HELP FURRY FRIENDS FACE THEIR FEARS

many children request small furries as pets, but do busy parents have the time to cater to their needs? Dr Jane tyson, rodent welfare expert for the rspCa, explains how to stop rodents feeling lonely…

FOR species that would naturally live in groups, living on their own can be very stressful. You might start to see repetitive behaviours, like continually chewing cages or over-grooming.

There are lots of different, subtle indications that they may be stressed. If you have concerns, speak to your vet.

Mice, rats, gerbils and guinea pigs require the company of their own, but don’t mix species. With hamsters it’s more complicated, as of the five species used as pets, Syrian and Chinese hamsters prefer to be on their own. If you put two together that shouldn’t be, they are likely to fight each other.

With most rodents, single-sex groups are advised — otherwise you’ll end up with more than you bargained for. Male guinea pigs, however, can be neutered easily so they can exist in mixed groups quite happily.

Small groups work best, and keep the group as stable as possible — don’t remove one for a period of time then put it back in. This can make things stressful.

So bear this in mind if you have to keep one in isolation for health reasons: it’s a good idea to keep them near one another so they can see, smell and hear each other.

Daily human interaction is very important. If nothing else, you should be checking them for illnesses. You could also build up your bond by teaching them little tricks.