I don't think I've ever actually seen him 'nod off', but he does seem to do it very quickly! He could be running mad in his wheel and then there'll be silence for a few moments so I'll look over and he's fast asleep in it, or sometimes he will be plodding around his cage in the evenings being quite busy as usual (a few paces on the wheel, climb the log cabin to nibble the bars for a few seconds, nip over to the corner to scratch at the sides etc...) and I'll notice it's gone silent and he'll be splat on his belly in the middle of the cage fast asleep. Sometimes he has his eyes open a little -which is why it's been hard to get a pic where he actually looks asleep rather than just blinking - but he's pretty unresponsive.
It lasts a few moments where he's zonked out, then lift his head up, twitch his whiskers and take in the environment... and then he'll be back to business as usual!
I've got used to it, but sometimes it can be pretty scary! Like the other night I came in to my room, and normally at that time he'd be up and about and upon hearing me enter, would stand on his hind legs to see what's going on, then when he works out it's me, come running to the front of the cage and pine to be let out! This time he was in the middle of the cage, sat there a little hunched over. His eyes were only slightly open and he did not even flinch when i walked over. I tapped on the cage and he stirred a little, but remained in his hunched position, not opening his eyes any further! I opened the cage up, which is pretty noisy, and still nothing.... I put my hand in and let him sniff me (which he didn't)... I touched his side and he only barely reacted to me - PANIC STATIONS! lol I picked him up and he was like a rag doll
just floppy and unresponsive. After I'd rolled him over and healthchecked him he perked up a little but still seemed off.... As I was racking my brains for what could be wrong with him he stood up with such a start and then lept off my hands - what's worse is that in my panic I hadn't noticed the family cat come in, who was sat patiently by my feet, salivating a little! If he hadn't have bounced off the corner of the chair on his way down he would've headed straight for her jaws, and although she's getting on a bit now and doesn't cause Nigel much bother, I don't think she would've missed out on an opportunity like that!!
Absolute nightmare!!
Anyway, I caught him just before he hit the floor and put him back in his cage where he ran about like nothing had happened!!
Re: Narcoleptic Nigel
As long as Nigel is healthy and happy, that's the main thing 
Linear Mode
