RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:14 pm

No, not likely to bother him. In something like that where there is an irritant or allergen, swapping them isn't likely to worsen it unless, in the process of doing so, you manage to stir up more dust etc. But if you take the rat out, move the cage elsewhere, clear it out and swap it, then put the cage and rat back, you should be fine. Think of it like someone with a dust allergy. Keeping the room not dusty reduces their allergy symptoms, but it's better to hoover and dust with them out of the room, because the process of cleaning can kick up the dust.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:43 pm

Well, I've put YN in Harley's cage yesterday along with paper towel for his bed area and so far I'm really happy with it. I think his nosey was just too sensitive for carefresh. He is still being treated with meds - I've found a significantly less amount of staining and his breathing appears to be clearing up. So good news all around. Hopefully this will be my problem solver. Thank you all for the suggestions! You are life savers!

Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:06 pm

I've read through this post - looking for an answer on how to fasten down materials like fleece to ramps and wire floors. All I've really found was velcro. I apologize in advance if I missed anything, but how exactly is the velcro used? Do you have to replace it frequently (as often as the fleece is changed/cleaned)? If anyone has experience with this, or a better idea for that matter, give me a shout. Thank ya.

Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:21 pm

Well I guess something like sticky back velcro would probably need replacing more often... but if you were to sew velcro onto the edges and use them like straps on the underneath of the shelf/ramp would that work?

Sometimes you can trap it underneath shelves, or you can tie it to the edges of the cage (I've done that myself, just using ties at the corners and midway along the sides). But they may just rip it up, bury under it and turn it into more nesting material. LOL

I think it's Debbie uses plastic underneath the fleece and tucks the edges under that. But I'm not sure about that.

I've used carpet tiles/cutoffs - nice and comfy, but get stinky and can't be easily washed (it tends to get icky after a while and disintegrate) but relatively cheap and comfy. I've used lino as well, but the wee just pools on that, and I found it got stinky no matter how frequently I wiped it up. Now, I just chuck handfuls of fleece and fabric into the cages and let them drag it wherever they want it... if I tie it down, they'll pull it up anyway. wink

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:33 am

My girls don't mess with safety pins at all, so I don't feel hesitant about using those to fasten things in the cage.

_________________

Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:55 am

Sorry if I wasn't the first person to ask this, but I looked back in this sticky and couldn't find anything about it. Is it ok to use fleece at the bottom of the cage instead of bedding such as carefresh? I am using carefresh in my R-695 right now, but I think I might want to use fleece instead.

*Edit* I want to use one big sheet of fleece at the bottom of the cage, not shredded pieces of fleece.

_________________
EMILY-------------------------------------------------

Rest in peace, Violet and Isadora. <3

Last edited by littlerattie on Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:27 am; edited 2 times in total

Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:21 am

You can do. A single sheet won't be very absorbant though, and - like shredded fleece/fabric - it will need changing daily to prevent it getting stinky.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:28 am

Thanks LittleWillow, I think I'll switch to YN instead. (I need something less dusty than carefresh.)

_________________
EMILY-------------------------------------------------

Rest in peace, Violet and Isadora. <3

Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:52 am

Does anyone know where I can get Yesterday's News in bulk?

I got a 20 pound bag, the biggest bag I could find, yesterday because Petsmart was out of Aspen. I can't believe the difference, this stuff is great, it controls odor really well and there is NO dust. My allergies are already getting better.

A 20 pound bag is $16 though, and its not even enough for one complete litter change of all of my cages. A big bag of aspen is $11 and lasts about a month. Unless I can get it in bulk somehow, I won't be able to continue using it, but it would be fantastic if I could. Confused

_________________
--Brittany

"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom."

Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:22 am

How about mixing the two - the aspen and the YN? I know a lot of people have done that.

I'm not sure about bulk, and what is the biggest available amounts. I do know that getting it under the "cat litter" aisle is usually cheaper than "small pets" aisle, but I'm not much help with that. Confused

Edit: Found a couple of links online.

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product1.asp?pf_id=3063501&affiliateCode=PF012803&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_ite=DDI%20link&afsrc=1
http://www.nationalpetpharmacy.com/store/product1.asp?pf_id=3063501&affiliateCode=PFNPP01&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_ite=DDI%20Link&afsrc=1

Less than $15 for 30lb I also found some links to a ferret litter but I don't know if that's 100% paper or if anyone's tried it.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:34 am

Thanks for the links! And I didn't think of mixing the two, that could make it last longer. Mr. Green

_________________
--Brittany

"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom."

Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:16 pm

the ferret litter has a funny consistancy.... my pet store gave me a small baggy to try out, and i never even used it. it feels almost..... waxy..... and it breaks apart so easily. i just didn't like it. i'll keep driving the two hours each way for my yesterdays news.

_________________

i miss you dove, oz, briar and fern. liam, my love, i 'll never forget you.

Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:40 pm

That's weird, on the website it's 13 for a 30 lb. bag.

_________________

Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:19 pm

Hi Everyone,
I'm going to buy a new cage soon, but only if I can find a way that works of covering the wire floors.
I worry about bumble foot, or feet getting caught.
Does anyone have any suggestions of ways that wire levels can be covered effectively but still be easily cleanable??
cheers
Michelle

Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:14 am

Plastic? Right now I am making plastic shelves for my mouse cages, that are easily removed(tied on with wire) so they can be washed.

