The Rat Room » Habitat

Decos

jorats — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:14:46 +0000

Cage decorations can be as fun as your imagination will let it. Pick any rat forum and go through the habitat section and view all the wonderful postings of awesome cages and you will find happy ratties living there. Rats love junk. lol Balls, papers, boxes, anything in the cage keeps ratties busy mentally and physically. I’m posting a picture of a cage from a friend in Newfoundland, she’s got such an awesome cage for her rats. The hammocks, the wheel, the igloo and all the extra toys laying about make for a perfect cage. A lot of the stuff can be found at bargain stores or even made at home. String up cardboard pieces, add toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes… anything will do. Think like a rat and have fun!

Wheelie Tail

jorats — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:50:40 +0000

It’s pretty much what the name suggests. Some rats love to run in their wheels. As a result some of them develop what we affectionately call wheelie tail. They keep their tails up and over as they run. Some run so much in the wheels that even outside of their wheels they keep their tails curled up in some way. I don’t believe this has any effect on their spine nor is there a link to any hind end degeneration once they get older. What running in a wheel will do is keep your rats thin, agile and healthy. But don’t be concerned if you find your rat prefers to sleep on his wheel rather than run in it. I’d say the majority of rats are simply not wheel rats. Wheels should be the big size wheels, at least 12″ in diameter for a safe run. The play balls that are so popular with hamsters are not really a good toy for rats. For one, rats hate to be enclosed and unless you are using the mega ball, then it’s most likely much too small.
Please be very wary of breeders who are claiming to be breeding curly tails rats. This is an anomaly and severe handicap on the rat. Do not support such breeders.

Here are a couple of pictures of Hobo’s behind. He’s showing off his curly tail. He’s a true wheel runner.

The Triplex

jorats — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Back in 2007, a member on the Rat Shack started the Secret Santa fun. Those who participate, are assigned names and we put together a gift for our giftee. This year, my gifter commissioned my sister and the Cozy Corner to make a brand new type of hammock. Nic took this opportunity to finally create something I’ve been bugging her about for some time. I live in a triplex, a building I co-own with my parents and my sister. We all Iive in this triplex and we’ve called it the original Rat Shack since we all love and rescue rats. I wanted a hammock that reflects the triplex. Well, she did it. And it was made for me, paid for by Ratty Momma a member on the Rat Shack. I was shocked, floored and completely amazed at the size of this thing. It’s perfect, it’s exactly how I envisioned it. I knew Nic could do it… she is so creative and wonderful with her sewing machine.
What do my rats think of it? They love it! When I first put it in the cage, they were all over it, they wouldn’t stop exploring every bit of it. It’s perfect from top to bottom. The bottom part hangs on the ground, perfect for oldies. The top part opens to the CN shelf, perfect to just walk right in. But the middle part, the agile rat, simply lifts himself into it…making a private nest, big enough for a buddy or two or three.

The pics!

And a video… you can see just how great this thing is. And don’t worry, Nic will be making these now. Visit the Cozy Corner!

You Dirty Rat

jorats — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:43:23 +0000

Magnum and Marshall bring new meaning to those words. You don’t know dirty until you’ve had these two youngins together in a cage. These boys, about 3 months old now live with an older gentlerat Turk in a single Critter Nation. Definitely a big enough cage for three males. Turk spends his time mainly sleeping and hiding away from all the ruckus caused by the galloping duo. These two really should be called Tazmanian Devils. Within a matter of hours, they leave their cage completely upside down. I’m also thinking, they get their teeth from the local beaver. I have never had so much fleece chewed up so fast. I try to line their cage with soft beautiful fleece only to see them completely teared up and removed from place. I’m sure they are having a ball playing and rearranging but they sure do make my clean ups that much longer. Every morning, I need to rush into the rat room to fill up their bowl cause no matter where I put it, they manage to spill all their water. I do believe this is the first time I deal with such chaos, such disaster makers. lol It really does look like a natural disaster has hit that cage, over and over again.
And when I go in to clean up, the two babies come running up to me with their innocent little eyes, ready for love and treats. They sure are lucky I’m a sucker for sweet faces. lol

The cage, a few hours after cleaning.

