Welcome to our cozy reading room! This a place for rat owners to get comfortable, make friends, share stories, and exchange rat care tips. Let your rats out, have a cup of tea, and join in!
New ratties!
by Rita
Hiya! I'm just writing to share some awesome news... My mum and I were out picking up our old rat cage from a friends house who had baby ratties and we got there and I started to look at them. My mum being the animal lover picked them up and played with them as did I. So we are about to leave and she tells me quietly, no use going home with an empty rat cage eh... I'm soo happy! I'm getting two females! I couldn't get them today since they're too young but I'm gonna get them soon! I chose them though already.. cute cute cute.. so yes that's my good news:) but the bad news is, amelia, my mouse, is almost a hairless mouse now poor baby... But lucy is perfectly fine and still her usual cowardly self... alright well I better go. Hope everyone's doing good.
bye!
Wow! Those babies sound so cute. (sigh) I wish I could go back and do the baby rat thing all over again. Anyway, if they're really young, how do you know that they're girls? Remember, girls have a little bump that's really close to their tush hole, and boys' bumps are kinda bigger and are further away, almost on their belly.
What do they look like? When they're young you can at least tell if they're hooded or light or dark or berkshire (white on their bellies). Details, details!
Lila
I know that they're females because my mum is very experienced in the rodent domain.. she breed mice in university to try and get a rare breed, she suceeded. ne of them is full brown, the brown that will make her look like a sewer rat I hope. those are my fav. and the other is a black hooded with a slightly dalmation looking back. Both arevery sweet but have to start being handled already so our friend is starting that for us untill I can get them.
RATTIES!!! they sound cute. let us know what you decide to name them. yes, I have an all brown rat too. cheese. she doesn't even have socks on her feet. I like that sewer rat look too. Jan
Hey! I am sooo happy for you. They sound so cute. you have to tell me what you are naming them. I wish my mum would let me get more ratties but she hates the smell. I don't mind it at all, I love them so much, they have their own personalities. you're really lucky your mom loves rats. Oh well, hopefully i'll get through to her. Well, i got to go. hope you have fun with you rats and i'm sorry to hear about amelia. bye bye!!
OK, straight to the point. I took Cookies out today and I think she's sick. She was kind of lethargic and would walk around then stop and sort of lie down, then do it over again. She's breathing kind of heavily. I know that she has some respiratory issues but they've never done this before. I'm really worried. It scares me so much when rats start lying down. I don't think she's gonna die, but I'm no vet. Speaking of vets, I don't know if my mom will pay for another visit to the vet for the rats. I hate the general social idea that the smaller something is the less worthy it is to save. Damn it all to hell. Seriously.
If you guys could give me some words of advice or some knowledge about this, I'd appreciate it.
Lila
Hi, I am a new rattie convert. I got my first rat, Krysa 2 months ago from a professor at school that didn't have enough time to care for her and the multitude of other animals in the lab. Krysa is now approx. 6 months old. While doing some rattie research, I learned that ratties need each other, families and 1 rat alone was cruel. So three weeks ago I found a breeder and adopted 2 sweet little babies. (Both female also) I am looking to get the older rat Krysa introduced to the babies, Fiona and Hisvet, I have let Krysa climb their cage and vice-versa as well as letting Krysa in the babies cage when I have them out. I tried to introduce them to each other a couple of days ago, Hisvet (baby) went right up to Krysa and Krysa turned around and attacked. Hisvet made these high pitched squeals and I was scared that Krysa would hurt her so I separated them.
A little history on Krysa, she was adopted by my professor from the local Humane Society at approx. 3 months of age. She was adopted alone, and has been alone since. I really want her to be happy (I try to take her everywhere I go in the house and both my fiance and I play with her often, she has a special jacket to ride in, one with a hood, so she can ride in style!)
