rats living outside?? UPDATE: page 3

[Jenfoxworth]

I only have molly, and we changed her cage every 2 days. It was very very clean. And yet while guests, close friends and whatnot said they did not smell it. Some people will say they smell it because they don't like rats though. Because my mother in law did the exact same thing. Molly lives in a CN, and she is only one rat, so she's not that dirty at all. But yet the lady still claimed the entire house smelled of rat pee.

Yet she didn't say anything about the nearly full cat litter box in her house from 3 kittens that stinks.

But yes it does need to be cleaned more then once a week even so.

 

[crumbilina]

Is there an end in sight to your stay with your mom. Are you returning to school or something so will be leaving again in September?

If this is the case, maybe you could find someone close to you that would be willing to look after/house your ratties for you until you leave home again? Just a thought

I know when dealing with parents about pets there is just no room for any budging... My dad would NEVER let ANY animal set foot inside the house. My cat, when I was a kid, was outdoor and if my dad found out he had been inside (we sometimes let him in without dad knowing) my dad would blow up. It sucks, but unfortunately what they say goes when your under their roof.

I think that finding someone to temporarily house your ratties may be your best option. Especially if they are close by so you can just pop over to see them.

 

[Maple]

When I was using fleece, I could barely stand it. The minute I walked in the door, I was gagging, yet my daughter insisted she couldn't smell a thing. Some people are just more sensitive than others which could be the case with your mother. I had my husband build a pan and I now use carefresh. I love it and would never go back. There is NO smell what so ever and although the cost is higher, I clean the cage less often. Maybe you could try to place a pan in your CN.

 

[sketchi]

ok no more fleece! me and my boyfriend both can't smell it (not to the point of bothering us) so I really had no idea. I will go with the pan + bedding idea. probably better for the rats' noses too! if there really is NO smell then I don't think my mom can object to rats being inside! ^__^

also maple, how would the owl get your rats through the cage?

 

[Maple]

maple, how would the owl get your rats through the cage?

At the time I didn't have a Critter Nation and with the power in the legs of an owl it would have been able to rip the doors right off the cage. Keep in mind Sketchi, 5 years ago my area was farm land and very wooded not to mentioned the wildlife rescue center being a 15 minute drive. Owls were a regular fixture here.
We used coroplast to build our pan and it's holding out great. I'm sure your mum will be pleased with the results. :thumbup: Good luck.

 

[sketchi]

yipes! O_O that sounds scary but also very cool. I've never seen an owl outside a zoo!

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I really hope you can get this situation worked out asap.

 

[puffnstuff]

I know when dealing with parents about pets there is just no room for any budging... My dad would NEVER let ANY animal set foot inside the house. My cat, when I was a kid, was outdoor and if my dad found out he had been inside (we sometimes let him in without dad knowing) my dad would blow up. It sucks, but unfortunately what they say goes when your under their roof.

I disagree. I am a parent. Our rats really belong to my son. When first presented with the idea that he wanted rats, it was sort of like "over my dead body, and never in MY house". But he did his research and convinced me that rats would be good and clean pets. So, I have been converted, and I love the rats just as much as the kids do.

But it really is a responsibility to keep everything clean every day. We all pitch in, because everybody has different schedules with school and work. The responsibility is primarily my son's, but his sister and I help out when we can. When the cage is clean, the is NO smell. You have to be prepared with lots of supplies so you can swap out the dirty things regularly. Their hammock gets stinky on a daily basis, so we have several hammocks on hand that we can change every day or two.

I have to admit that if he didn't look after the rats from the beginning, they probably would have been gone long ago. But as long as they are being cared for and kept clean, I am fine with it. If you (the child) are taking the responsibility seriously and setting aside time every day to clean up after your pets, your family will be more accepting. It's only when you seem to be spending time on other things like TV, computer, going out with friends, etc, and ignoring your other responsibilities that parents are not going to put up with having stinky animals and cages in the house.

For us, the ratty rags and laundry go in our regular washing machine. Nothing special. It all comes out clean and fresh, and our other clothing that gets washed in the same machine does NOT stink of rat pee. If you had a small toddler child who wet his pants, would you say that the pants could not be washed in the family machine? Ratty laundry is fine, as long as you shake it all out to get any crumbs off before putting it in the machine.

Just be careful about using towels. The little loops can hook a ratty toe, which can cause a twisted foot, sprain or broken leg. For blankie material, try to find something that doesn't have the terry-cloth loops. Change out for fresh blankies daily, and wash just like regular laundry.

 

I think some parents are full of it and just don't liek the idea of pet rats.