Ferd Moves In

jorats — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:00:55 +0000

Things were not progressing as well as I liked. Although Teddy and George really aren’t mean rats, they are still bullies and this worries Ferd to no end. So instead of waiting to do a move in with all the rats, I moved Ferd in with the residents right away. I didn’t want him alone any longer than needed be. Well it was a hit. Ferd and Doc did have some issues at the very beginning but Doc almost immediately let it go. Ferd’s best buds are Chief and Bianca. He loves his Gera too but Gera is not attached to Ferd. But all in all, it was a smooth move and exactly what Ferd needed to help him gain confidence. I’ve already noticed some changes in him in the out times/intros with Teddy and George. Ferd is such a sweet guy, sensitive and loving. A dream pet really cause he runs to his human each time he’s worried, he really cuddles… not just lay there, but presses hard in your hand. What a love!

Location Location Location

jorats — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:43:55 +0000

Not only is this statement a key component in real estate, it is also important when choosing the right spot for your rat cage.
Rats shouldn’t be tucked away in a dark corner somewhere… they need to be the centre of the room, in the living space, where there will be traffic and noise. Rats will be more social and happy if they are in constant human company. Keeping them in your room is fine so long as you spend an enormous amount of time in your room or have many family members visit the rats and cage during the day. Rats need human interactions, they don’t need your constant devoted attention but they do need to see you, hear you and even smell you. I remember my sister telling me about her brother in law. He kept two sweet albino females in his work shed because his wife didn’t like the rats. Those girls were never really social and lacked proper care, didn’t really live beyond a year and a half.
If you are going to add rats to your household be sure to make them a part of your family. Don’t isolate them, show them off and you’ll have happy social rats.

Your Elderly Rat

jorats — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:47:00 +0000

There will come a time where you will need to accommodate your aging rat or rats. You will notice your rat is aging when he starts to slow down and won’t eat as much. At this time, you need to prepare his habitat and care as well as prepare yourself for the end of his journey. Check their teeth often, older rats tend to not brux as much or eat hard blocks like they used to. This might also be the time to start offering mushy foods. The best thing to do is add water to the rat block to get it soft. You can give baby food, baby cereal or even Ensure/Boost as a supplement. If you have males, you will need to check for penis plugs which is a waxy build up inside the penis prepuce as well as keeping an eye on their coats and the sebum. Males produce buck grease but are usually pretty good in keeping it clean but as they age, they tend to give up on the whole grooming the body process. You will also need to tend to their nails, trim them before they get too long and curl underneath into their digits. Marinating is another issue with oldies. Old rats seem to urinate where they sleep, this can aggravate the genitals as well as surrounding skin. You will need to clean your ratties as they need it, possibly every day.
Older rats do require extra care and attention but they give back so much in turn. This is usually the time where cuddling and bonding is priority in their every day routine.
Loss of mobility is another big issue, but definitely does not mean the end of his life. Rats can have quality of living even if they can’t move anymore. They will develop upper body muscle and drag themselves around and continue to do the things they enjoy like eating, exploring and cuddling with rat buddies.
Some oldies are open to young cage buddies at this time. It can rejuvenate them. On the other hand, some oldies prefer a quieter lifestyle so this will be something you will need to watch for. Feel their energy and what they are telling you.
Many people are faced with a lone oldie. This is the hard part. What to do with your lone oldie. If you plan on keeping rats, I’d suggest getting him or her buddies. You will need to know if younger or older is better for your oldie. There is no magic answer, it’s up to your rat. Allow for an adjustment period before you decide it’s not working out with a buddy, all rats pretty much need to be convinced that their life will be better with a companion.
How to set up the habitat for the oldies. It might be time to remove all levels and ramps. You don’t want grampa rat tumbling off the shelf. You can set up your hammocks low to the ground. Give them plenty of boxes and tissues to make easy nests. Bring down your water bottles or better yet, offer shallow bowls of fresh water. Food dishes should be smaller so the rat doesn’t need to get up too high to get his food. Change your bedding often so not to irritate the belly of the dragging rat.
Rats go through all the stages of life much too soon in my opinion but each rat is different. Your 24 month old might be old, yet another 30 month old might still be young…each rat is different and should be treated accordingly.
Love your oldies as much as your babies… the end times are just as special.