I am sorry this is so long, I am really unsure of what to do. I have read different sites saying how social rats are, what should I do to put them together? What is normal behavior and what is not? I expect that Krysa will try to maintain dominance I just don’t want her to hurt the little ones. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Most Sincerely,
Candice
yes, you do have to introduce them slowly. I did this a couple times. I also put a little one right in with a bigger one, and the same thing happened. they attacked her, so I hurried to get her out. So, that is normal behavior. Then i would let the baby crawl around the others cage so they could sniff her. then I would have them all out and introduce them out of the cages. just be on the alert to break up fights. then, take the older one and put her in the babys cage to be introduced, not the other way around, because the older one would be more dominate towards her own cage.
I just kept trying and trying untill they got used to each other. so you're really doing everything right. they will soon learn to love each other. How long have you had the bigger one.before you got the others? Don;t be surprized if she acts jealous when you play with the babies. If I were you, I'd make her #1.
I think they would learn to like each other out of thier cages first.
Funny thing, I once had a hairless rat. no one ever really did like her. but they didn't fight with her, just kind of ignored her. HA,HA, too ugly,I guess.
Jan
I agree with Jan, you're doing everything right, I had to introduce 2 sister mice to another mouse I got rescued from my school(my teacher was going to feed him to a snake:O!!!)
I thought easiest to put the mice together on a large table. Luckily I had one of the sisters who was very explorative and accepting. Next step was to integrate them into one cage. I find easiest to clean a cage, put them all in(the loner first then the duo) and watch. becuz u see the two have each other to deend one another and the loner has no one. so he must go first to set a small area to himself. Slowly they'll get used to each other and even cuddle up! If not, you might just have to keep ur loner alone and ur 2 together. Making sure u take the single one out more than the 2.
I just bought a rat and she's still young,not full grown and she's very scared of me (that might have to do something with my face
and I was wondering how to get her a little more familiar with me and not so scared.
They are pretty scared when they are young. don't worry, its not your face
Just hold her alot and give her treats. they like just about everything. but, a piece of raw corn on the cob is a favorite. also gren peas, lettuce,nuts. just not really good to give then sweets or salty things. talk to her. they LOVE that.!!!! and tell her how smart she is, treat a rat smart and they will be, treat them dumb and they will be.
put her on your shoulder and walk around with her. also, if you want to sit and watch t.v. or sit somewhere on the bed or something. they feel safe when they are under cover. so what I did was have a small kitchen towel,place it over the top of my thighs and make like a "tent" for them. soon, they get curious and come out slowly and run back under when they feel the need to feel safe. a towel to run under, is a good thing.
also have a little "house" for her in the cage. this is their "safe" place. try to get her out with treats and once she gets to know you, she will come out on her own. try not to put your hands in there, because it is no longer a "safe" place, when hands are reaaching in.
Let me know how things develop.
when rats are scared, the instinct is to poop. don't worry, once she gets to know you and love you, she will not do that on you anymore.
Jan
I let her out of her cage everyday, she's allright,she runs around and seems happy but if I try to catch her,oh god, she hates it she runs around like a mad rat and if I finally catch her she will do everything to get out of my hands, I'm worried bc it has gotten worse,first I could take her but know she will do everything so that I can't take her. Maybe I'm doing something wrong and even with treats she refuses to take them and will just stare at them
It kinda sounds like this rat is sick. Not taking treats can sometimes mean illness. Try just petting her, get her used to your hands. Maybe try different treats; yogurt dips almost always work, those and banana chips are the only treats my ratties will eat. Also, wash your hands and then rub them in her bedding (clean bedding lol) so that you smell alright. If you own a cat or have certain smells on your hand, she might feel like she's in danger when you hold her. Let me know how things work out. Keep trying; don't give her back or anything like that! (sorry if you're not that kind of person, I don't know) Ratties are really smart, and if you work with her on this, I'm sure you can fix it.
Lila
P.S. When I first bought Rosabella (my rat) I was really upset because she didn't let me go near her in the cage. I had to let her come to me. She even bit me once when I got my hand too close to her hut. Turns out it was because she was pregnant! After she gave birth, she was so friendly! Good luck!
