Squirrels and rats!?!

[Lulu2010]

Lulu (grey squirrel) is a very tidy girl and never destroys her cage bc she likes it clean. She will even hold her poop and pee to go in her outside cage or on the computer desk when she comes out to play. She is even respectful of her toys and if she chews them she will only remove the facial features and then leave them be.
So, the last several days, I have seen Lulu's cage completely destroyed. Even her stuffies are gutted and tissue boxes in pieces. Quite odd. Today I went in and saw Lulu flustered and carrying a plastic squeaker in her mouth. I took her out and held her to calm her down when suddenly I heard rustling in her cage on the bottom level. Then I hear a little "bang" and look and my rat Hope had fallen out of Lulu's cage. Apparently she has been escaping at night and I'm not sure how because my other rat Faith was not out. I called the vet because I was afraid of disease and the vet said the rat URI is species specific. I've checked both and no bites or cuts and both ate their breakfast. Are they gonna be ok? Anything else I should worry about? I'm gonna get the rats a new cage, again.... I'm concerned because I have read posts where people wanted to know if rats and squirrels could live together and it was always no. Please give some advice. Thanks!

[crazysquirrels]

The reason they don't live togeter is they are mortal enemies. In the wild they hate each other. Perhaps you have a special pair that like each other.:dono

[Lulu2010]

The reason they don't live togeter is they are mortal enemies. In the wild they hate each other. Perhaps you have a special pair that like each other.:dono

Thank you! I have been freaking out bc I am a bit of a germaphobe when it comes to cross contamination with my animals. I wash my hands before and after handling them so I don't spread anything to them.

Lulu is a different squirrel if you compare her to the wilds. She is sweet and afraid of everything. She coward to squirrels half her size. Hope has neuro problems. We thought her head tilt was inner ear infection or genetic stroke but I am convinced she was dropped or thrown and suffered brain injury. Maybe that's why they didn't fight.

[LyddicleaveBurrow]

Hi,

This is a very unusual situation.

You have two beautiful and gentle rodent characters, but this situation is still very dangerous for Lulu and Hope.

Both species can and will kill each other.

It is not worth taking any risks so it would be great if Hope can be in an escape proofed (Houdini Hope proofed) cage. If she gets in with Lulu again disaster could happen.

As to respiratory troubles etc - Mycoplamsa from Rats is species specific.

Heather.

[Lulu2010]

Thank you Heather. I am stumped as to how she is escaping but am definitely getting another cage. I don't want either injured or killed and I will be freaking out until I'm 100% sure the problem is corrected. I am so upset that she has been in Lulu's cage and I'm going to be disinfecting everything with bleach. I'm extremely greatful that neither has been injured this whole time since I was blind to what was going on after dark. Every morning Hope was in her cage so I thought Lulu just started being messy which was odd but I thought maybe she was gonna wild up.