so, my roommate and i own a rat. we are both going out of town for the holidays (me for 3 weeks, her for a month - with overlap we'll be gone 2.5 weeks). we are both flying on southwest which does not allow animals besides cats or dogs. we lined up someone to take care of the rat - evidently the only person i know in los angeles who is staying here - and then realized that we live in a house with no heat and we definitely cannot leave the landlord's solution of a 15+ yr old space heater on for 2.5 weeks unattended for obvious reasons. i read the memories and it sounds like the only solution that has been added there was to sneak the rat on the plane (definitely not going to happen - i can't get her to sit still for 10 seconds, let alone the hour-long holiday security line at LAX!).

what other options do we have? maybe a pet boarding place in LA that accepts rats? how much does that generally cost? (i took a cat to one once in a small town - after looking for LA rates seems there is nothing but resorts and they are 4x+ more expensive than the rates i knew, wow) other ideas? the only other thing i can think of is i was considering going out and buying an electric blanket (for me - in this house even LA is frigid!), which i could probably safely leave on low (?) wrapped around/underneath the outside of the solid part of her cage for the time we are gone to keep her warm between caretaker visits? would that be too warm?

i did not realize the holidays would be so logistically challenging, haha...

thanks!

And they all look like females! How do I tell?! There are no balls! Anywhere!

I now have 10 all white genderless rat babies. They are about the size of adult mice. Much smaller than Avery when I got her at a month! The lady said she found them when they were fuzzy, and they have been away from there mother for 3 weeks. Thats all the info I have been given!


Thanks for all your help :)

*edit* They are eating solids and there are no clear testicles that have been descended, does this mean the females are most likely not pregnant (thatd be awesome) and does this give us a clearer grasp on their age?

*edit 2* If they are so young their ... testicles have not descended, does this mean there is less of a chance the girls are pregnant?

( Read more... )

I have discovered the wonders of the spray bottle of water, which may seem a bit cruel but isn't providing you're not aiming it anywhere near their head. It's a lot less traumatizing than being put into a sink, tub or container with water in it -- and a few squirts makes them a lot cleaner without the "drowned rat" look and bonus is that you don't wind up with a billion scratches everywhere on yourself. And strangely enough, the rugrats seem more confused than anything else and not irritated and sulking, which normally happens after a needed bath.

And the boys of course we rewarded for tolerating it, and are now grooming themselves. (I somehow managed to misplace the olive oil to treat their mites and make them stop scratching/itching, and this seems to cool them down a bit and makes them scratch a lot less).

Why do boys insist on marinating in their own pee??! They smell ucky. :S (Even when cleaning it every other day - it's still YUCK)

*No rats were harmed in the making of this post*

Does anyone know any good breeders in the Ottawa area???

Thxxxxx!

Someone emailed my brother about 10 baby rats, saying that if he couldn't take them in she was just going to let them go. This is Michigan. In december. Babies don't stand a chance. But these were babies from feeder rats, if handled, would we be able to rehome them? I am confused as to the whole of the situation and how I should handle it. I would love to take them in and have more than enough food and space(extra cages ftw) for them but by no means can I have ten babies!

Advice please oh rat gurus =[


EDIT: As if it took much convincing, I am taking in the furkids. Does one have to be a REAL rescue to post up on petfinder? Or can I post as a make shift foster looking for legitimate homes?

EDIT 2: When is it deemed appropriate for me to move the bubs into new homes? I am getting them tonight. Pictures to come soon. What courses of action should i take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of these babies, in my care and putting them in the care of others?

On my way home this afternoon, I saw a lady down the street with a small dog. I had to do a doubletake! She had the small dog's leash shortened to the point where the dog was actually having to walk on just his back legs!!! She even crossed the street pulling him along on his back legs!!

I would have said something, but (1) I don't speak Spanish and (2) in my wheelchair there's no way I could have caught up with her to give her a piece of my mind even if she wouldn't understand what I said.

I didn't use my "fluffernugget" icon, because this goes so far beyond being a fluffernugget; it's definitely in the WTF of spo's category.

My little man Mark has horrible eye sight. Like he sways a lot and it's obvious in comparison to Carl that homeboy can't get around as well. He still has fun, but he isn't as active, etc.

Does anyone have any suggestion for helping a rattie who can't see very well. I want him to still have lots of fun, so maybe there are ways I can make safe jumpy play places for him?

Any suggestions would be great!

I live in a household with four cats that have finally settled on a group dynamic.

The point of me writing this, however, is that just now, we got... surprised.

A little solid black kitty - a girl, if I'm seeing things correctly, and not quite one if we judge by her size - showed up on our back porch and walked right in. We aren't sure if we can handle another cat. I'd like to think we can, but I'm being realistic here.

