and that was in 1999... *sigh*

I agree with Suebee 100% on this.

[scout]

To help her get over her grief and depression, you might want to spend more time with her. If she doesn't want to move about, just hold her, give her gentle scritches, pet her, or just hold her on your lap. The healing power of touch is wonderful, so the more she gets the better she'll feel. It took one of my rats a month to start to improve after losing her sister, even though she had other rats in the cage with her. Even then, she never fully recovered until months later when I introduced a new rat into the cage who was just as lonely as she was. She took to him (the girls were all spayed) like a long lost sibling and was never depressed again.

Keep at it, she'll recover eventually.

[Rattenburg]

Yup, I agree with scout. Lots of shoulder massages are in order. Usually only older females appreciate the massages, but sometimes when they don't feel well, they appreciate a massage at a younger age.