Bred these little things for six years (dwarf Russians) but never had one before who leaps like a monkey. Suspicions were aroused when he was spotted in the kitchen, and since he lives in a plastic “cage” with the door at the top (a flap thing), we knew he must have developed a novel way to escape.
Having set up the experiment by moving the plastic house (currently inhabited by his partner and two babies) into the centre of the cage, he duly climbed to the top (actually a circular hole, since the dome that originally capped it has been removed to allow more air into the house), steadied himself and shot up to the rim of the opening. He dangled there by his front paws briefly before effortlessly pulling himself onto the flap. Must have travelled a good six inches up and across.
We’ve shoved the house into the corner of the cage now, but I wonder if he’s going to push it back across the floor for another escape attempt.
Could well be, Q, since his wheel doesn’t work properly. Even when two of them are on it, it’s just too stiff. Actually, it gets more use these days as a nursing station when the female fancies a change.
We had one that would scale the water bottle and then cling to the top of the cage while he tried to open/chew through the top…
He would often also do this while a cat was sitting atop his cage. He would get up there and pull fur through the mesh and thoroughly piss off the cat.
Doc, that is excellent. I have printed it out (you get credited “He Leaps! - words by Dr. Jackson”) and I will sing it with my daughter as soon as I can remember how the verses go. Chorus no problem.
