RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:25 pm

Hmm.... and their safe for rats?

My rats are litter box trained, so the levels are just lined with newspaper (like I said, changed every other day) but they use the litterbox which has carefresh in it.

I'll look into that... is it absorbant?

_________________

In memory of Riley, the bestest, most squishiest ratty anyone could ever hope for

Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:06 pm

Both pellets are safe. The horse pellets are made to be less dusty and safer than pine in a horse stall, and the wood stove pellets are simply a hardwood pellet with no additives. The "ingredients" are listed on the bag. I saw that idea on another rat board several years back, and a friend said she has seen it mention in rabbit articles as well.
And for what it is worth, the Carefresh had the least odor control with the mice.

Sun Apr 25, 2004 6:46 am

Cell-Zorb in the bottom pan, and in their two litter boxes I use Swheat Scoop, which I love. Unfortunately, they now only use the bottom pan for the bathroom, and the top level corner pan they use as a snack box..

They really like the flavor of that wheat litter I guess. wtf

I don't cover my shelves, and it is a bit of a pain to keep clean, but more so in the corners then anywhere covering would do much.

I don't mind scrubbing their shelves,I have a nice long bristle brush so it makes it easy. I normally do it once every two or three days, as well as the litter boxes, and a full change once a week of the bottom pan litter.

The only part I hate about cage cleaning, is the plastic house and perches. I need to soak those things GOOD, and the house gets filthy so quick..I never see them really use it, yet it gets so gross!

But, I think I am lucky, as my boys keep their big hamock and cloth pocket VERY clean.. Bah. Now I went off rambling. Sorry. Embarassed

Sun Apr 25, 2004 8:53 am

I use towels on the shelves only. They need to be taken out every so often and washed in the washer. I've cut them to fit the shelf, then bound the cut edges with bias tape so that they don't fray in the laundry. In every corner, I've put a grommet and I use cable ties to attach it to the floor. Occasionally they chew the towels, but that's ok, they chew just about everything anyway

For the floor, I use aspen. which tends to get everywhere, but smells nice. They also have at least 40 million hammocks that need to be washed at least once a week.

_________________
Sarah
Gus, Electra and Lillie (cats)
Artemisia Serendipity Timoune Paikea Eowyn (RIP) Nimue Chrysanthemum Mozart, Elizabeth
Ruby Sunrise, Angelina, Madeleine, Claudia, and the Angels

Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:01 pm

So Carefresh (the gray shredded fluffy stuff) is bad for rats?

I am on a rat list and was told to buy Carefresh. I just put my girlies on it today, but will run out and buy something else if they have it. The only thing my stores around here sell are: Aspen, Cedar & Pine (EWWW they should be BANNED), and Carefresh. I CAN drive 45 min. to the PetSmart in Lake Mary to get Cell Zorb I believe. How expensive is it..how long does it last..and does it do good for the smell?

I prefer something somewhat economical, since I clean the girls' cage every other day..although I'm working on getting them litter trained. They are young and I've only had them four days.

Elizabeth

Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:16 pm

We've used Carefresh for our rats. We've switched to Yesterday's News for odor control and because it's half the price of Carefresh.

_________________
Victor, Bandit, and Sparrow's Sweeties: Neiko & Roo. Sparrow's Boys: Oliver, Arthur, and Rabskuttle. The fRAT Boys: Jim, Jack, and George.
Good night, Witter, Kono, Rat, Olie, Metro, Calle, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, Misto, and Kanga.

Wed Apr 28, 2004 7:10 am

	Sparrow wrote:
	Is there any advice you guys can give me? Any air fresheners, etc? I really don't like my room to smell like anything- good or not- so this is a really annoying problem for me. I was thinking an air purifier, but they're pretty darn expensive... ??

