Suddenly Stinky!!

[MissKitty]

So, I used to just have Kitty who is probably about 6ish months old now. She was a pet store purchase. She is totally lovely, and an avid litter box user. After falling in love, doing my research, and feeling my share of guilt we adopted Peaches and Cream who at the time were about 6 weeks old. I guess now they are between 3-4 months old. They seem to be working hard to use the litter box 90%!

Anyway, in the past like week and a half I've noticed them all mounting one another - I know this is normal dominance behavior. But it also seems that in the last couple weeks they have gotten so much more stinky! I try to clean a bit almost every day and a thorough once a week. Is this all some battle over dominance!? And is their anything I can do to help deter the behavior or curb the odor. My cleaning regimen hasn't really changed - but their smell sure has!

I used to keep an old towel or cloth at the bottom of their cage, and still keep plastic shelf liner on the upper level (I just rinse this in the shower regularly). Because the little ones weren't quite litter trained I just put paper liner in the bottom for now. They have a big hammock and plastic hidey house, a ferret sized litter box, a plastic adjustable tube, bird toys, a flying saucer (super cute to watch them on), three water bottles and a bowl they play in (gets yucky fast but they like splashing!), and 3 water bottles!!! I've been trying to put things in that are easy to change and clean, and make sure they have a lot to play with! There were some water bottle quarrels so they have 3! They still choose to all three try to drink from one at the same time :giggle:

Oh and I do bathe them periodically with Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo. This ordeal has been less of an ordeal each time and is really just a sink faucet shower. They always get lots of treats and love after and seem to enjoy feeling clean. They always frolic and play a lot and like to cuddle in the towel after. I try not to over bathe them, I know they might try to "marinade" but again my behavior hasn't changed, and they were all pretty calm for their last shower.


Peaches is the one who looks like she is smiling, Cream is her sister, and Kitty and the black and white. They also have more toys/stuff to hide in now.

 

[victoria]

Is the cage made of galvanized metal? If that's the case, that would be your issue. Galvanized metal absorbs the urine, is a pain to clean, and get really stinky quickly.

Otherwise, how ofter are you cleaning the cage? With what?

I really think bathing is unnecessary and possibly unhealthy to your rats. Their skin is not meant to be washed with soap and water on a regular basis. With a good diet and a clean cage, I have never had a healthy rat smell. If it's the rats and not the cage that smells, I would say it's likely because you are bathing them that they smell.

 

[MissKitty]

hmmm, it could be the cage. I bought it from a local rat rescue, it is a large Martin's but its not powder coated if that's what you mean. For the cage itself I've stuck it in the tub and sprayed it with bleach, let it dry and sprayed it with hot water until I can't smell any bleach on it anymore. Its a pain because it takes up almost the whole tub, and I have to turn it a couple times to make sure I get everything haha. I've only gone full tub a couple times :[ I guess I'll try that. Other times I've just wiped the cage down real well with a rag and hot soapy water. Maybe not as effective. For cleaning stuff in the cage I usually just use hot water, and maybe a tiny bit of dish soap if its still smelly and mostly let it air dry.

I bathe them only once a month at most, they play in water when they have the option. The reason I gave them a bath the other day was because it got to be 84 degrees all day, and our AC is down so I was worried about them overheating. They had baths and played in a bowl of water all night. Also, when I first got the baby girls they peed on one another very noticeably, a bath became necessary. This has seemed to stop as they have gotten more comfortable with one another and the cage. But it definitely seems to me that they pee on their toys more than they were. Their saucer is totally yucky every day now!

 

[victoria]

The cage is the issue. Galvanized metal and rat urine are a bad mix. Vinegar worked better than bleach for me when I had a galvanized cage, but the fact remains, it gets stinky fast. You can try covering the wire floors with plastic or linoleum to tey to prevent them from getting covered in pee as quickly, at least that would be faster and easier to wipe down.

Allowing them to play in water is not a bad thing, it's the soap or shampoo that can be harmful. Most rats will pee in their water bowl unfortunately, most of us find water bottles are much more sanitary and leave more floor space in the cage.

 

[tinytippytoes]

You need to paint the cage with Rust-Oleum paint. The only problem is you need to let it cure for 10 to 14 days to be animal safe. You need to do it outside on a layer of newspaper. You use primer or sand paper it so it sticks better. Spray lightly on each coat. I had a cage like that and it stunk to high heaven after a few months..theres no way to get rid of the smell.
Also when it get really hot what I do is take those little frozen things (cant remember what they are called) you use for lunch boxes? I put it in a tin can that they can lay on. It stays nice and cool for a long time. It really works. They will lay on it. Also take out any fleece if you use it (it holds heat?) Use cotton instead.

 

[MissKitty]

Yeah, I know they pee in their water bowl its really just for them to play, so its not in their all the time. They have 3 water bottles for drinking. And I do keep the flat levels of the cage with wire flooring covered in plastic/rubber shelf liner. When they do get baths its either with the critter shampoo, or just water. I'm pretty confident that's not the problem.

I will definitely look into the Rust-Oleum paint thing, though I guess if it takes so long to cure they still need another cage! Ugh... my father got the rats for my 9 year old brother, and I'm just the one that's taken on all the responsibility! I've bought everything! My little brother does help me clean and everything!

 

[victoria]

When they do get baths its either with the critter shampoo, or just water. I'm pretty confident that's not the problem.

I wasn't only saying baths may be the cause of the smell but that using soap on their skin is not good for them period. In extreme cases (for example sometimes rats are rescued from horrid, unclean conditions) or with sick/elderly rats the benefits of using a bit of mild shampoo outweigh the risks but it is generally not good to do it on a regular basis.

 

[hprats]

I have a galvanized metal cage, but I painted it with krylon non toxic spray paint, and line the places they pee with cardboard and that works great.

 

[SQ]

People occassionally give males a bath every few months because of a hormonal secreation (buck grease) but girls shouldn't need to be given a bath.
Rats are very clean, grooming themselves and one another like cats.
As previously said, the problem is your cage. Powder coated cages are esential for rats.

As for the mounting behaviour, it can be dominance related but more likely your girls were in heat.
Rats go into heat every 3 to 4 days.

 

[MissKitty]

Just wanted to update. I scrubbed the cage down with baking soda and vinegar and not only does it look better than it ever has since I've gotten it, but it smells brand new too!! We're about to go away, and a friend it taking care of the ratties, but I'm going to look more carefully into possibly painting it after I get back. I just don't want to expose them to any dangerous chemicals, but I know the ammonia build up is bad for them too.

I just love watching them play after I clean the cage and rearrange it! What a reward!

The younger ladies are still molesting my Kitty though. I feel bad for her, I don't know how to deter the behavior but it clearly stresses her. I try to just separate them for a bit or snap my fingers if I catch them. I've only heard her squeak at me like once, but she's squeaks at them when they jump on her.

 

[jorats]

A lot of the time the squeaking and jumping is great fun had by all. Even the one being jumped and doing the squeaking is part of the play. Two brothers taught me that.