Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / July 2007

Cedar and pine may seem harmless, but the effects can come from long
term use. Here's a snip from http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html
They also list MANY safe litters, some of which are not too expensive.
You should tell your friends who use the soft shavings that they just
might be saving their pets lives by switching.

"Several people have claimed that their pet rodents have always been
kept on pine or cedar with no adverse effects. However, animals with
elevated liver enzymes do not show any symptoms, and unless these
animals received full autopsies at death with no sign of enlarged
livers or liver disfunction, respiratory infection, or altered immune
system, how can they claim that the pine or cedar did not affect
them?

Some claim that pine shavings which are heat-treated are safe because
the heat drives off the toxins. There are currently products being
sold, notably All-Pet Pine, Feline Pine, and Pine Fresh, that claim to
be free of toxins. However, the studies in references 8 and 9 found
that heat treatment did not remove all the toxins from the wood. Heat-
treated shavings still caused a rise in liver enzymes in rats and
mice."

This is just a snip from one article of a *bazillion* online that can
be easily found by googling "rats cedar shavings" or something of the
like.

I posted a reply just last night in Rats Rule! about how, since there
is so much information readily available about pet rats that simply
was non-existant or very hard to come by 20, even 10 yrs. ago, no rat
should have to live without *proper* care. Tell your friends that
perhaps they have been rat *owners* longer than you, but you are doing
your research- to become a good rat parent. If they love their rats
they won't mind spending a few extra bucks on a different litter.

Aspen chips are not too much more than the cedar or pine. -or- If you
line the bottom of scotter's cage with paper and use litter in just a
litter box, you will use about 1/20th of the amount you were using
(probably less, just a guess) which will save you a lot of money. I
bought Aspen pellets which are very *aromatic*, unlike aspen chips
(shavings), to use in the litter boxes. It was $13 at Petco which
means it would be less somewhere else, and only a handful is
neccessary.

btw, all rats are special! ;)

Anyone ever use Aspen?  I am currently using CritterCare, but it really
doesnt do much for the smells, and i need something that will cover it a bit.
I know Ceder and Pine arent good for rats, but what about Aspen?  Its about
the same cost (if not a bit less) than CritterCare.  Thanks guys.