She's affectionate so far, loves to rub and loves to be scratched, but we think she's sore around the ribs and she has a scar across the bridge of her nose. We've fed her, and she's currently in a bathroom where she can be safe from our other four who aren't too pleased about another cat suddenly coming into their territory.

If anybody in the Lexington, KY area has room for a little black kitty, please let me know. We don't want to see her go to any of the idiots who have a problem with an all-black cat, and we don't want her to be a Christmas kitty. We don't know if she's been fixed or declawed or what because, with her rib soreness, we can't really pick her up to check. Beyond not wanting to be picked up, she seems fine.

x-posted to a couple comms

Just a friendly little reminder that ratties can now also be found on Facebook as... Ratties on Facebook!. :P

Only 94 members over there as opposed to our 2,396 here.

Also, the_daily_pet seriously needs more rat pictures guys. Seriously.

I've been in contact with Blue Stone Rattery ( http://bluestonesiamese.webs.com)
has anyone ever heard of them or gotten their baby there?

I can't wait to add to my family. I'd love some input/opinions! Especially names. I so desperately want to name my future baby Rose Tyler. But i really dislike the name rose :( It took me nearly 3 weeks to name Penny, which is why I think she doesn't respond all the time! So i'd love to have a name ready for my new baby!


EDIT:
Ok, thought of some names, so votes are easier than suggestions ^.^ but suggestions are still welcome.

so far my thoughts take me to...
Willow
Echo
Saffron

I got this email from him tonight:

I was doing my rounds at work Sunday morning when one of the residents came up and said "Someone's looking for you". That someone turned out to be a midnight black short hair (similar to Susie but no spots at all) that was in a cat carrier on its end in an end stairway. The resident said it had been there 3-4 days, but I rather doubt that. I randomly pick a stairway each morning to check during my inside tours. This one didn't win the lottery last weekend.

He turned out to be a very lovable, patient, inquisitive and outgoing fellow about 15 pounds who will purr loudly on a touch. He appears healthy in all respects except for dirty ears. He's neutered and de clawed and a shiny coat. He had wet food...in a can in the carrier that needed an opener, and a litter box...about a foot away from the carrier.

I took him to the office and got him some Fancy Feast from Wilson Farms next door, borrowed a couple bowls from the kitchen and watched him plow through the can, on the installment plan, in about 30 minutes. That's what makes me wonder if he was really there that long.

I brought him home and we put him in the bedroom. Shiima is not a happy camper. She growls and hisses any time she's not hiding in my desk and refuses to cuddle with me. Mom, yes. Me, no way.

This morning I called work hoping to find an adopter. No luck. Robin would call Animal Control if I brought him back. She's empathetic, but her hands are tied. I'm afraid they'll put him down immediately. Other shelters are full.

Tomorrow afternoon he goes to Lollipop since we don't have any recourse.

Emphasis is mine. I told my dad to call the shelter and ask for numbers of rescues in the area. The cat sounds very, very adoptable, which is in his favor. I live four hours away so it would be a real trick for me to get him, but if my dad can get the cat to me, I have contacts with two rescues in my area that might be able to help.

i'm thinking of advertising to walk dogs in my neighbourhood and i'd love to hear your experiences and input.



- do you walk dogs yourself? do you use a dog walking service?

- how much do you pay/charge for this service?

- have you had a dog walker do anything else for you besides walking?



thanks! anything you'd like to share would be greatly appreciated.

The boys had a vet visit today, mostly because I was worried about an upper respiratory infection. But I happened to mention that I found some scabs on Miles (my oldest) but I thought it was caused by James because he's a bit... aggressive... sometimes in his grooming of his brothers. So I thought nothing of it, but did say I thought my rats may be scratching more than usual. But I checked their skin/fur and didn't notice anything so I thought it might be the weather changes (dry skin?).

Turns out I'm completely wrong and idiotic. Miles, Allan AND James all have LICE.

Excuse me, but I shuddered. *blech* I know they're species specific though, which is great news. (I have a bunny, who doesn't really come into contact with the boys, but they do share similar airspace)

So I was prescribed Advantage for their lice, and Doxycycline (with BEEF flavour, which I pray they like) for their respiratory infection which they do have as well. :S

But I need advice about how to get rid of the little buggers (the lice, not the rats :P)

I'm currently hot water washing and drying all their hammocks and cloth that was in their cage (all in the washer/dryer now!) I will be tossing their litter pan of wooden "pulp" bedding (it's like CareFresh but not) and will be cleaning with vinegar everything in their cage.

But here's the dilemma - do I need to actually toss everything wooden in their cage?? Their wooden log hideout is expensive to replace and can be washed, but as for their cardboard tubes and wooden toy (it's got a walnut in it!) ... would freezing them overnight be sufficient, or does everything really need to be tossed?