Is amazing!!!! So cute! and they didn't ruin the sequel like they do to most.. and "13 going on 30" is cute too kindda like "big" but not as good. just had to put in my input:)
Hi everyone! Just found time in my surprisingly busy life! Woah, is it just me or do days just fly by!
I woke up this morning and my mum walks in and starts singing Happy Birthday! I thought she was nuts! but then I realized it really was my birthday?! That's how busy I've been! So busy that I forgot my own birthday! Not to mention the many other things I forgot to do... Ugh do I just wish there were 3 more hours in a day! Added to all the regular things I have to do; are the insane amount of projects/ exams I have! What's up with teachers' at the end of a school year!? Why do they suddenly go all batty? I just can't wait til school is over and done with so I can enjoy my peaceful summer!
I'm so sorry to hear about Casper, he's been here on the earth such a short time, but he's had more friends than most ratties ever have. Really, how many ratties have international friends? not lots. He will be remembered by us all. I think that Amelia will follow Casper soon. She is now a hairless mouse with quite a large tumor/bump of some sort on her left side. I'm still debating what the most humane thing to do is... Euthanize her or let her choose her own time. She's still eating and seems quite perky so I think that she's good for another while. Lucy is still nice and furry and as much of a sweetie as she can be. They're both so old though! Like 3 years old practicly!
Lila(I hope it's you), I don't think you're too young at all. Read the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. She wrote it and got it published by 17!(I'm not a fan of hers at all really it's just we read the book in english class and it's quite impressive that she could write that before her 17th birthday!) So keep at it if that's what you want, and like jan(i think it was u) said, keep it up don't drop it otherwise u'll lose it.
Hey, fellow gemini. my birthday is on the 7th.!!!So we probably think alot alike.
I had a hairless rat once, her name was ugly (u-glee). she also ended up with a tumor on her stomach. got soo big, she walked funy. didn't seem to bother her much. Untill one day it killed her. but she didn't seem to suffer at all, just kind of layed down and went to sleep forever. I wouldn't youghenize any of them unless they seem to be suffering, like can't breathe from that respirotory disease or running in circles from that ear infection thing.
no, I'd just let her go in peace, when its time. poor amilia, does she look 100 yrs old, like casper did? in our yrs, he really was about that age.
talk to you all later, now that all of you are getiing out for summer vacation, I expect you all might be on this thing more often. hope so.
Jan
There is no other excuse for my long abscence other than the following; life is buuuuusy. In my time gone, I have been confirmed in the Catholic church, did a play (Don Quixote), started writing a book, and managed a 3.4 GPA in my second semester of freshman year. Whew! My poor ratties don't know what to do with me. The only time I have to take them out is on weekends and every day before I go to bed, which is usually around 11. (sigh) Am I too young to write a book (of novel length)? Give me your thoughts.
I am glad to see nothing bad has happened to the ratties of our group. Nothing's wrong with my babies, unless you count Sweet Pea's getting really fat a problem. She's actually pretty cute that chubby.
Respond, respond!
Lila
I just read the message. How could I miss it? Geese, I'm sad. I miss Casper. I thought he was immortal. I'll never forget him. Cheese and rice. Fudge bars. Tartar sauce.
Isn't it strange how code names for bad words are all food?
Grrr, I feel like punching something.
Lila
I have no idea what those code names are for bad words. does everybody else?
by the way, everybody : go see the movie, Shreck 2. Me and Jessica and her dad went to see it last week-end, and it was SOOOOOOOOOO funny!!!!
I was really surprized how funny it was.!!!! you guys got to see it !!!!
P.s. Sit through the credits at the end of the movie. because it is not over!! We where all walking out of the theater during the credits and EVERYBODY stopped where they where standing to see the rest of the movie!!! that was so funny. Just when you thought it was over, it wasn't over.
Lila, tell me what you are writing about. If any of you has seen the movie, put your input into it and let us know what you thought.
