Question:
My chin has only been back home from his sitter's house for about 2-3 days, but he's been acting really bad. Very lethargic and depressed. The sitter told me that he was that way with her as well, and i'm not sure what to do about it. He's being unresponsive to me when I reach in to him, and he's not leaving his little hidey box except occasionally to steal some food. He won't even take treats anymore. This morning I found the piece of apple and the dried papaya I put in for him still sitting there, and him in the same spot we left him in.
Before this we kept his cage in a well trafficked area of the house, and he seemed very happy and active. He loved taking treats from people, and even spent time playing with his toys and making a show of causing trouble. Could it possibly be that he just loves attention and feels sad being in a quieter room of the house now? My boyfriend doesn't like him out in the living room because he makes such a mess. At our party last night he made a great escape after someone fiddled with his cage door, and he made a big show of sitting on everyone's lap who was sitting.
What can I do to meet a happy medium here? Is he bored? Depressed? Or just spoiled and sulking at me? He's already back to hissing and screeching at me, and even bit me once! I can't really put him back in the living room without hearing it from my boyfriend, but otherwise he won't get as much people-watching time as he seems to prefer.


Answer:
Wow I am so sorry to hear what you are going through with your chin
I hope that he gets back to normal really soon .


Answer:
Yeah it's all confusing to me. He was a bit shy around us before because we were new to him, but he warmed up in what seemed like overnight. Now he's even worse than when we first got him Confusing animals!
Here's a pic I just took of him not even 5 minutes ago. Clearjade told me he'd started to do that at her place. It's really all he does anymore, and if you reach in to touch him he doesn't even move.


Answer:
Are you sure he's not feeling sick?


Answer:
I am assuming that he is eating, drinking, and pooping okay? If not, he should probably see the vet to rule out illness. Otherwise, IMHO, I think that he is a bit lonely. My boys love being in the living room...I noticed a huge difference in their sociability once I moved them from the spare room to the living room. Is there anyway to lessen the mess that he makes? Do you have a dustbuster? I have found that vaccuuming everyday around the cage and sweeping the shelves off really helps the mess. Maybe try rotating his toys or switching the position of the current ones. Have you considered getting a wheel for him?
I hope that he is feeling more like himself soon.


Answer:
Oh goodness... he does look sad doesn't he?
I'd talk your BF into reconsidering keeping him in the livingroom... especially if he was there before... I know it might be messy but if it makes your pet happy to be around you I think it would be better... I have all my caged pets in the livingroom... what's the difference if the mess is in the livingroom or the other room? You still have to clean it up right?


Answer:
Before this we kept his cage in a well trafficked area of the house, and he seemed very happy and active. He loved taking treats from people, and even spent time playing with his toys and making a show of causing trouble. Could it possibly be that he just loves attention and feels sad being in a quieter room of the house now?
If he is not ill, then I think you found your answer above. My chinnies are in our spare bedroom and I practically live in there. They love having me in the room and feel more "secure" when they see me. Heaven forbid I walk out of the room or spend a few hours in the living room! They do not like being left alone. I agree with Sue, either way you have to clean up the mess whether it is in the room he is in now or the living room.


Answer:
Hey Audri!
I can see that Pocky is still sulking. I kept his cage in my bedroom all the time and both my bf and I spend a lot of time at the computer so he could see us all night. Could he be getting lonely? I usually took him out when he wakes up for 45mins then I let him jump into his dustbath and back into his cage. Once he realises he's back in his cage, he'll lay on his side on the top shelf and sulk for a few minutes and he won't take treats. But after a few minutes, he'll jump down and check out his food dish and when I give him a treat then, he'll take it and munch away.
What happened when he bit you? Was it an exploring kind of nibble or a hard bite? He liked to chew on my bracelet and bit my thumbnail a few times because I think he smelled food on my hands which is normal.
Also, during the day I put his blanket over his cage and when I check on him in the afternoons, he's usually sleeping on the top shelf. But if I take the blanket off, he'll jump down and sleep in his house. Maybe he feels more secure with his blanket over the cage?
I think that Pocky loves being the centre of attention, have you had a chance to give him a long playtime yet?


Answer:
Aww What a depressed little face. I hope you figure out what's wrong with him. Maybe it's what Denise thought of. He probably loves the attention and is used to noise. Any updates?


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Yeah, I completely agree with you guys that the mess has to get cleaned up somehow he just makes a bigger one in the livingroom because it gets people to hover around his cage to see what all the noise is about. Not a thing is out of place in his cage since we put it in the bedroom, just his food and some hay tossed around.
Hi Clear, thanks again for taking such good care of my stinky chin, he sure did get fat, i was starting to worry that I got myself a skinny chin ! He's been sulking like that since he got home, just usually he's half hanging out of his box when he does it. I'm guessing he's eating fine, and if he's not I do know he's drinking a lot of water because he's been peeing like crazy. He got a good solid 3 hour run last night just in hopes of cheering him up, and I watched him to see if he played, but he didn't at all.
When he bit me it was a pretty vicious bite, I was just carrying him with me while I refilled his food dish and his hay like I usually do if i'm not letting him out for a run. He bit me and when I set him down he sat there screeching at me for a good 20 - 30 seconds.
The update is that he's still in the spot you see him in in that photo, except he's shifted over so he can lay across his ladder. Why must they look so pitiful when they sulk?