Depressed Furb-a-durb

[Anna]

Furby seems sad : (
He is eating about as much as he ever has normally, drinks and poops like like a little dynamo. I give him about 45 min-1 hr of playtime every day too. I talk to him when I'm in my room and give him scritches all the time...

But lately he's seemed so much more down in the dumps. He still loves to play and has lots of energy and is as sweet as ever. He just looks sad when he's in his cage and sometimes when he's out. It's hard to describe but its noticeable.

I have been really stressed out lately and dealing with lots of stuff, do you all think he could be picking up some unhappy vibes from me?

 

[Sandi]

I definitely believe that your pets can pick up your emotions. When I first learned that my chin had malo, I freaked. I was worried, stressed, crying, all of the above! Lot's of the time I was feeling these feelings I was with my chin and I don't think I helped him much. There are some great people here who set me straight and gave me a lot of encouragement. You would think that I would know these things already but sometimes your emotions just get the better of you. My suggestion, if you believe that he is just bummed and not a health issue, is to just take a deep breath before going into handling him and be positive and when you have him out for playtime, get on the floor with him and let him jump all over you and laugh and talk to him. Does he have a cagemate? If not, maybe get him a cuddle buddy and put lots of wood toys/chews or sticks in his cage. Good luck and let us know how he's doing.

 

[likeOMGitsFEDAY]

They definitely know. I had a big fight with my mother last week, and was crying a lot, and the girls cried right along with me.

 

[mishellyshel]

i think pets can sense something. maybe even in the tone of your voice. i also know if i dont take one of my guys out every day (seveal times in his case) he gets super pouty. he actually throws a fit at night while the others are out. he literally attacks his cage, bites the wires, bites the water bottle, bum rushes the doors. maybe furby want to play?

 

[Anna]

Those little guys cheer me up big time so I am always playing with them in the bathroom and the hallway and such. And I have the WORST habit of baby-talking them haha! I can't do it any other way so I don't think it's my town of voice when I'm talking to them.

It happens mostly when he is in his cage. His playtime is at 9 pm so it's after 9 that he starts picking on the cage bars and throwing things. He'll be on his perch like looking at me or looking somewhere else and he just looks so sad! Yes Sandi, he has one of Ralston Chinchilla Ranch's fleece cuddle buddies and lots of things to play with... This is baffling me. He seems like he's okay health wise. I guess I can try to play with him more but I have soo many midterms on Wednesday so probably not til then. He's a little dude though, and even after an hour of playtime he gets pooped. So I don't know how good of an idea it would be to extend that a lot.

It's like, when he's in his cage he just mopes around. Not lethargic or anything, but kinda doesn't move a lot, sits on his ledges and looks bummed about life. I try to reach my hand in and give him scritches, sometimes he lets me and other times he moves just out of my reach. It's so unusual.

 

[mishellyshel]

sounds kind normal...they just chill a lot.

maybe instead of 1 hour at time, take him out 2 times for 30 minutes??
also why not take a book in the bathroom/hallway and study and furby can just be out and about with you?

 

[Anna]

Maybe, I don't know he used to be so much more hyper and happy, always chirping and sticking his neck out for scritches. Weird. Hmm, that's a good idea, Michelle. I guess Furb will be studying with me tonight : )

 

[Jazicat]

Chins can just mellow as they get older so maybe that is it. One other thing about being emotional when it's out time is that sometimes you really aren't paying the attention to the chin but thinking about your problems. Edgar hates this and more than once I've had to force myself to be present and play with him.

 

[Anna]

I love all the advice from everyone! Thank you so much, I just want my little dude to be happy! He has had it rough, egh. But he seemed happier today I picked him up and let him ride on my shoulder when I did my laundry and emptied the dishwasher and stuff. I will make sure he gets to help me study for political science later tonight heh