Jan
Hi. glad your back, as you can see no one is getting on here lately. thats o.k., as long as we do once in a while.
Yes, my poor Casper is gone. I try not to think about it.
Hey, what are you writing about? NO, the younger you start your gift of writiong the better!!!! and don't forget if you ever stop, you'll loose it.
I knew you where a writer, because you are alot like me. I love to write, but never a novel or anything, just letters, which no one ever does anymore. but, my friends sometimes get something nice in the mail besides bills and ads.
its now getting to be hades around here, hit the 100 mark today. so I now have to wait for the evening to really take my ratties outside. too hot for me. they probably wouldn't mind.
Now, I am consentrating on my Mac and cheese. Mac's alittle chubby, herself. and Cheese is my cute little girl.
gtg. Jan
Yes, the babies are in the whole cage now. at first they went to the corner that was closed up before and looked down and went"whooa". took them awhhile to go down there. I still want to get some hairless rats. for the jungle room.
I guess I should call some pet stores and find them. I know of 2 places that might have them. one is on prince and cambell. and the other is way out on Ina and oracle. but I will take you wiht when I go. You know how your dad is about more animals though. I don't see why he should care, I'm the one who takes care and full responsibility for them.
Have you seen the movie "13 going on 30" yet.? I wouldn't mind seeing that one.
well, got to go. Jan
hey guys, one more time. I am in the spirit world now. and am very happy I had such a great life with my mom.
It's cold in here!!!!! mom put me in the freezer, untill she can bury me. I Love her!!!! she took such great care of me in my "golden" years.
Now Nibbles will have to take care of all my lady friends.!!!! Kiss them all for me.
take good care of them and am looking down on all you girlies. Now I am your gaudian angle.
love, and happiness, Love, CASPER, the friendliest rat you know.
Oh, my poor guy, he died today.
he looked like he was 100 yrs. old!!!!
He was 2 1/2 yrs old. he was my sweet Casper.
and now he's gone. but at least he didn't die gasping for air.
I am so sad. but I will grieve for him tonight and go on with the other 2: Mac and Cheese.
I am going to start a "rat cemetary" for all my buddies. It will have a thombstone, and each rat will have thier own cross wiht their names on it. Casper will be the first.
r.i.p. CASPER. I LOVE YOU.
JAN.
Wow, I haven't been on in a long time. All my rats are still cute and healthy. I've been so busy. But i had a few minutes spare time, so i thought i'd pop in and say hello. ttyl. ~Jessica
Hiya, just poping by to see how you all were, no one's written much lately! Must be the spring fever that's keeping us all away from our computers... Unless it's the hockey playoff's? Well the habs just lost to tampa bay.. too bad but o well..
Sad news over here, Amelia has a lump(tumor I think) on her side. She's 3 years old so I guess it's near her time but it's still sad. I don't think I'll take her to the vet, odds are they won't be able to take away the tumor and even if they tried, she's 3, she wouldn't make it through the surgery with all the anestitia(spelling?). But I don't think she's suffering she seems just as happy as before. Anyone heard? The oldest mouse in the world died today at 4 years old, not bad eh? Amelia looks too funny, I wish you could see, she has barely any hair left on her little tummy. She's getting so old! poor little girl,but she's still alive and kicking and that's all that matters.
Well I best be off,
Rita
Hiya Folks this is my first time in a forum so not sure if this is the right way to introduce my self I am in the uk have recently bought my self a rat.
The one I have now I have only had just over a week she started sneezing the day after I got her home I phoned the shop they said it was the sawdust making her sneeze so I changed it but she got no better, so I took her to the vets he gave me Baytril to give her she has had 3 doses so far 1ml a day I have read on the internet about alsorts of things that could cause this problem & wondered if anyone could give me some advice.
