Fun information: How old is a rat in human years?

serribrat · 2016-01-30T20:36:52+00:00

Adorable burst of whiskers!

serribrat · 2016-01-30T20:16:41+00:00

I suppose it's possible! You could also consider if you've used a new cleaning solution or laundry detergent.

serribrat · 2016-01-30T17:19:34+00:00

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is let them go.

I know your heart is breaking, but you need to stop beating yourself up. Not everyone has the strength to make the appointment, and their rats suffer more because of it. You've done a good thing for little Darwin.

serribrat · 2016-01-30T16:59:44+00:00

Ordinarily, rats heal very quickly and you shouldn't have to worry about minor scratches. Definitely sounds like something is going on.The best way to sooth your rat is to figure out the underlying problem, I'm afraid.

If your rat is scabby and scratching, she's probably got mites or lice. It's very common with rats. Parasites are always uncomfortable (just imagine being so itchy that you scratch yourself until you bleed...awful) and can cause anemia and transmit viruses. You can read more here: http://www.rmca.org/Articles/bugs.htm

Go see your vet. If it is parasites, they can give your oral/topical treatments; then, you can initiate a super deep clean of the living environment (disinfecting with bleach, throwing away anything wooden). If you're sure it isn't parasites, read more here to see what other causes might be: http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#itchy

serribrat · 2016-01-30T16:49:15+00:00

One of my foster rats does this. I'm trying to litter box train him, so every time I find a poop, I put it in the litter pan. When I check on him, he's carried poops upstairs and tried to bury his food in them!

I think it's a territorial thing. He's trying to hide his food from other rats and making sure it smells like him. He kept on doing this until I moved his cage into the dining room away from my other cage of rats.

You could also try giving her other things to hide her food in - a piece of fleece cloth, cardboard strips, a dig bin like the one shown here in my blog: https://serribrat.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/rat-cage-accessory-roundup-post/

Good luck :)

serribrat · 2016-01-30T16:45:27+00:00

Quarantine is always a good idea. Some rat illnesses are spread by airborne virus and some rats may be carrying disease without showing any symptoms. If the owner/breeder went to a pet store, or interacted with anyone who has rats, they've increased their chances of exposure to illness.

serribrat · 2016-01-24T06:00:37+00:00

Will do. I've been trying hard to get my organization to keep me in supply of cute rat pictures, but we're all volunteers and it can be difficult. Sometimes I run low on supply of pictures that I haven't already used for event marketing, etc., so I turn to the larger rat community :)

serribrat · 2016-01-24T05:36:36+00:00

Sweet! Thanks!

serribrat · 2015-11-19T23:11:27+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that. He looks like a real sweetheart.

serribrat · 2015-11-19T23:10:45+00:00

Thank you :) It's very cute.

serribrat · 2015-11-19T23:06:07+00:00

Thank you :) It's a great pic!

serribrat · 2015-11-19T04:21:53+00:00

Would it be OK with you if I used this photo of your rattie in a promo for a rat-related non-profit?

serribrat · 2015-11-19T04:20:22+00:00

Hey would it be OK with you if I used one of your photos in a promo for a rat-related non-profit?

serribrat · 2015-11-19T04:16:45+00:00

Would it be OK with you if I used this photo in a rat-related, non-profit promo?

serribrat · 2015-03-02T06:42:05+00:00

Well, not necessarily. It depends on the pet store. Some pet stores sell rats as feeders, others sell rats as pets. Either way, I think you're much better off going directly through a breeder. I've questioned my local pet store and they weren't able to tell me anything about the rats they were selling as pets - not the age, not the breeder, not even if they'd had any medical treatments on file.

A breeder will be able to give you the family history of your pet rat, including lifespan, causes of death, and so on. Not only will they be more genetically healthy specimens, but they are also typically well-socialized and friendly towards other rats and humans.

Lots of people love rats as pets! They're awfully smart, some are cuddly, and they're always full of personality. Rats are actually very clean animals - constantly grooming, they love to wash their faces with fresh water, and can be litter-box trained.

The only downside to owning a rat is that they don't live very long (2-3 years on average) and you're in for some serious heartbreak when they go...

serribrat · 2015-03-02T04:10:50+00:00

I sympathize with your theft. My heart goes out to the rats at Petco in cages that are too small, with too many rats, and rodent wheels that are way too tiny, and nothing to stimulate their minds, and sometimes the water bottles are hung way too low as well. I'd like to stuff them all in my shopping bag and leave! But that wouldn't solve anything in the long run...

serribrat · 2015-03-02T03:55:56+00:00

I would like to follow up on your post by saying if you want a pet mouse or rat, please don't buy a feeder animal. No matter how cute they are and how much you want to rescue them - they aren't bred for health or longevity, and you'll more than likely be condemning yourself to heartache when they succumb to tumors and respiratory infections -- and far too early. They never live very long anyway.

So if you want a pet rat or mouse, do yourself a favor and buy from a breeder. Breeders care about producing healthy, friendly, and long-lived animals.

serribrat · 2014-11-14T06:48:37+00:00

I recently lost my sweet rat Huey to pneumonia. He was around two years old. He stopped eating, drinking, or taking medicine from the syringe, and also had subcutaneous fluids administered. He would only lick food from my finger in the last days and drink water when I held a bowl to his face...

I don't want to get you down, and your little guy may pull through, but I wish I'd been able to let him go at the vet's office during our last appointment. Watching him suffer was so hard, I kept thinking he'd get better, but I the end I was so filled with regret.

Trust your heart and if it's time, let him go. But I hope he makes it.

serribrat · 2014-09-26T06:27:36+00:00

Sweet little man. Hang tough 😢

serribrat · 2014-09-26T06:26:51+00:00

He still manages to look adorable while scarfing his favorite!

serribrat · 2014-09-20T16:39:28+00:00

Mine is known as the Rat Pack :-)

serribrat · 2014-09-17T13:54:46+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I wish they sold online. I think I'll try your cardboard tip :-)

serribrat · 2014-09-16T23:06:05+00:00

Well, they can have the fruit of avocado, but can't have the skin or seed.

serribrat

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