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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / June 2007Jenny's Blog: Rat-A-Tat-Tat!
Jenny decided she wanted to start her "day" between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. last night. I go to bed in that time period (or earlier) because I have to get up at 5:15 a.m. Every time I woke, it seemed that Jenny was trying out her new Oasis water bottle, which I discovered shortly after getting home a little after 4 p.m. today was leaking. The little red ball was in place, and the lid was tightly closed. Jenny was in Dreamland when I left the apartment at 6:35 a.m. And she was in Dreamland when I got home a little after 4 p.m. She has only stirred a little as of this posting. Jenny doesn't seem to like her "Kaylor of Colorado Sweet Harvest" rodent blocks, and her only interest in her Carefresh litter seems to be pushing it completely out of her way. I went in Ace Hardware and found some adjustable mesh screens in wood frames. They're 7," 10," and 15" high and all long enough to go the length of the cage (25 5/8") and then some. The cage is 14 1/2" high. All are light, so moving them out of the way when needed won't be a problem. But is 10" or 15" high enough? Thanks for your suggestions! http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy I just got a new rat too! Mine is a boy, and he is silly all the time. I bought Pine bedding for him because that's what the store uses, but he keeps sneezing, so I went out today and bought some CritterCare, which has no dust, so its much better for him. I didn't realize how much dust there was in the pine until I cleaned out his cage and saw how much was all over the walls and stuff. He is being super weird, but I think its normal since he doesnt seem to be sleeping all the time. The other thing is that I just lost my job last week, so I see him more during the day time and him sleeping all day is odd to watch. I bought him one of those plastic igloo things, but he hates it and only plays on top of it, never in it, which is weird. I also need to find a new box for him to sleep in. What does Jenny like to sleep in? I also made him a hammoc (sorry, I really cant spell) out of a washcloth and rope. He doesnt seem to know what to do with any of the toys he has. I bougt him a ball, and put him in it, and he just sat there. Its like he couldnt figure it out. I also bought a big plastic bin and cut up a bunch of washcloths and made a playpin for him to hang in. I might cut part of the top off, and add the mesh I spoke of in my last message to you so that I can put the top on and let him play while I do other things. Do you only have Jenny? I only have Scooter. A lot of people will talk crap about only having one rat, and yes they do get a bit depressed the first week or so that they are alone, but eventually they get use to their everyday life as it is now, and dont remember the old way of having a bunch. I'd love to be able to talk to you, so if you wanna chat let me know and I'll leave you my email. I hope to hear from you soon! Jenn > I just got a new rat too! Mine is a boy, and he is silly all the > time. I bought Pine bedding for him because that's what the store > uses, but he keeps sneezing, so I went out today and bought some > CritterCare, which has no dust, so its much better for him. You're right that any dusty bedding is bad for rats, however many wood based bedding products including pine are bad even if they're dust extracted - solvents in the wood will poison them. I've never heard of CritterCare so couldn't comment on it. > I didn't realize how much dust there was in the pine until I cleaned > out his cage and saw how much was all over the walls and stuff. He [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > to do with any of the toys he has. I bougt him a ball, and put him > in it, and he just sat there. Its like he couldnt figure it out. No - most rats are too smart for balls. If you were shut into a small spherical box would you run around? Since their main senses are smell & touch via their whiskers they'd wouldn't have much feedback on where they were going either, so staying still is the sensible option. > I also bought a big plastic bin and cut up a bunch of washcloths and > made a playpin for him to hang in. I might cut part of the top off, > and add the mesh I spoke of in my last message to you so that I can > put the top on and let him play while I do other things. Do you only > have Jenny? I only have Scooter. A lot of people will talk crap > about only having one rat, Previously you wrote: > I dont need any more lectures, but anything can be said positively. Calling experienced knowledgeable people's advice 'crap' is not what I'd call positive. It's also incorrect in this case. > and yes they do get a bit depressed the first week or so that they > are alone, but eventually they get use to their everyday life as it > is now, and dont remember the old way of having a bunch. People will behave in such a manner too when held captive long term - it's called the Stockholm Syndrome (see eg http://everydaypsychology.blogspot.com/2007/01/why-do-kidnap-victims-sometimes-f ail-to.html ), however that isn't generally considered justification for the treatment. Regarding rats kept as pets, they /are/ social creatures. They will be happier kept in groups or at the very least as a pair. They need this interaction for their psychological well being. Keeping a rat as part of a group does not lead to less interaction with humans - they can enjoy all contact. If you choose to keep a single rat no one is likely to try to stop you for these reasons, however if you don't accept the consequences for the rat, the only person you're fooling around here is yourself, which personally I see as a great shame as I much prefer to see people making informed choices. I hope you'll keep reading posts in this group & will find much information of use to you & your pet/s.  