Hi there,

I have 3 female rats who are about 3 months old. Recently one, called Rhiannon, was diagnosed with mycoplasma ( the upper respiratory infection) and the following day the smallest rat called Alyssa was also diagnosed with it.
However Rhiannon seems to have began her recovery well but Alyssa is lethargic and not eating or drinking much despite my constant efforts while trying to give her peace as well.

My main problem is that the other 2 seemed to be annoying her, sitting on her and walking over her and she was getting quite distressed so we blocked off the top tier of their cage and had Alyssa on the top floors and the two girls have the other 2 floors.
I'm just really worried that the other girls will forget Alyssa if we separate them for a length of time, she is still pretty ill and I'm reluctant to put them together yet as she is very weak and needs rest.

These are my first rats and I'm still learning about them , if anyone could give me any advice about whether or not they would forget each other easily or if the other two would be hostile cuz shes been separated it would really be appreciated. I am hoping that as they are still technically in the same cage they would be able to smell her and know it's her even though they havent really seen her as she keeps to her bed thanks for any advice xx

Could you let them interact during free range time? I have a rat with a broken leg who is on cage rest atm, I have put his hospital cage inside the big cage so the others can still see and smell him and they are still visiting him, would this be a possibility for you?

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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)

She is still in the same cage but there's 3 tiers and we blocked off the top tier so the two girls can't get up to her but I was hoping they would still be able to see her and smell her. It's blocked off using a spare part for the cage so it is just like the bars on the cage (its squared) so if she was walking about they would be able to poke their noses up and she can poke her wee nose down but she hasnt really been up and about as she is so weak and falls alot Do you think this is enough to prevent them forgetting her? She has only been separated yesterday and today. xx

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The Kids:
1 Kitten- Olly - ragdoll
1 Rabbit- Willow
1 Gerbil- Corky
1 Chinese Hamster- Nicholas
2 Rats- Lacey & Rhiannon
3 Guinea Pigs (New additions)- Axel, Teddi & Joey!!
3 Mice- Lucie, Savannah,& Arianna

R.I.P, Alyssa (rat),Toby (dog), Kacie and Sophie (mice)

I would say that the fact that she is in the same cage means that re-introducing her when she is better shouldn't be a problem. Rats are pretty sociable anyway, so I think you are worrying unnecessarily. They will still be able to smell her and "talk" to her although she is in a different tier. I had a ratty who had an operation, and her recovery from the anaesthetic was very slow, about a week!, but when I put her back in with her mates, they were all fine, even though she must have smelled very different.Stop worrying - all will be fine! Hope she recovers ok.

ok thanks for setting my mind at ease! Im just pretty stressed out cuz i have 2 sick rats plus my rabbit had to be knocked out for xrays and was at the vets all day yesterday and the house was empty without her she wasnt herself last night either but I think shes better today going to go back and check on the rats too x

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The Kids:
1 Kitten- Olly - ragdoll
1 Rabbit- Willow
1 Gerbil- Corky
1 Chinese Hamster- Nicholas
2 Rats- Lacey & Rhiannon
3 Guinea Pigs (New additions)- Axel, Teddi & Joey!!
3 Mice- Lucie, Savannah,& Arianna

R.I.P, Alyssa (rat),Toby (dog), Kacie and Sophie (mice)