RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:20 am

We were seriously considering buying rats from a local breeder when an impromptu visit to the pet store resulted in us buying 2 adorable baby girl rats. Our daughters fell in love with the little ratlets and I couldn't stand to see them sitting there looking all pathetic in that pet store cage. We are now the proud parents of "Cuddles" who is more calm and likes to cuddle, and "Muffin" who looks just like a little golden banana nut muffin when she's curled up in a little ball. At 2 months, "Muffin" is still a uniform pale golden color but is very active and a little shy. "Cuddles" is quiet, cuddly, and not shy at all. They match each of my girls personalities perfectly.
They are extremely gentle and have never tried to bite us.

So far, we've had a few health issues with them. They are currently on antibiotics after lots of sneezing and snuffling that wouldn't go away with litter changes, lots of cage cleaning, etc. "Cuddles" started itching so bad that now she has a lot of fur loss on her lower back, so they've both been treated with the Ivermectin stuff for mites. I cleaned their cage, toys, and everything else with a 10% bleach solution. I also treated the carpets, drapes, bedding and everything else in their room with the stuff for treating fleas, ticks and lice. I did this while they were out of the room and made sure it was aired out well before I let them back in. I put their aspen bedding in the freezer for 24 hours and used paper from our paper shredder for their bedding while the aspen was in the freezer. I also gave them a bath in mild kitten shampoo for treating fleas and ticks. I then clipped their nails which was an ordeal for both them and me. Through it all they never even gave a thought to biting me. They have such sweet temperaments!

Now I've discovered that my whole family has ringworm from the rats. We're sure it's from the rats because it started developing right where the rats like to be on us. Now we're thinking that the scratching "Cuddles" is doing may not be from mites but from ringworm. She has tiny little scabs on her back and head, but they don't look at all like ringworm. Whew, these rats have been a lot of work and expense, but they're still worth it! When my daughters come home they drop their backpacks and make a beeline for their "babies." And when company comes over, everyone wants us to bring the rats out. They are the most popular and the most fun pets we've ever had. I just wish I could get all of their health issues taken care of so we can concentrate on loving and playing with our little ratlets.

Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:15 am

Nice to meet you! Sometimes their health issues can get you down! Sorry I can't be of much help. I'm pretty much a newbie myself. Unfortunately, Rat Palace is going to shut down on Feb. 19. However, a new forum has been opened up (all of us will be there). You can find the new forum at http://www.ratsahoy.com. They are great people and they will be a lot of help to you!

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Crystal...The Ratties..Cocoa & Splinter...The Doggies...Jack & Molly

Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:23 am

That's great news, thanks for sharing it! I knew they were shutting down soon, so I was trying to post as much as I could and find out as much info. as I could before they shut down. Now I don't have to be in such a hurry. I'm so glad many of the Rat Palace regulars will be on the new site, I've gotten lots of help from them here.

Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:21 am

These forums and the rest of the site will also be available for reading back on, you just won't be able to post on the forums. But yeah, the community will be moving over to Rats Ahoy!

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:16 am

Yes as Christy said...you can read the archives. Hurry and join Rats Ahoy. They are indeed great people. I don't know what I would do without them!

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Crystal...The Ratties..Cocoa & Splinter...The Doggies...Jack & Molly

Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:13 am

Oh, I've already done that. I joined Rats Ahoy and have already posted several topics in numerous forums as I'm a newbie and have lots of questions. It's really nice there because there aren't tons of other posts to compete with so I get my questions answered almost immediately. That's really nice and they are very helpful too.