 

[daisylynn]

My mom was converted by a VERY sweet rat named Cassie before I got my own rats. Cassie is one of those rats that makes you love her.
She learned how to beg for food because I used to eat dinner with her on my lap...
Mostly, I think it's doing your homework and assuring your parents that the rats won't become an issue.
As for bedding, I use towels. Once they start to stink, it doesn't take long for it to REALLY stink, but it takes at least a week for it to start. The only thing you have to be aware of is threads, keep an eye on the threads so that it doesn't wrap around feet, tails or heads.
I wish you luck

 

[crumbilina]

I know when dealing with parents about pets there is just no room for any budging... My dad would NEVER let ANY animal set foot inside the house. My cat, when I was a kid, was outdoor and if my dad found out he had been inside (we sometimes let him in without dad knowing) my dad would blow up. It sucks, but unfortunately what they say goes when your under their roof.

I disagree. I am a parent. Our rats really belong to my son. When first presented with the idea that he wanted rats, it was sort of like "over my dead body, and never in MY house". But he did his research and convinced me that rats would be good and clean pets. So, I have been converted, and I love the rats just as much as the kids do.

My apologies... I should have written "I know when dealing with MY parents about pets there WAS just no room for any budging" :wink2: I hope that clarifies my thoughts!

My parents (well actually, it is mostly just my dad) are still both brutal about pets. Currently I have 3 rats and 2 cats (and one boyfriend) in my own apartment and my parents are SO ANGRY that I have these pets. They hate animals in the house. I could never convince them to keep any inside. Although one time I found an abandoned baby wood duck and I was allowed to keep it in the slush room by the door because it was cold outside... but my dad has a soft spot for ducks - he had a mallard named Sir. Francis Drake when he was little... Maybe I should have requested having a duck as a pet :giggle:

(sorry this was a bit off topic)

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Have you been able to move them back inside yet?

 

[sketchi]

it was a lot of reorganizing (man who knew so much stuff could fit in such a tiny room!), but they're in the laundry room now.
just in time for strider's birthday tomorrow!

noodle investigates. (see milky in the blue hangy thing in the background! lovely box was made by patti, or pshuga03 here)

milky steps up too.

almost-birthday-boy-strider chills by himself in the corner. x3

small gap for "fresh air" which mom deems necessary. much better than being outside right?!?


dad helped me convince mom that it'd be the best course of action. :thumbup: otherwise I would've moved out asap. I probably still need to move out asap, for independence and all, but at least in the meantime it's safer for the rats. I haven't bought towels yet, so I plan on using up all my crap fabric/fleece and then either switching to towels or yesterday's news. there is no way I will be able to wash rat stuff in the washing machine though... mrrr
(any tips on convincing her that?? I tried using the 'kid's wet pants' argument but she's actually never used the machine to wash soiled pants... so)



and one more thing!! it's strider's birthday tomorrow! @__@ what should I do for him? any ideas!! I've never celebrated a ratty birthday! eep.

 

Yay

 

[Rachael]

I'm so glad they're inside now, great to hear And happy birthday to him.

 

[mamarat]

Happy birthday to your sweetie. So glad they're safer now.

 

[sketchi]

we all just went for a walk to tim horton's (strider had a bit of my iced capp, heh), then when we came back my mom said the house smelled faintly of rat. :S I just cleaned everything today, even gave them all a quick bath. she said the smell disappeared after a few minutes, but the first whiff was not pleasant. I can't smell anything whatsoever, and my dad didn't notice either. so I really don't know what to do. I mean I could try switching to towels, but it couldn't possibly have accumulated a scent in an hour?? a scent that stinks up the whole house? arrrg

is it possible for it to smell? or is it just in her mind? the laundry room is a closed door room further in than the entrance of the house. I will probably have to move out sooner than I thought, at this rate.

 

[Rachael]

It sounds to me that your mum just says they smell as she doesn't like you keeping them as pets.
They can't stay in your room??

 

[sketchi]

oh man... for sure off limits! my room is upstairs, in the carpeted area. definitely definitely a no-go. x_< I actually believe she likes my rats, they're pretty cute after all. she will hold them sometimes and feed them and even make kissy faces/baby-talk them. but, compared to me/my average friends, she's somewhat of a control-neat-freak. (she's actually probably the most ~casual one in her family; once her sister got a puppy and washed it every day to "get rid of the dog smell". it died... u__u) for example, if I am washing dishes she will get agitated that I'm 'doing it wrong' because I'm using the wrong sponge or the wrong gloves or whatever. and if dad cooks she will lecture him about the correct way to cut green onions (sideways, at an angle, apparently). /raant (she really is a nice mom though, that asides!!)

I'm thinking she 'smells' something because she expects to smell something, either that or she is just really sensitive to rat stench. idk
I reeeally want to move out. gyah.

 

[Cigar]

Sounds like she's looking for a smell, or expecting one as you put it. My mom hated rodents but she never complained about a smell and our bedrooms were more or less across from each other. At least she's come a long way to let you bring them into the house, there have been too many heat waves this summer in Ontario.

Could you pick up a separate washing machine just for rat towels? There's always second hand ones being sold on Kijiji, etc.