Is bleach what's needed to clean everything (I don't have ANY) or is white vinegar sufficient in cleaning? What else will get rid of the lice?? Halp!!

(All in all, the boys are now used to the vet enough that they don't freak out a lot but they did get a nip of chocolate for their breathing issues and are now chillaxing on my sofa. Yeah, I need to wash the couch slipcover too I know, but not until they're back in their cage!!)

EDIT! With the lovely advice given, I washed all of the hammocks and cloths in vinegar and then put it in the washer and then dryer, threw out the bedding that was in the cage, washed everything in the cage with vinegar, water and some regular dish washing soap, rinsed it all off and put it back in the cage. And all of the wood-based products are spending the night in the freezer. And I'll shortly give them (the boys) a bath with olive oil, which they will hate me for but hopefully that'll help the itchy rugrats. And of course, I'm going to continue the drug regiment the vet gave me and they get their meds until it's completely gone.

Ewwwwwwww lice. *shudders again*

Saturday evening my husband left out the pizza box with half of a larger pizza left in it. Of course he left it on the lower counter and Snickers got the box down and ate the rest of out half of pizza. We figured she would throw it up that night since she's done that before when she has gotten into things containing people food. Sunday she just seemed very uncomfortable and by last night she kept wanting to go out. We figured it finally caught up with her and she was doing her thing outside. This morning I let her out before work and noticed that it seemed that couldn't poop but she kept trying and trying. When I got home this evening and let her out, I watched her and she did the same thing. I left her out there for about 40 minutes and then went out to see if she had done anything. Nope, no poop in her area.

I'm sure she is feeling very uncomfortable and I'm wondering if giving her a tiny bit of a vegetable based laxative would be okay for her to get this pipes moving again? Snick weighs about 40lbs. I did this to my cat last year after she got backed up, my vet told us to give her a drop or two and it did the trick. I just forget what kind it was that we used last year. Whatever it was named, It was over the counter.


ETA: Thanks, I'm giving her some pumpkin. We'll see how that does.

Hi everyone, I'm going to put this under a cut, but we lost someone very special to us 2 days ago and I just needed to talk about her.

( Grandma Susie we miss you )

I was out walking the dog when I saw a woman coming down the road with a huge doberman. The dog was jumping up and pulling her and it looked like she could barely hold him. Add that to the tiny chihuahua walking offlead beside her on a very busy road and I was just waiting to see if anything bad happened to them. I hate people walking dogs offlead near roads.

thought you guys would appreciate this, it's an article about rats and positive reinforcement. there is a video at the end of the guy and his rat. look at her go!

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_127c21a8-e2cb-11de-b6c4-001cc4c002e0.html

Hey. Just wanted to join a community with fellow fur mommies so I can show off pictures of my wonderful baby boy.

Well... He's not so much a baby anymore. =P

Anyways. My name is Krystal and I'm a Senior at WVU, majoring in Animal Science and Nutrition. And my constant compainion is a German Shepherd/Akita mix named Neko.

I adopted Neko last January when I was living way out in the mountains with my ex-boyfriend who worked graveyard shifts. I wanted something slightly intimidating-looking so would-be robbers would think twice about intruding since I was home alone more than most of the time. I adopted Neko from a potential backyard breeder (who had plans on breeding him to a GSD/Newfoundland. Not kidding).

Well... Almost a year has went by. Since then, the ex and I had a falling out (I kept the dog since I know Neko would either be pound-bound if I didn't or tied up in his mom's backyard on a 12ft tow chain the rest of his life). Neko goes EVERYWHERE with me. To class, sometimes to work, even on a vacation in Canada this summer. Unfortunately, I had to move in town into a small apartment, but over three times a week, Neko is at my boyfriend's farm running free. And of course, we have our daily walks and trips to the dog park, weather permitting.

For being a 75 lb dog in this place, he's extremely calm and well-behaved. No whining, no barking, no separation anxiety, no chewing. He's a perfect angel.

Right now though, we're dealing with some food allergies. He's recovering nicely, but Neko still looks a bit... Bald. I've talked to two vets and my groomer about his coat, but was told that it'll take 6-8 weeks for all the bad stuff to run it's course and get out of his system. He's doing MUCH better now that I've found a food that suits him, but he still looks kinda ratty now. So any advice on that region is most welcome.

Alright. Now time for the ( Picture Spam! )

Yea. I think that's enough pictures for now. lol

Behind the cut are images of graphic cuteness. Cuteness beyond imagining. Puppy breath x 3. If you don't think you can handle such cuteness, please DO NOT click on the cut. I cannot be held responsible for any deaths from cuteness derived from clicking on the cut.

( And onto the cut... )

im trying to find books that have rats in them. mostly i just find mice which are cute but i really want some with rats. i guess i should clarify also that im looking for kids books or one with drawings not realistic books. do any of you have any good suggestions? thanks