Is it bad for their well being if one is left in the cage?

[Tory]

I have three rats you might already know and I always end up leaving one specific one in the cage. She just doesn't care to come out at the same time as the other ones it seems. She litterally runs from my hand while the other two will come up to it. When she does come up to my hand I will take her out and she get just as much time out of her cage as the other just not with the other two. She gets more just me and her time then the other girls. She might grow out mof this however is it doing long time damage by not having her come out with the other two?

 

[Dahlas]

I always try and give mine one on one attention......so as long as she is getting equal attention and as much out time it should be fine.

 

[jorats]

The important thing is that the little girl does get human interaction. But I don't think it's bad if at the time she chooses to stay in the cage, you leave her there. If she's not ready at that time to come out, so be it. You have to respect their needs and not cause any stress. You're doing a good job!

 

[LA]

We spend time with our girls and Ruby doesn't come out often, she's just happy to have the door open to the cage. She will quite often sit at the door and look out. She's happy with that.

 

[ratlets]

I had a girl like that. I started leaving the cage door open while everyone was out on the bed with me when she didn't want to come out. Eventually she started coming to the open door and sometimes out of the door (climbing on the outside of the cage). After that, I'd set her on the bed, and she'd play... covering her up with the covers seemed to help her, too.

 

[Bronwyn]

I also have a girl like that. She doesn't run from my hand but she sure doesn't like being handled, and she doesn't like leaving the cage. I leave the door open and like LA's Ruby, she'll just watch the other two. Only recently, a year after adoption, is she starting to come out to circle the cage.