RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:20 am

What is the bedding called that looks like a bunch ot tiny white squares? My rescue boys arrived in it, and I really like it, but I'm not sure what it's called.

Right now I am using Carefresh. Recently, they've started vacuum packing it into perfect rectangles. It is super for storage, but a pain in the honker to use. I feel like I have to chisel chunks out of it before I can get any out, and then of course the rats try to help... Rolling Eyes

Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:05 pm

yeah my carefresh came packed like that... i found it too much effort to brwak all the bits up and it seemed quite dusty. a small pack did go quite a long way though for it's size

Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:15 am

Hey!
Whem I first got my rats, I worried the same way. But what I do, I have obviously the bedding. Then the middle floor where they spend a lot of time, which i often put old face/wash cloths in for them to move around as they please. I also like to put small boxes in there for them to hide it. The top floor has the main hammock and a small shelf for the food bowl. I don't worry about the feet anymore and I hope you don't either!
Good Luck! Crossed Fingers

Thu Sep 23, 2004 9:51 am

I was wondering what you cloth users used to keep the cloth in place! I have these ugly bright orange and blue dinner napkins that I use for the rats--I put them in their baskets for bedding. *Note-great investment. Pack of 3 plastic baskets from Walmart for 97 cents. They make great beds and look outs!** Anywho, the rats move the napkins everywhere. So I was wondering, how the heck do I keep them from doing that with t-shirts or towels?? Thanks for the pins idea.

And thanks for the linoleum idea also...I have lots of that lying around from the new floors! Didn't think of that for some reason! Confused

BUT what I wanted to REALLY ASK was, do your rats eat their food in their beds? Is there any way to discourage them from making a crummy mess in their beds? They eat in bed, then they don't want to sleep in it... Shocked

I wonder why? lol.

Thanks-
Karinka

Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:07 pm

I am not sure of the different types of bedding, but I have heard that shavings can be bad for the rats due to allergic reactions to it. I use Carefresh, which says it is made from "wood pulp"....Not too sure how to make it though...(sorry)...
I searched, and found this website...maybe it is near you and could help?
http://www.ubd.co.nz/company-profiles/115167/

Renee

_________________
Renee
~Momma to Squeaker and Hana~
Gotta love the little creatures!

Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:56 am

I was just wondering if the Yesterday's News bedding was a soft bedding or a hard bedding material. I have my girls on Carefresh but I was thinking about changing because Squeaker sneezes when I use the grey version and not as much with the white one...but still, I don't want her sneezing because of the bedding. But I don't want their paws to be on rough bedding.
Thanks

_________________
Renee
~Momma to Squeaker and Hana~
Gotta love the little creatures!

Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:06 am

My guys don't seem to mind Yesterday's News at all. They don't usually sleep on it, 'cause they have six floors of shelves to climb on, and usually they sleep on the top shelf, but they seem ok with the "roughness" of it.

_________________
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 Dec 22, 2004 6:16 pm

It is hard--it resembles guinea pig or rabbit pellets. We used to use it for our rats, but switched out when we adopted Sparrow's rats (they were bedded on Carefresh). We were happy with it and continue to use YN in the litter pans.

_________________
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 Dec 22, 2004 8:06 pm

I wouldn't use yesterdays news as a bedding (something for them to sleep on) However I am going to use it for a litter.

For bedding you might want to try going to your local fabric store and asking for remants. and line the shelves with it,and their igloos, or hidey boxs with it.

_________________
The Boys:
Enigma
Neptune
Zion
The Hamster: Mischief

And Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will!

Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:10 am

What is the easiest (building, installation, and matinence wise) levels to have?

Fri Dec 31, 2004 8:07 pm

some will say wire floors some will say plastic floors, some will say wire floors with linoleum on it for easy wipe down. It is more on what YOU think is easy to clean.

