What to do with a lonely rat?

[amymckee]

I just dont know how to make Rat happy. I am trying to find some buddies, and hopefully next weekend or the weekend after I will find some at the shelter that neuters as part of the adoption fee. He seems so sad and depressed. I play with him, but he doesnt have nearly as much fun as the girls, because I am not another rat. He seems pretty bored with most of the things I try.

Does anyone have any tips for cheering up a single (temporarily) rat?

[WS]

Poor little guy. I know what you're going through because I also have a (temporarily) single rat.  My little guy just loves to be with me and play with me and doesn't seem depressed by his situation. Some things you can do to alleviate some loneliness stress are just (frequently) holding and petting your lone-ratty and giving him plenty of play time outside of his cage with you.  You're not a rat, but you are part of his peer group and interacting with you should make him feel less isolated.   Some rats are just not entertained by toys or by playing by themselves.   So until he gets his rat playmates he'll need to enjoy lots of your company.  -


-oh and one other thing:  girlie rats seem to be more demonstrative than males and are sometimes more active than males so he might be having more fun than you think he is!  (if you've not had boys before)

[Rose]

I think boys are just mellower and lazier than girls.  Sometimes they just don't need excitement.  In fact, two unneutered boys with girls around can get into nasty fights.

How about giving him a nice massage daily?  

[Yresim]

I know how you feel.  My Ennoia is alone now, too.  It's particularly frustrating with her, because she doesn't like being held, or cuddling.  She's not afraid or anything, she just doesn't like it (and never has).  She didn't even cuddle with her cage-mate very much.  She does like her purple rolly-ball, and I let her play in that as much as possible just to get her out.  

With most rats, however, spending more time "bonding" will make them feel better until you can get another rat.

[Ms. Jingles]

Mr. Jingles has been alone (although we're getting a new rattie at the end of June - I...can't...wait!) and he seems very happy. We take him out a lot and he loves crawling under the blankets on my son's bed - along with putting holes in his comforter too  

He loves chasing small pieces of paper and ripping them to shreds, in fact, he lies in wait under the bed and jumps out to pounce when we throw them. He also likes chasing a small paintbrush (not painted with) and playing tug-of-war. One of his favourite things is when we hide a yoggie somewhere in the room and he finds it. When he's had enough he goes back into his cage by himself.

But he'll soon have a new roomie (yes I will quarantine for 2 weeks - the little guy will stay in my room  ) as I do feel guilty and I didn't know when we got Mr. Jingles that 2 or more ratties are better.  I did call our Humane Society buy they only have older boys and I had heard that the new rat has to be younger than the current dominant one.  But I still...can't...wait  

[amymckee]

-oh and one other thing:  girlie rats seem to be more demonstrative than males and are sometimes more active than males so he might be having more fun than you think he is!  (if you've not had boys before)

I havent had a boy before. He seems really bored if I have him running around the living room by himself, but maybe he's really enjoying himself? I give him interactive playtime every day (Where I am totally focused on him). Could I just let him loose while Im doing other stuff for additional playtime?

[DebW]

My Buster's lonely too and there's not a lot I can do for him.  He lost his brother about 1 1/2 months ago.  At almost 2 1/2 years old, he doesn't walk very well and finds my younger boys very intimidating and too much for him.

I just try to spend a little extra one on one time with him and try to give him a little massage once a day.  When I walk by his cage, I also try to give him a little skritch behind the ears.  He seems to be happy on my lap or just sitting in the play area looking around.

I definately think yours will be much happier with playmates.  Just give him a little extra attention until they come.

[mustang_grl143]

TEXTLots and lots of human attention and treats!!

[amymckee]

He's not too big on food in general. It takes him a week to eat one cup of Suebee's mix, plus 1/4 piece of whole wheat bread per day. I give him one or two cheezits, and one yogie per day. Half the time he stashes the cheezits. He will only eat about a spoonful of oatmeal before losing interest. Friday I gave him popcorn, and he just left it on the floor after the second piece. Its weird, because the girls are half his size and bottomless pits.

[Yresim]

Is he very skinny (can you see his ribs)?

If not, he probably just isn't active enough to need more food.  I have heard that boys are less active, and tend to eat less.  

Of course, the one boy I did have was not like that at all.  He (like most of my girls) ate everything he could get his paws on.

[rogermerriman]

I have three male rats and tom who is the old boy likes to have a wander around the garden eat some herbs and have little dig! He's a mellow chap so he doesn't move to fast so you can keep an eye on him. The young one (three months old0 get to play on fruit trees but are to fast and nervy to let loose on the ground! So if Rat is calm fellow you could try outside, or house plants maybe?