I moved: now Sammy won’t budge.

[RabbitPam]

Hi, Everyone,

As of 3PM today I finished moving from a temporary house for the past many months back to my folk’s home while I continue to search for the perfect job that pays 6 figures for my unique expertise. Wait…maybe I could be president…I digress.

Anyway, I am exhausted but the move went well and Sammykins is in her xpen with her favorite stuff and is quite cozy and comfortable there, situated in the family room/kitchen. She is eating and pooping just fine, loves getting pets, and is alert and curious about family that wanders by.

However, she’s always hated walking on floors or tile, and there is no carpet in this room. So she hasn’t set foot outside of her xpen in 3 days. I brought a large area rug over to try to entice her out, but she rejected a smaller one before this and I am concerned that she will stay in her house. I tell myself to give her at least a week, but since she won’t let me pick her up except under duress, I can’t just carry her to a bedroom with carpeting to play. Even a nanner would no lure her out this morning.

So, suggestions are welcome, and I will keep you updated on her progress.

And I will take the opportunity to thank our new leaders for covering for me this past week while I was an insane moving maniac.

[Sarita]

Maybe she’s still in sensory overload. Can you entice her into a carrier to get her to the bedroom?

[RabbitPam]

I haven’t tried it yet, but did consider it. I figured I’d wait the week to give her time to get used to a new routine that goes on in that room. I think you’re right about sensory overload. She is very skittish, so I want to make small steps, but she just loves exercising and binkying on carpet, so I am afraid she’s getting unhappy.

But she took a day to get back into her litter pan, so it may be gradual.

Also, she needs a nail trim and I noticed a back toe nail had broken and scabbed over a bit. I don’t know whether I should clip them now when she’s still upset anyway, or let her regain her composure before going after her nails. (Or bring her to the vet and let a pro do it this time.)

[Stickerbunny]

Stickers is the same way about tile flooring. She doesn’t like the small rugs either. What I ended up doing was buying a large 5×7 rug from walmart for $20 – it’s hard, short carpet fibers and the same color as her blankie, she loves it. Before that I used large sheets of cardboard over the tile, like the kind that goes between pallets. The small rugs and towels moved if she pushed on them and I don’t think she liked that any more than the tiles.

[MimzMum]

Boy I need to keep up here better than I have been doing. I hadn’t realized you’d moved already. >_<
Glad to hear that overall it went well. Sorry to hear that Herself is having difficulty.
No real advice to offer but will add some relaxation vibes for Sammy. (((((((((((Om))))))))))))

And you’ve got MY vote for Prez! A damn sight better than what we’re looking at, to be sure!

[harley'shero]

I’m in the same boat as you. I moved about two weeks ago into all hardwood floor house and harley is not a fan at all!! he’s very slowly getting better but he is still super skittish, won’t stay out of his cage very long if i’m not in the room with him and I can’t even get him to jump out of the cage on his own. I have to pick him up and plop him down. So I guess I can say it’ll eventually get better. just takes a long time…longer than i thought it would!! I have a smaller area rug down and blankets down to make the “rug” area even bigger for him but he doesn’t like the blankets because they move. looks like i’ll be buying an even bigger area rug!
good luck with sammy!! she’ll get it eventually, just give her time and loving for the time being!

[Elrohwen]

Hopefully she is ok with rugs! Otto also won’t come out of his cage if there is only slippery flooring around, but he gotten used to area rugs and smaller throw rugs. I’m sure she’ll adjust a little more as she gets comfortable.

[Sarita]

I buy those same rugs as Stickerbunny and they work great and are affordable.

[RabbitPam]

I have a rug from target that matches her cage bottom one that’s covered with a sheet, and my mother suggested we try it. It’s 4’x5′. I may attempt to pick her up over the doorway if she’ll let me.

One great thing today: I went into her xpen and trimmed all her nails early this morning. We were alone, and she was the best ever, basically only protesting and running once, then she let me do her front paws sitting between my legs, and her back ones leaning her back against my chest and I did them all! After that, she played around inside her house, she greeted my folks and she even rearranged her basket. Clearly in a good mood. But she wouldn’t step on either area rug. So that’s next. Maybe with her toes in better shape she’ll try it later or tomorrow.

[Sarita]

That’s good – sounds like she is settling in!

[jerseygirl]

Hey *waves* Welcome back RabbitPam. : ) I suspected the move was happening so it’s nice to hear how it all went.

I agree about giving her more time. She’s in her save zone accustomising Herself to all the new sights, smells , and sounds. I can’t emphasise enough how keen their sense of smell is!

I think you said there was a particular type of carpet she liked at the house you were living? She was even more active on that then at your former apartment??
Perhaps you could find something as close as possible to that? In colour and texture.

[RabbitPam]

*waves Hi back*

LOL – Your suggestion about a matching carpet makes sense…except…it’s a very old, ratty, ugly brown, pulling apart Burberry that I hated and before I moved in there I was afraid she’d chew and get sick from. I lucked out, but it’s not one you’d ever go out and buy, even as a remnant. If the Target area rug doesn’t work, I may check out other remnants with that one’s texture, just not so…ugly!

The smells are 3 people, several delicious meals and her own greens. Granted, we have smelly feet, but she used to like mine. Will look around for anything I may not have noticed. (My folks know I’m allergic so we don’t have perfumes, scented candles or air fresheners etc. thank goodness.)

[Author]

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