Rat footprints...?

[Scythe]

What is the best way to go about getting a rats pawprints/footprints? LOL. I'm expecting this adventure to be INCREDIBLY messy, but all I've come up with is dipping their feet in food colouring, and letting them run across a giant sheet of paper. But this is going tobe incredibly messy, and may not even give me clear footprints.

I asked my vet what would be safe to use, and was told to imprint his foot in clay. However, that wouldn't really work for what I'm trying to do, as I want the actual pawprint of each foot for a tattoo im planning on getting. I want it to look more like a pawprint rather than just an outline of his foot, if that makes sense.

Anyone have any ideas, or had any success? LOL.

 

[Cinderwolf]

I have been thinking about that too (for a tattoo in the future ; ) ) but havent tried it yet ( MAYBE I WILL DO THAT TONGIHT ) Anyways, I was going to use beet juice lol but food colouring would work too.

 

[hprats]

What about thickening the food colouring or beet juice with something like corn starch?

 

[hopefloats]

The stamps they use on babies should be safe for rats. They usually sell kits.

 

[Exodog]

I have been thinking about this too, but more for a memorial type thing. Since they've already passed, I think it might just be a little easier. I was thinking about using an ink pad from a stamper, but I don't know how bad the ink would be for a live rat to digest.

 

[Scythe]

The stamps they use on babies should be safe for rats. They usually sell kits.

Where would you get something like that?

 

[hopefloats]

I have seen them at places that sell baby items and at walgreens. Search for baby feet stamp kits it might give a better idea or a place to order it from. Been 20 years since I had to get one lol

 

[Aida]

You could just use paint/ink and rinse it off the paw if your rats are fairly OK with water and if you do one at a time.

 

[Scythe]

You could just use paint/ink and rinse it off the paw if your rats are fairly OK with water and if you do one at a time.

Hmm, only issue with that is the only paints I'm familiar with are Acrylics, and I'm pretty sure those arent non-toxic.

Does something like non-toxic baby paints exist? For those creative babies? Maybe I'll check wal-mart tomorrow, but some sort of finger-paint would probably be easier to manage than runny food colouring.

 

[TheRatQueen]

I use crayola foam clay and make little ornaments. You might be able to make an impression, and after it dries, push more clay into the impression and make a 'reverse stamp' if you catch my drift.

 

[Scythe]

I use crayola foam clay and make little ornaments. You might be able to make an impression, and after it dries, push more clay into the impression and make a 'reverse stamp' if you catch my drift.

Oooo, this sounds like it'd be fun. I remember when I ran a pottery summer camp, we used foam clay for a lot of stuff. I forgot all about it!

 

[TheRatQueen]

It's super easy w/ the foam clay since you don't have to put a lot of pressure to get the print. Since they move around as if you're trying to pluck all of their fur off.

 

[Scythe]

It's super easy w/ the foam clay since you don't have to put a lot of pressure to get the print. Since they move around as if you're trying to pluck all of their fur off.

That's a really neat idea. Do you just get it in the kids section at like walmart or something? (They supplied it for us at camp LOL).

 

[TheRatQueen]

I usually wait til I have a 50% off coupon for one of the craft stores and pick it up for a few dollars less

 

[Scythe]

The only thing i can find is something called Model Magic by Crayola...

The art store near my house also has something called Critter Clay, but commonly used by taxidermists cause of its detail.... a little creepy...

 

[TheRatQueen]

That's what I use from crayola, the model magic.