These three are my mom’s sweeties, well over 30 months old and enjoying their retirement home.
Shhh…. sleeping oldies.

Spot Check!

jorats — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:18:46 +0000

It is very important to spot check your cage every day. Go around looking at your cage and seeing it as a rat would see it. Get down to their level and look for all the sharp edges, rusting or aging of the cage. Your cage can become a hazard and should be addressed, repaired or replaced. Same with your hammocks and liners. Go through each one and check them out carefully. Any fraying of flannel and cotton should be removed. Any holes in your fleece or other materials should be made bigger so the rat can safely go in and out. Rats love to chew and will make holes, they will also try and go through those holes, it’s up to you to make sure those holes are big enough for your rat. Be aware when it’s time to replace your hammocks and other bedding. Rats have lost their lives to these overlooked conditions.

A couple of years ago, I was checking up on my old rats and fortunately, I had just gotten there on time to find my Jorge was being asphyxiated by his flannel hammock. It had frayed and a thin piece had wrapped around his neck. Jorge was going limp but I was able to warm him up, hydrate him and nurse him back. We were very lucky I caught it on time. I shudder to think what I would have found if it had been an hour later.

Chu coming out of her “hole” in the tent liner.

Time to change this shelf liner!

Household Cleaners – Toxic

jorats — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:36:36 +0000

Rats have very sensitive lungs and are prone to lung infections. If your rat is wheezing, check to see what kind of detergent or cleaner you are using in and around your rats’ habitat.

Degreasers may contain petroleum distillates, which can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue around nerve cells.
Glass Cleaners may contain ammonia. Ammonia fumes can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Oven Cleaners can be one of the most dangerous cleaning products, which can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and throat.
Toilet Bowl Cleaners can be extremely dangerous cleaning products, which can be harmful just by breathing the fumes, and fatal if swallowed.

Everyone with any pets and children should do a routine check of what’s under their sink. Here are the key ingredients you need to look for and properly dispose of:
SODIUM HYDROXIDE – Inhalation is immediately irritating to the respiratory tract. Contact can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, and throat. It can cause liver and kidney damage.May be found in: dishwashing liquids, laundry products, oven cleaner,
scouring cleansers and tub and tile cleaners.
HYDROCHLORIC ACID – Can cause severe damage to skin and be harmful to your health, just by breathing the fumes, it can be fatal if swallowed. May be found in odor eliminators and toilet bowl cleaners.
BUTYL CELLOSOLVE – Can cause irritation and tissue damage from inhalation. May be found in: all-purpose cleaners, cleaning wipes,
degreasers, floor polish, rug shampoos, toilet bowl cleaners, tub and tile cleaners and window cleaners.

Before buying and using a household cleaner be sure to research it’s ingredients. Don’t bring hazardous products into your home and putting your life and pets’ lives at risk. Educate yourself.

In my home, I rely on my vinegar and mild dish detergent. Every few months, I disinfect my pet rooms with diluted bleach and rinse them out very well. Be safe and keep your pets safe.

The Cold Has Come

jorats — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:16:23 +0000

Well for most of us anyway. This is the time of year when you need to make sure ratties are kept warm and dry. Some rats are housed in basements or other cool areas of the house so here are a few ideas on how to keep ratties happy during the cool and cold.
You can add lots of extra fleece in the cage. It’s a good time to either get sewing or buy some hammocks and cubes, load it up with fleece scraps. Rats will soon get to work to build their little nests. Be sure to change them and clean them out every few days. You can also add a few boxes like soda pop boxes, give them shredded paper to close up their opening.
You can also cover the cages partly with cardboard or coroplast or even an old blanket or throw. I say old because those will get dragged into the cage pretty fast and shredded as that is a rattie’s favourite past time. Make sure you don’t have the cage near any windows or doors to the outside, warm air always escapes through cracks and cool air takes it’s place. You might want to run a dehumidifier or a humidifier depending on the humidity readings in your home. If you decide to run a warm mist vaporiser, be sure to be on the lookout for mold on the walls. Also, some people will place warm water bottles in the cage. Warm up the water, place in a plastic bottle, wrap it up in a sock and place it centrally in the cage.
Be sure to take extra care if you have hairless rats, best thing for them, get them their own personal fur coats… yep, extra furred rat buddies. lol