I perosnally have wire floors that I put news paper on, so it pulls the pee away, and I can just pull the paper out when dirty. (of course I am working on litter training, lol)

When you use plastic shelving or linoleum covered wire floors or even paper floors you have to be careful of bumble foot, which is caused by dirty conditions and overweight (not wire floors!). You won't always be there to wipe up pee spots, and they will walk through it. So you have to just use your own opininion and common sense (for lack of better words? lol) to what you think will be easiest.

_________________
The Boys:
Enigma
Neptune
Zion
The Hamster: Mischief

And Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will!

Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:35 pm

My boys are (mostly) litter trained so their shelves are lined with wash cloths which I wash once a week by hand, they don't really get that dirty. Their litter is Aspen shavings which is ok but I hate the smell. I wanted to switch to Carefresh for some time now (I've used it before) but the Aspen is just so darn cheap, $3.99 for a huge bag.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:20 am

My rat's cage has an enclosed plastic base. I have been trying to use fleece as a floor covering however the rats continually pull it up and into their nesting box Rolling Eyes

How does everyone else over come this, I cant seem to find anything to keep it down, velcro has been suggested to me but I'm not sure if this will work and or hurt them.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:24 am

I put newspaper down on the base (which the cage sits on, so the cage sits on the newspaper in the base).......don't know if I explained it very well, lol.

_________________
The Boys:
Enigma
Neptune
Zion
The Hamster: Mischief

And Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will!

Mon Jan 10, 2005 7:34 pm

Hi,

I have read previous postings about the best stuff to use for floor coverings, but I live in the UK and we have a smaller choice over here Sad

I used to use sawdust but then discovered this was bad for rats. So, we tried some "dust extracted hay" but this doesn't seemt o be dust extracted at all - it makes me sneeze! Anyway, I am desperately trying to find something that will make a good floor covering....

I have discovered a "wood based" cat litter, it says it is dust free wooden pellets based on timber waste (I think including pine). Does this sound suitiable for rats?

Thanks!

Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:37 pm

Hi Matt.

I too am in the UK. If it includes pine then its probably not suitable. A good one that I use is Biocatolet, the big bag wasn't too expensive if I remember correctly, it lasts for a fair while, smells quite pleasant and doesn't get stinky in the cage too fast. Its paper based.

Hope that helps.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:54 pm

Hey there is a rat website that I go to that is UK based. Can you find Bio-catlet, or Bob martins? That would work.

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/home/

_________________
The Boys:
Enigma
Neptune
Zion
The Hamster: Mischief

And Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will!

Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:10 pm

I recently switched from Carefresh to Carefresh Ultra (think Happy might've been allergic), but it's only available in ridiculously expensive small packages. Would it be plausible to use YN with a thin layer of Carefresh Ultra over it? Or would the rats just dig it up and make a bunch of bedding stew?

Also-- whenever I put litter in my girl's litterpan, they just shove it all out and to the floor. It's clay-based, so it's pretty heavy (or so I thought). Any way I can get them to actually *use* the pan instead of just throwing litter around?

Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:08 pm

Bedding stew is my bet. Mr. Green

When I called Petco to beg them to carry the giant size of Ultra, they said no one buys it cos of the cost, so they can't. But -- the lady did tell me to try Petco online and order as many bags as I could for my first order, since sipping is free on one's first order. Haven't done so because I just can't afford that much Ultra at once, but I hope to soon.

I did find this absolutely wonderful, safe, hemp bedding at Petco as well -- can't recall the name if it, I've used it all up. It has a very mild almost sweet smell, and they LOVED it. I mixed that with the regular CareFresh, then layered Ultra over the top of all. The mice were in heaven.

As for the litter box I've given up on pellet litters for that. I am convinced it encourages them to toss it LOL. And it's noisy! I put the same mix in the boxes I do in the rest of the cage. They go in the boxes, and they go in the rest of the litter too. But if I put the boxes in the corners, they use those the most.

_________________
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

Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:41 am

Kate wrote:

Bedding stew is my bet. Mr. Green

When I called Petco to beg them to carry the giant size of Ultra, they said no one buys it cos of the cost, so they can't. But -- the lady did tell me to try Petco online and order as many bags as I could for my first order, since sipping is free on one's first order. Haven't done so because I just can't afford that much Ultra at once, but I hope to soon.

