A couple of month's back i completley Rat proofed my room after not letting them out the cage for 5 week's due to me just moving in my new place and getting it sorted, the Rats where only young anyway as i got them when i first moved in.

Up to last week they loved coming out, it normally took about 10 minuit's for them both to "warm up" and get comfortable but after that they both went completley hypo and sometimes id even have to have my friend in to help me keep and eye on them both, they were very friendly and very hyper.

Now however, i leave the cage door open, they dont come out, i grab them and put them on my lap, and they just run straight back in their cage.
Iv'e tried sitting their seing if they change their mind but they just arnt interested.

Is it because im forcing them out?? Shall i just leave their door open and wait for them to feel compltley comfortable?

Hi i didn't wanna read and run...though i have no idea really. Maybe try putting their food bowl out the cage. There isn't a cat or anything in the house that could have freaked them out? I know you were house sharing. But does seem wierd to have a change of heart! Maybe just leave the cage open for an hour as it may just take more time. xx

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Yer Niki there is a Cat, next door, i was going to say actually i went downstairs and left my door open 2 week's ago, when i came back up the Rats where frozen in fear, maybe they smelt the cat or the Cat jumped on their cage.

Will they recover becuase they dont seem their normall self's??

I won't lie to you...I don't know...though would be surprised if it was just the smell of a cat. Do any of your housematets not like them...or clumsy...and could have scared them? Or kids? Sorry bet im not helping

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Na none of my house mates would do anything, it`s gotta be the cat snooping around, i mean their fine in their cage now, when i give them treat`s they go crazy as always, just dont seem to wanna leave home lol, il just leave the cage door open and sit and waot for them.

well good luck!!! xx

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

I would be tempted to get them out and close the cage door, provide lots of fun hiding places (boxes etc) so they can still feel save and secure and play things like water trays with peas in for pea fishing etc so they are tempted out of their hiding places.

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)

when i had my rats we had a cat not ours but it would hang about on the front.so i used to stroke it that was untill i went to get my rats out and they went skitszo.they too froze in fear eyes wide and still.

after an hour they calmed down and went back to normal after i changed my clothes.

i too like tdm would get the girls out and shut the cage door.

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I'm Amy I have a
German shepherd-blade.
10 male rats.
2 male mice.
1 Syrian hamster.

Oh wow poor ratties!! I didn't know they would be so scared of cats!!

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

My rats couldnt care less about the cats, tbh they arent scared of anything, havent worked out if thats because they are 'rock ard' or just plain dense .

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gsds (Henrick and Bella), the cats (Syd, Lilly, Elvis and Dizzy), the gerbils (Honey, Lisa, crusty, Millhouse, Flanders, Bart and Homer), the rats (Valentine, Flower, Petal, Blossom, Koda, Cava, George), the mice (Minnie, Pop, Seudag, Caraid, Silver, Trouble, Athena, Pandora, Aphrodite, Meep, and Springtime)