I know some people place tiles on top of the wire shelving, but I don't like that idea. Or maybe you could do what I do in my girls aviary and tie some material(old towel, tshirt...) to the shelve, and just renew it every cage clean. If the rats are litter trained they won't toilet there(unlike mine:? ) Just a couple of ideas that may help

_________________
You gotta be good at something in life!

Sun Sep 11, 2005 10:05 am

burnzy wrote:

Plastic? Right now I am making plastic shelves for my mouse cages, that are easily removed(tied on with wire) so they can be washed.

I know some people place tiles on top of the wire shelving, but I don't like that idea. Or maybe you could do what I do in my girls aviary and tie some material(old towel, tshirt...) to the shelve, and just renew it every cage clean. If the rats are litter trained they won't toilet there(unlike mine:? ) Just a couple of ideas that may help

i think i might try the towel option. looking at the design of the cage i think it would be easier than something rigid.
Kamber's mostly toilet trained already

yay. took only a week. Pushy wee thing she is. Keeps crawling around the chair trying to push my bum out the way cos she wants to climb behind it. lol!

Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:32 pm

The evidence suggests that wire floors are not a direct cause of bumblefoot - although if you have a rat prone to bumblefoot it could possibly worsen the problem. If you haven't done so, check out the sticky on litter and flooring, as this contains some things people have used to cover wire floors. Burnzy's suggestions are good ones, and I know that plastic needlepoint canvas is mentioned too - it protects the feet, but allows some drainage (pools of wee are nasty after a short while!).

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:35 am

Hi everyone! Well, bedding has been most confusing for me. I am now leaning towards sani-chips for bedding and YN for litter. I was also thinking about TekFresh mixed with YN. Since I want to litter train them, would that be okay? Or should I just go with the sani-chips.

_________________

Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:49 pm

I ordered a Martin's R-685 for my new ratty girls, but on closer inspection of the photo I noticed that the ramps and second floor are all wire. I know that many of you swear by Martin's as one of the best rat cage makers, but don't wire floors cause bumblefoot? Should I lay down a little ratty carpet or something?

Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:16 am

While constantly walking on wire mesh can cause bumble foot, as long as the base is solid, and they have hammocks and stuff, it should be ok. My guys are at least. Some people do cover the levels, though since the rats do not walk on the ramps allot (mine just climb there cage).

_________________
Rosie

* * *

I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:24 am

Walking on mesh actually doesn't cause bumblefoot. Latest evidence is that dirty cages are more of a problem, and obesity. If everything is wire mesh, it can be uncomfortable, or exacerbate bumblefoot, but it won't cause it any more than solid flooring.

Check this sticky too.
http://www.ratpalace.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3871

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:58 am

Hi everyone! Well, bedding has been most confusing for me. I am now leaning towards sani-chips for bedding and YN for litter. I was also thinking about TekFresh mixed with YN. Since I want to litter train them, would that be okay? Or should I just go with the sani-chips?

_________________

Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:05 am

Really, it's all personal choice, what suits you and the rats best. All of those are good for litters. I've always made a very clear differentiation - in that I give them shredded tissue (or pieces of tissue that they can shred themselves) and/or pieces of cloth for bedding down in (they drag it into the igloo, and kick it out when they've peed on it too much) and paper cat litter for litter.

I've never found that my lot would nest/sleep in the paper cat litter or Carefresh, but would kick it out of the litter tray or whatever, and sleep on the bare plastic/metal tray if I didn't give cloth and tissue. But if you're planning to put, say, YN in the litter tray and sanichips over the rest of the cage floor, it will definitely help them differentiate between the two textures.

What was your thinking in choosing sanichips for bedding, particularly?

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:25 am

That would be for until I get them litter trained completely. I could, of course, just go straight to cloth and see if they figure it out.

_________________

Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:56 am

Try it and see - I like tissue because you can just pick it out every day, you don't have to wash it, and it's usually not expensive, and pretty easy to shake any stray poops out of it to put into the tray while you're training them. But see how they go - I do use litter all over the bottom of the cage (because no matter what, they will pee everywhere, and decent litter does stop it getting so stinky) but as long as it's a different texture on the rest of the floor compared with the litter tray, you should be ok.

I'd say that, if you're going to use two types of litter (one for the pan, one for the litter tray), do offer them some cloth or tissue to shred and make into a nest. I'm sure they'd love that a lot. Hopefully, they will then figure out that YN is for peeing/pooping on, and whatever else is in the cage isn't.

Sadly although mine do poop in the litter tray 90% of the time, they still pee everywhere - be that the hammock, the bathhouse with a solid floor (now with drainage holes), or sitting on a shelf somewhere. I used to have food bowls and water on every level while I had my poorly guys in the cage, so that they didn't have to go up and down ramps unnecessarily - but now they've passed on, I've taken to putting all the food back up the top level, because the food was getting peed in from the level above. More than once I've opened the door to get something out, woken up a boy on the level above and got showered in rat pee. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~