I did find this absolutely wonderful, safe, hemp bedding at Petco as well -- can't recall the name if it, I've used it all up. It has a very mild almost sweet smell, and they LOVED it. I mixed that with the regular CareFresh, then layered Ultra over the top of all. The mice were in heaven.

As for the litter box I've given up on pellet litters for that. I am convinced it encourages them to toss it LOL. And it's noisy! I put the same mix in the boxes I do in the rest of the cage. They go in the boxes, and they go in the rest of the litter too. But if I put the boxes in the corners, they use those the most.

I've become a bedding scrooge with the Ultra because it's so expensive.

$20 for 30 litres, it's nuts. I just found a PetsMart in the area, and they carry the larger size, but I can't afford it either, heh. If the shipping weren't so much I'd just order Tekfresh White instead.

Was it "LifeMate Hemp Bedding for Small Animals"? Looked it up on their site-- from what you've said, it sounds great, and it seems pretty reasonably priced too (rofl, having problems comparing quarts to inches cubed).

And thank you for the litter advice! I never thought to try that. Mr. Green

Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:58 pm

	Quote:
	It's clay-based, so it's pretty heavy (or so I thought).

Umm... Aren't clay based litters not a good choice for rats? I'm sure I read that somewhere....

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:00 pm

If it is clumping litter (which usually is clay based) then it is dangerous to ratties. Since they tend to ingest some litter when grooming or just to test it out it's very bad. It will clump within the digestive track and can cause all kinds of problems.

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

Last edited by Christy on Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:07 pm

Ahh ok gotcha

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:38 pm

catherines wrote:

I've become a bedding scrooge with the Ultra because it's so expensive.

$20 for 30 litres, it's nuts. I just found a PetsMart in the area, and they carry the larger size, but I can't afford it either, heh. If the shipping weren't so much I'd just order Tekfresh White instead.

Was it "LifeMate Hemp Bedding for Small Animals"? Looked it up on their site-- from what you've said, it sounds great, and it seems pretty reasonably priced too (rofl, having problems comparing quarts to inches cubed).

And thank you for the litter advice! I never thought to try that. Mr. Green

Yup! LifeMate, that must have been it cos it was the only one I ever saw and that rang a bell! Really nice stuff: kind of straw-like, but very soft, you can stick your hand in the bag and not get that prickly feeling like from aspen. No dust until I got to the bottom of the bag. It's packed really tightly so it's a good price from what I recall, having compared it in the store to other litter/bedding of the same size.

A friend gave me an almost full giant bag of that TekFresh white from the shelter she works at. They couldn't use it. It's exactly the same as CareFresh Ultra, since I had a small bag of that at the same time. I used it up awfully fast though, since I figured it was free and I might as well give the mice an extra Christmas present. Mr. Green

Both the Tek white and the CF Ultra are sooooo nice and soft and dust-free.

_________________
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

Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:08 am

I'm a very happy rat owner!
I was at Walmart the yesterday and found a bedding called "Crittercare". It's the exact same thing as regular Carefresh (even made by the same people), but for $3.50 (I'm not sure; I know it was $3 something, I'll verify next time I go) per 10 liter bag as opposed to $5 for Carefresh.
Unfortunately, it only comes in 10l bags, but it's still cheaper than buying Carefresh in bulk-- $17.50 for 50l of CC as opposed to $18 for 50l CF. But that's at Petsmart; at Petco it's $15 and on sale for $13.50... might have to give up that boycott! :P

Guess the boys (spoiled girls need CF ultra for dust allergies) are gonna get Crittercare from now on, unless they get so bad once Cheerio matures that I have to switch to something wayyy more odor-masking. Stinky, stinky boys. But Cell-sorb Plus is so expensive, ack-- and I'm worried about YN breaking down into dust too quickly because of moisture & traffic (true?).
Oh, Kate, I converted the units (finally!)-- that hemp bedding is $6 for 24 liters at Petsmart ($9 at Petco). Nice. <33