SignatureMichael m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t Snip A lot of people will talk crap about only > having one rat, and yes they do get a bit depressed the first week or so that > they are alone, but eventually they get use to their everyday life as it is > now, and dont remember the old way of having a bunch. > Jenn Woa... It is NOT CRAP!!! It is very important for rats to have the social life that they are meant to live. Just like with people, we need to communicate and be with other humans, it's a need. Same with rats. SignatureJoanne Owned by 26 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* > Jenny decided she wanted to start her "day" between 9:30 p.m. and 10 > p.m. last night. I go to bed in that time period (or earlier) because I [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy Welcome to the list!! First of all, I highly recommend...no I beg you, get your little guy a buddy. Rats are social creatures and really do need another rat to help them feel safe, secure and happy. Second, any chance you can get your rat a bigger cage? 25 x 14 as a base is really too small. Rats are so intelligent and need to constantly be challenged and stimulated. A small cage and no buddies can really send them into depression, no matter how many times a day you spend with them. SignatureJoanne Owned by 26 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* I just wanted to post an update on the matter. Today I bought another male rat, not because anyone here was pressuring me to do so, but because my Scooter seemed lonely. I always said if I noticed that he was getting depressed I'd get another, and last night he didnt really do much, so I went out today and bought another rat. The introduction went better than expected. They cuddled up in my blanket and slept in a big ball. It was like they were two brothers who had never been sepearated. Simon is much smaller than Scooter, so its like Simon is his little brother, or son or something. Tonight I will be taking them with me to a friends house for movie night so all my friends can see my newest additions. These friends will also be babysitting them while I go out of town this weekend. I guess what I am saying is that, yes, rats are happier in pairs, and yes, my cage (which is a standard rat/ferrit cage) can fit two rats (at this time, though both are growing boys and may outgrow it, and then I'll have no clue what to do). > I just wanted to post an update on the matter. Today I bought another male > rat, not because anyone here was pressuring me to do so, but because my > Scooter seemed lonely. I always said if I noticed that he was getting > depressed I'd get another, and last night he didnt really do much, so I went > out today and bought another rat. CongRATS on the new guy :) SignatureMichael m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t It's so good to hear that Scooter and Simon are happy and getting along well. Dewi > I just wanted to post an update on the matter. Today I bought another male > rat, not because anyone here was pressuring me to do so, but because my [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > standard rat/ferrit cage) can fit two rats (at this time, though both are > growing boys and may outgrow it, and then I'll have no clue what to do). Wonderful news! Scooter and Simon sound perfect for each other!!! :) SignatureJoanne Owned by 26 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* I'm taking a chance and buying the adjustable mesh window screens mentioned in my last post tomorrow to put around the Coast cage because Jenny needs to be in it instead of where she is. I'll keep working on the other problems. Jenny needs a bigger cage. I need something that I can clean properly and that's portable. I seem to have learned the art of scritching with her. At least, she sure seemed to enjoy my stroking her last night with my index fingers instead of trying to head for Cleveland. Oh, and she likes broccoli. http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy I set up the adjustable window screens around Jenny's cage. Of the four, three need to be held by heavy objects in order to stay up against the cage walls. Actually, the cage looks rather handsome with the screen "accessories." I'd recommend them for people who've bought cages with too much space between the bars. Jenny did a quick, excited survey of the cage, then rushed into the shelter to make herself a bed. Since then, she has sprinted twice in and out of the shelter in order to grab a a rat block. She has also taken a couple of drinks from a pretty little (washed) container of water. http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy > I set up the adjustable window screens around Jenny's cage. Of the > four, three need to be held by heavy objects in order to stay up against [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy Would it be easier to wrap the cage with hardware fabric? I know that those screens, near me, cost about $5 each. Where as you could buy a roll of screening or hardware fabric for about $7. --Michaela It's funny how the cage seems to have altered Jenny's perception of me. She went from wanting to climb me like a tree and to seemingly being hypnotized by the scritching to wanting nothing to do with me, even with offerings of treats and other diversions. The bad thing is that she gets on the other side of the cage, which is large enough to make it tough to reach her. http://community.webtv.net/Dalesdomain/CatchMyFancy > I just wanted to post an update on the matter. Today I bought another male > rat, not because anyone here was pressuring me to do so, but because my [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > -- > Message posted via PetKB.comhttp://www.petkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/rat/200706/1 Congratulations on your new friend. I'm sure Scooter is psyched! What type of food are you feeding your rats? I ask because a petshop that still uses pine or cedar shavings most likely doesn't carry proper rat food. I am feeding them your basic rat mix. I am actually mixing two seperate types, the block ones and a mix that is special for rats. I know Scooter loved Minion, but now Minion is gone, and such is life. I think I am officially done with rats. If Scooter dies, I am completely done. Forever. How do you know if a rat is healthy when you buy them? What are signs of a sick rat? |
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