Seperation Anxiety?

[3pidemic]

A while back I posted about my hairless boy Dramamine's run in with our cat, he ended up being fine and came out with out any bloodshed, but I seperated from his cagemate just incase he had any injuries that I didn't notice. I wanted to er on the side of caution and keep a close eye on him. While he was seperated I did notice that he was depressed, he had been with his cagemate all of his life, and I knew he missed her. When I was sure that he was going to be okay I put him back in with Sativa and he cheered up and seemed to be doing fine.

Since being put back with Sativa he's had issues with leaving his cage and being handled. He hates being touched, he'll try and run away if I try and pet him while he's in his cage. He won't come out of his cage by himself, he'll poke his head out and take treats and such, but won't leave and if I try and pick him up and take him out he acts like I'm killing him, he even broke off part of his nail the other night he was flailing around so much (don't worry he didn't break the nail off, just a little bit of the tip, like when you chip a nail). He's acting like a completely unsocialized rat.

At first I thought maybe he was afraid to come out because of the cat, but when he was seperated and even right after the altercation he had no issues with being handled. He didn't start acting like this till he was put back in with Sativa. The only thing I can think of that would be causing this would be him being afraid that I'd seperate him from Sativa again. I know that rats get depressed when kept alone, but is it possible for a rat to have seperation anxiety like this?

I love my big fat wrinklely baby and I hate the idea of him not getting any time outside of the cage, but he's shown me that he's so much against being taken outside of the cage that he would seriously injury himself. Has anyone ever had this happen before? Any idea's on what I could do to help him get over this? I'm just at a loss.

[Stace87]

I'm sure someone else will be able to help with better advise. All I could think of is that maybe he is actually injured? Even though you thought he wasn't, which may be causing him to act in this way. It could still be that he remembers the cat - rats have good memories!

[3pidemic]

All I could think of is that maybe he is actually injured? Even though you thought he wasn't, which may be causing him to act in this way. It could still be that he remembers the cat - rats have good memories!

It's been a month since his run in with the cat, so I don't think he's injured.

I thought it might have been him remembering the cat at first, but while he was seperated he didn't act this way at all. He let me pick him up and pet him, but now he hates having me touch him.

[AMJ087]

Maybe he is jsut nervous. Last time he was hused in that cage adn let out he had the run in after all. Maybe just keep the cage door opena dn allow him to come out on his own terms, when he feels comfortable.