Nilodor!!!!!! I don't know if you know how smelly male mice can be but this is the only stuff that works! There's two different products:

Tap-A-Drop Nilodor. This you squirt a drop in the cage itself every day or so... Works really well - you can buy it through Kim's Ark Rat Rescue and benefit the rescue rats at the same time

- It's under the Cleaning & Odor section.

http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/store.html
(It's under the Cleaning & Odor section)

Or Nilodor makes a plug in type thing... it's like an air freshener but instead of masking odors it neutralizes them. You do have to buy refills but the whole thing is pretty affordable...

http://www.petedge.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=145&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=0&iSubCat=0&iSubSubCat=0&iProductID=145&AS=1

Hope that helps! I myself use Cell-Sorb Plus bedding and I find it works really well! I think paper pellet bedding in general works well but can be on the hard side... Cell-Sorb is probably one of the softer ones.

JoAnna

Wed Apr 28, 2004 7:38 am

Nope, CareFresh isn't bad for rats. Some rats don't do well on it, and some humans can't stand it (they have allergic reactions). I've always used it and have never had a problem with it, just that the last bit in the bottom of some of the bags (but not all, oddly enough) can be dusty, so I don't use the last few inches (toss it in the composter).

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:02 am

Carefresh isn't bad but it can be on the dusty side at times... White Carefresh doesn't seem to have the same dust problem. It's expensive but Harlan Teklad White Tek-Fresh is the exact same stuff except MUCH cheaper. You can buy that through Kim's Ark Rescue too and they ship it - I've used it before, it's good stuff

_________________
~~~(---)8> JoAnna <8(---)~~~

Join the North East U.S. Rat Lovers Yahoo Group! groups.yahoo.com/group/NERatLovers

Adopt a rat from Kim's Ark Rodent Rescue www.kimsarkrescue.org

Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:10 pm

In my early days when i didn't know any better, my two pet shop rats were brought living on sawdust so i kept them on that with shredded paper as bedding-but as expected they eventually began suffering from respiritary problems so someone suggested megazorb to me - its a horse bedding and obsorbs really well. the breathing definatly gor better. it also worked well for my male mice and their 'strong' smell and the gerbils digging habits meant they created less dust with it. So now three years later everyone is on it. the only downful is you can only buy it in huge sacks but its much cheaper than carefresh .

Wed Apr 28, 2004 6:47 pm

I found the Equilitter online: www.equilitter.com

Is it safe since it's made from pine? Although it says it's tested for aflatoxins and mycotoxins - not sure what that means!

Megazorb says it's made from wood pulp on their web site - so I guess it's paper based? I e-mailed the company to see what kinds of wood they use... It also looks like it's mainly sold in the UK - do they sell it in the U.S.?

_________________
~~~(---)8> JoAnna <8(---)~~~

Join the North East U.S. Rat Lovers Yahoo Group! groups.yahoo.com/group/NERatLovers

Adopt a rat from Kim's Ark Rodent Rescue www.kimsarkrescue.org

Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:23 pm

i believe you can only buy megazorb in the uk - its organic and dust extracted and is really soft.

_________________
Rattie girls:Ziggy,Pudding, Waffle, Chips, Amy, Prilly, Biscuit and Coffee
Rattie boy: Basil.
Gerbil: Daisy
Guinea Pigs: Poppy and Rosie.
Hamsters: Smidge and Tilly

Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:09 pm

I've always used Carefresh for my rats and haven't had any problems with it. Personally, I think it is rather ugly, and prefer the white stuff (which I can't find in this stupid town...gah!). And it does get thrown all over the floor. But, as far as odor (only had two, mind you) and the happiness of the rats, it seems to do pretty well. Have been thinking of switching to something else, though, as I am trying to acquire more rats.

~Jamie Group Hug

Tue May 04, 2004 4:23 pm

Hi Maryann

You can get Yesterday's News online from Companions Choice for £4.95 per 10lb bag (plus delivery - about £5)
http://www.companionschoice.com

Ferretworld sell something called Smart Cat Paper Pellet Litter - £17.99 + delivery for a 30 L bag
http://www.ferretworld.co.uk

Tesco online sell Bio Catolet - very similar to Yesterday's News - for £4.39 per 12L bag plus delivery
www.tesco.co.uk
It's also stocked in large Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda stores.