She is bright eyed & Happy in herself no discharge from her nose she is eating & drinking fine giving her the medicine is a bit of struggle but this sneezing & coughing racks her poor little body can someone please help Thanks
Hello dear Spooky. As you now or may already realize, almost every rat sneezes and snuffles a little more than they should. Rats tend to always die from an upper respiratory problem or cancer, once they're around two years old. It's the sad truth.
For now, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use cedar or pine bedding. In fact, you really shouldn't use any wood based bedding. Use paper or newspaper based. Some people will say,"Oh well this bedding is clean and/or filtered and/or aired out lots so it won't hurt them!" but that's just not the way it is.
There are some things with names like Vitadrops for Rats or Vitahelp etc. that you can put in their water that can help out a little. You can get it at the pet store. Of course only start with a tiny bit for like a week in case your rat is allergic.
Otherwise, there's not much you can do. It could be the bedding dust, but it's usually stuff in their lungs. Don't freak out if you start to see red stuff around your rat's eyes, nose or ears. It happens.
Otherwise, welcome! You can come here for ANY questions. If you've had your rat for less than three weeks, and it's a girl, keep an eye on her weight gain. When I bought my rat, she was pregnant and I didn't know!
Lila
P.S. I knew a rat who sneezed a lot and she lived to be four! It may not be the end of the world.
Well, I think some people choose pine bedding because it is the cheapest and easiest to find. People who's hearts are really in the right place may not have the resources to buy good bedding. I think even if people use ceader bedding for thier rat's whole life, it is still better than the rat having a horrible slow painful death by a snake. But, of course, if you could buy nicer bedding you most definetly should. I g2g.......give your ratties hugs for me!
Hey peoples!
I haven't been responding too much because I was taking care of my cousins for 10 days straight. They're worth it though. There were three, ages four, seven, and eight. What a handful!
I figure that Swet Pea's illness was a result from a new bedding I tried. I'm pretty sure she has a bad allergy from it, and spending a full night sleeping in it made her really sick. She's all better now, though she's still sneezing.
Two of Rosie's babies (Cream, who is now Fred, and Zigzag, who is now Zelda) went to a friend named Paula. She felt tumors in their tummies, so yesterday Fred had surgery and they removed it. She's fine now. As for Zelda, the tumor cannot be removed, so she will die soon. It's so sad. The babies only turned one on April 7th. (last Wednesday)
At least Spring is here. In Michigan wonderful weather is hard to come by, so now that it's steadily warm outside everyone is at least content. Although the clouds still clog up the sky every other day. I'm used to it though.
BLESSED BE FOR SPRING BREAK!!!
Happy Good Friday for those who are Christian. Course to call it a happy day is sort of opposite of what it is. For those who don't know, Christ dies today.
-Lila
Hello! What work it must have been caring for all of those kids! I have little cousins also but when I babysit it doesn't seem to hard, because I love em so darn much!!
My first ratter Shelby lived a long life but eventually cancer got the better of her. She had quite a large tumor, but still lived up into two years. So cancer might not be a definate death sentance!
Trixi and Poppy have been so busy lately playing in there new cage they have barley eaten! Talk about crazy:they just "hang" around on the top bars of their cage. Rats can be so insane at times.
Nibbles is just a boring as ever! He just lays around sleeping all day. Hmmm.....that doesn't sound half bad right about now! I think he would like some company, but I just don't have the time, energy, or money. Poor lonley old fart. At least he's not snake food.
Tell all of your ratties I say hi! Talk to you later.
~~**~Maddie~**~~
PS~The weather around here is getting nice too! Today it is like 60 degrees or something
Hey Jan, I found your question.
I believe we paid about $70 for the vet. It all included an examination, teeth trimming, and an antibiotic for Sweet Pea. I think the examination was about $30, the meds were about $25, and that puts the trimming somewhere around $10. It's expensive, but it was worth it. I only hope it was the meds that cured Sweet Pea and not time away from the bad bedding.
Darnit, all the wood beddings I can't use. Oh well. Newspaper based will have to do it. <*_*>(~Lila~)<*_*>
