Why does Gloom shiver?

[RattusNorvegicus]

Gloom is one of my most social rats. Only two (she and Ed) of my seven can I take out of my room without frightening or stressing them out. For a couple days now when I take her out of her cage and hold her in my hands to kiss and gaze at her cute face, she will shiver as if scared just like my least social, skittish rat Ellie will do if I step away from the cage while holding her. Nothing has changed in my room. I know when my friend is over they act scared because they aren't used to another person in here, but no one has been in my room at all when she's done it. I can't think of why she would be scared. Before I give her kisses I hold her in my arms for a short cuddle which she loves. She knows it's me.

Any ideas? I feel really bad not knowing what is wrong. I usually know everything about my girls.

 

[jorats]

Where do you feel the shiver? the whole body or the leg/butt area?

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

Her whole body, definitely not her hind area (at least yet) though it is weakening.

 

[jorats]

I would think then she's going through a phase. Nothing new in the home? new pet? was there a change to the cage location?

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

Definitely no new pets, and the cage is in the same place. Everything in my room is in the same place too. No new smells...hmph. Silly Gloom.

 

[Unepuce]

My Princesse has been starting that as well, but I can tell she's not feeling well (have a vet appointment for her on Thursday). Could it be that Gloom might be coming down with something?

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

Well, I don't know. She is sick, yeah, but all of my rats are right now and probably will be forever. Gloom has costal breathing, I am wondering if she has heart problems..she is overweight and her breathing is pretty quiet. I don't know.

 

[jorats]

Hopefully it's just a phase she'll get over it. But I do find it a concern when behaviour changes all of a sudden, especially at that age.