Lastly, I've seen Ecopet recycled cardboard litter recommended - it's small strips of cardboard, similar to the Ideal horse bedding that people rave about but is hard to get hold of. You can order it online at £17.90 for a 10kg bale, or £19.55 for a 23 kg bale including delivery:
http://www.earthlyenterprises.co.uk

Hope that helps!

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P, Charlie and Snoopy

Fri May 07, 2004 6:50 pm

Ok, we know pine and cedar are out. But due to my asthma I can't even use the aspen pet bedding. (It just about killed me with previous ratties Benny & Joon and previous hamster Bobert) Right now I'm using some sort of recycled paper soft pellet small pet bedding that I found at Petco. Carefresh is too dusty (and ugly), despite what everyone says.

Any other allergy sufferers here that can't use "natural" beddings for their ratties? If so, what do you use and recommend? So far I like the stuff I'm using. It is dust free and Billy R. seems to like digging in it. But he also likes sleeping in his ghetto quaker oats container, so that doesn't give his other choices much credibility

Mon May 10, 2004 3:28 am

Carefresh Ultra (the white stuff) which is also the same as Harlan Teklad White Tekfresh is less dusty than regular Carefresh.

It seems most people who have a problem with dust switch over to strips of cloth with a small litter box. You have to clean it more often but there will be little if any dust.

