Over Grooming Tail - Paw Talk

Tammy Hubbard · #1 04-12-2007, 01:36 PM

Kila (my rat) has been over grooming her tail. Is this because she needs a friend to live with? I've only been a rat owner for a couple of months... I have a lot to learn.. Thanx

christine · #2 04-12-2007, 03:53 PM

I have always heard that rats are social animals. You might want to consider getting her a friend, but interoducing them VERY slowly!

Tammy Hubbard · #3 04-12-2007, 04:07 PM

Thanks.. I'm working on building her a bigger cage so she can have a buddy. Kila is still young, she is between 20 - 25 weeks old. Do you know how old they are when they stop growing?

christine · #4 04-12-2007, 04:14 PM

Actually no I don't own rats (fiance doesn't like them) and I wouldn't know where to begin on telling you anything about them besides they are social animals. Now if they are anything like gerbils she is probably young enough to get a friend and be introduced rather quickly but I would wait until Vanilla Rat comes on, or someone else with rats so they can tell you more. Sorry I am not much of a help.

Tammy Hubbard · #5 04-12-2007, 04:25 PM

That's OK, thanx for trying anyway, it's appreciated..

APoetCalledAnya · #6 04-12-2007, 04:41 PM

My parents have three rats and they are happy little bugs. They are always grooming each other, playing, snuggling, and what not. I am sure that a friend is a very good idea. Everyone says so.

When I had my first rat I never got her a friend. I always had her out, whether she was with me or with her ball. I would talk to her all the time. The only time she was really in her cage was when she was eating, going to the bathroom, or when she was sleeping. She developed my sleep patterns so whenever I was asleep she was too.
My boyfriend will not let me get another rat. (And honestly, I only want one. I feel I can give her the attention she needs if I only have her. That is why my first rat and I bonded so well.) I am home a little too much and he is usually at work during the day so I have no company. To fix that, I always have her out with me. She is my little apprentice. Hopefully she will be like my first rat. So far she is acting just like her.

Kendalle · #7 04-12-2007, 04:46 PM

hey i dont know if the grooming the tail thing is because she needs a friend... but it very well could be because shes bored... rats are really really social... when you get one make sure to quorinteen (spelling?!) for a week or so (great time to make friends!) and introduce them on neutral ground and normally they get along right away. mine all did

rodentz · #8 04-12-2007, 05:30 PM

ratties NEEEEEEED friends, shes probly depressed, it happens a lot in rats thats why I urge people to get atleast 2!! she NEEDS a friend, im glad to hear your trying to get another.

Tammy Hubbard · #9 04-12-2007, 06:37 PM

Thanx so much guys, as soon as my new cage is done I will get another female for sure, then my baby girl will probably be nuttier then she already is!! If that's possible.. She can be such a spazz.

Vanilla_Rat · #10 04-13-2007, 12:14 AM

Yes,rats NEED friends.They are highly social animals,unlike hamsters.They can become bored and depressed (as mentioned) if they are kepy alone.

No matter how much attention you give her,nothing compares to the companionship of another rat.There are going to be times when you cannot be with her and those times,she definatly needs a friend.

What do you mean by over grooming her tail??

My rats don't wash their tails enough!!

Tammy Hubbard · #11 04-13-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla_Rat


	Yes,rats NEED friends.They are highly social animals,unlike hamsters.They can become bored and depressed (as mentioned) if they are kepy alone. No matter how much attention you give her,nothing compares to the companionship of another rat.There are going to be times when you cannot be with her and those times,she definatly needs a friend. What do you mean by over grooming her tail?? My rats don't wash their tails enough!!

She makes her tail bleed. Not always, but sometimes when I get up in the morning she has dried blood on her nose from her tail, there are no obvious cuts on the tail, but you can see that is where it is coming from for sure. They only thing I could think of is that she is lonely for someone (another rat) because she never does it when she's out with us.