_________________
~~~(---)8> JoAnna <8(---)~~~

Join the North East U.S. Rat Lovers Yahoo Group! groups.yahoo.com/group/NERatLovers

Adopt a rat from Kim's Ark Rodent Rescue www.kimsarkrescue.org

Thu May 13, 2004 10:45 pm

Ok, the recycled bedding I'm using right now is in fact, dusty. It's causing me to sneeze, one of my cats is sneezing, and I can't see how it helps Billy R. any, with his illness and all. So I guess I will be trying out Yesterdays News. And it being heavier will hopefully help with the mess Billy likes to make. He loves his ferret jingle toys and I think he has a nightly soccer game, judging by the mess that I find in the morning wink

Fri May 14, 2004 7:58 am

I just started using Yesterday's News this week, and so far, I'm really happy with it. My only complaint is it's louuuuuud when they kick it around.
PS when I first put them back in once I'd cleaned and refilled their cage, each of them felt the need to carry around a piece of YN in their mouths. Soo Cute!

_________________
Sarah
Gus, Electra and Lillie (cats)
Artemisia Serendipity Timoune Paikea Eowyn (RIP) Nimue Chrysanthemum Mozart, Elizabeth
Ruby Sunrise, Angelina, Madeleine, Claudia, and the Angels

Wed May 26, 2004 4:17 am

I was planning on introducing myself elsewhere first, but..hi, everyone. =) Interesting topic. I've been experimenting with bedding, etc. lately, too, since I'll be getting a fourth girlie soon.

Personally, I use Odoban to clean. I get it free from work (I work at a dog daycare), but I don't think it's too expensive, anyway. As far as I know, it's safe (I always rinse the cage, toys, etc. thoroughly afterwards), it smells nice, and it seems effective. I never have problems with smells. I dump the girls' litter box every other day or so, and clean the cage once a week. =)

Bedding. Personally, I use cloth bedding for the floor of the cage, since they're litter trained, and for all their boxes and cloth mats for the levels. I use Carefresh in the litter box. Cloth bedding isn't as bad as you might think. I just have a lot of it, change it often, and do a load of rat laundry every few weeks. Strips of flannel, cut up old towels, etc. work great if you're lucky enough to have litter trained ratties. =)

Something else I've thought about is shredded paper. Maybe if you ran across a cheap one at a garage sale or something, and checked with the local newspaper to see what kind of ink they use? It might be another low-cost option. If anybody's tried this, how did it go?

Oh, one final note. My rats -eat- corn cob bedding. They act like I've just given them a litter box full of yogies. *tsk tsk* =P I'm not sure why. Maybe I just have weird rats?

Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:28 am

Well, until further notice, I'm trying out Green Pet Products Inc. Aspen Supreme Pellets. They seem to be doing pretty well, so far, but we'll see. Only issue is that it has a strong smell, which probably isn't good for the rats, and it's 10.99 for a 20 lb bag. I probably used a good 4 inches of the bag, so it probably only is useable for 4 or maybe 5 cage changes. *sigh* Well, at least it isn't dusty. I contacted Equilitter to see if I can get some of it shipped in, special order, as nobody seems to carry it, here.

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My zoo: Link, Cyrano de Bergerat, Pipsqueak and the girls Harley, Kira and Esie<:8 )~
Also, Arwen the garter snake, Merry the beta, 2 fantail goldfish, 4 applesnails (r.i.p. pinky), 3 cory cats and Evie, the Jack Russell Terrier.

Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:03 am

So there is no complaints about Yesterdays News besides the noise? My sister uses it for her gineau pig and it would be so much easier and cheaper to use YN. Does everyone think its ok? Is the odors ok with it?

_________________
My Zoo
55gal Freshwater Community Fish
29gal Freshwater Community Fish
20gal 2 Leopard Geckos
10gal 1 Emporer Scorpion
10gal Terrarium
Cats...Tiger, Bunya, and Toby
Dog...Pumpkin
New Martins for rats!

Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:21 am

YN is great litter. I used to use it all the time until my local petshop stopped carrying it.

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

Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:58 am

This originally stemmed from the problem of my ratties having needle nails. I needed some way to wear their nails down, and I was scouring this forum for ideas. Looks like other people tried sandpaper but it didn't work...

So my boyfriend actually came up with this idea and it's worked great. I went to Home Depot and bought natural rock tiles... you know, the kind that you can install on your kitchen floor. They can come in big sizes that can be cut with the right equipment, or smaller sizes. They're pretty cheap and come in all sorts of colors. I put these on the shelves of my cage, and voila! Not only do they have some natural rock to wear their nails down, it also keeps them from walking on the wires. And it's incredably easy to clean... since the tiles are heavy, they don't have to be fastened to the cage. You can just pull them out and scrub them. And they dry in like 5 minutes.

Hope this helps those people with floor covering issues!

_________________
~Vicki and her morning coffee~
Latte, Arabica, Bean, and Demitasse

O..O
>o<
(db)S
^^

Rest in Peace my sweet Mocha

Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:27 am

does no-one use biocatolet? I'm surprised no-one has mentioned it. I have fourteen cages to clean every week (rats guinni's rabbets ferrets and mice) so there's no way I would use anything else as the oder control is so good and the smell it gives off is quite pleasant.

Biocatolet is quite expensive(around eight pounds for a big 25L bag) so I sprinkle it on top of a paper based cat litter, carefresh sometimes but I find the rats don't get on with it and flick it everywhere (three pounds), or bob martins recycled paper pellets(under two pounds) which is like carefresh but less powdery and sometimes I use yesterdays news)

As for the smell problem, have you tried altering their diet? mine used to really pong if they ate certain foods, for example, they only get cat food when they are just about to be cleaned out.

A ferret cage spray is also good to get rid of the smell.

My girls have a rolled up old tee shirt on their hammock which not only stops the smell (I don't have to change the hammock more than once a week) and also they tend to chew the hammock if there's no shirt...

Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:05 am

I just bought a large bag of aspen shavings ($8) and a large bag of Woody Pet pellets ($4) to try both. A slightly larger bag of CareFresh is $20 and only lasts 4 or so cage cleanings. The mice like to burrow and build far more than any of my rats ever did, and they also are champions at the long-distance litter toss.

I will probably go back to CareFresh since it's quiet, clean, odorless, absorbent, etc. But I wanted to give the other two items a try since both together are cheaper than one bag of CareFresh.

I have a feeling the pellets are going to be noisy, though, and I can just imagine what the room is going to look like after a night of tossing those! Mr. Green

BTW, Wade, the people at Agway told me they don't sell wood stove pellets as listed safe for pets cos they cannot guarantee that there is not petrol or other harmful yuck in there.

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous