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Fancy Rat owners thread
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Todaymueller - (U8053762) on Friday, 20th April 2012
I have just become the owner of 3 fancy Rat kittens Yay ! On Easter Sunday I picked up the boys and became a Rat owner for the first time.
They have been named Norton (siamese), Vincent (burmese) and Enfield (dumbo burmese) and have the run of a large cage in my front room. They are still quite young at 3 months and have a bit of growing to do yet.
Are there any other Rat owners in Mustardland? -
Message 2
Posted by Spartacus (U15209285) on Saturday, 21st April 2012
I have had mice in the past and have thought about rats..........but not got any further than thinking about it!!
They are supposed to make excellent pets, even answering to their name I believe.
I hope they give you much joy. -
Message 3
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Saturday, 21st April 2012
I don't know very much about fancy rats, Todaymueller. Is the fancy rat the same as a domesticated rat, or is it a pedigree domesticated rat?
Are Norton, Vincent and Enfield likely to remain good friends, or will sexual maturity lead to fights and injury unless they are neutered/ or kept apart?
I've met and liked quite a few rats, and liked them very much. The first one I met was while standing in a post office queue. The young woman in front of me had masses of very long hair that seemed to be rippling in a strange way. Then a little face peeped; he was a very bold, friendly little chap. Not sure I'd want to take a rat out like that though, in case it got spooked and ran away. Maybe on a lead and harness?
Someone I knew had several ex-lab rats, which I think might have been hmmm liberated. They were very intelligent and friendly and pretty much had the run of the place.
Violet, am I right in thinking mice have no bladder control? I think I might think twice about having free-range mice if so, so i would have to be a humungous cage so they could have lots of space.
Well, actually, I can't really have small animals like mice, rats, gps, etc., because of the cats. Shame, because I gather rescue organisations are almost invariably desperate for homes for them.
Rusty -
Message 4
Posted by Spartacus (U15209285) on Saturday, 21st April 2012
I can honestly say that in the six or seven years of keeping and handling mice (some more placid than others) nobody was ever tiddled on - they do poo on you though, but their droppings are dry.
We always had females because male mouse urine is rather smelly!
That's a point (it's a few years ago now) the mice cages always had a toilet area..... just like hamsters .....if they had no bladder control that wouldn't happen would it?
I'm fairly sure I only learnt about mice bladders AFTER we had kept them as pets and it came as a surprise.
Perhaps pet mice are different in that respect? I'm afraid I don't know....I just know that it was never ever a problem for us. -
Message 5
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Saturday, 21st April 2012
That's interesting. I must admit, the random (?) production of dry pellets of poo, even in the hand, isn't too bad. I agree, if mice have a toileting area (I gather house rabbits can even be trained to use a cat litter tray, albeit needing "safe" litter), then surely they must have control.
Mice are very sweet too; shame they don't have very long lives. It must be a bit upsetting for owners.
Rusty -
Message 6
Posted by Todaymueller - (U8053762) on Saturday, 21st April 2012
I have to say that Vincent is looking like being the dominant rat, they often have a bit of a punch up, nothing too serious, it usualy ends with Vincent pinning one of the others to the ground for a bit. I am keeping an eye on the situation and I am hoping once they have got through puberty and sorted out the pecking order they will settle down.
They did come from a breeder recognised by the fancy rat society and came with a pedigree. Rat snobbery indeed.
They do tend to poo in the same corner of the cage and that makes spot cleaning the cage easier. They are my first pet rodents and so far have been a delight. -
Message 7
Posted by Celtic Tiger (U2229153) on Sunday, 22nd April 2012
When our son was a teenager he kept (and bred) fancy rats. They are delightful creatures - very sociable and clean. I rather miss them not being around. However, my son and his partner have two rats so I get to cuddle them when I go round to their house. They have a massive cage with slides and tunnels and hammocks.
A tip regarding cleaning. My son uses cat litter in the bottom of the box which is very easy to tip out for the weekly cleaning of the cage. -
Message 8
Posted by Todaymueller - (U8053762) on Monday, 23rd April 2012
I use diced cardboard in my cage. Its £8 for a huge bail of it from a horse feed warehouse. For bedding I use shredded paper from work. I have read that some cat litter is too dusty for rodents and can cause respitory problems. Feed is a mixture of rabbit food, dog kibble, pasta and cereal. So keeeping rats is not very expensive, once the initial outlay for a cage and stuff is paid for.
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Message 9
Posted by Todaymueller - (U8053762) on Sunday, 6th May 2012
Food I have started giving my 'boys' as a suppliment to the dry stuff is fresh apple, frozen mixed veg and dandilion leaves. They practically fight to get at the dandilion leaves, which is great because they are full of vitamins and other goodness.
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Message 10
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 6th May 2012
Food I have started giving my 'boys' as a suppliment to the dry stuff is fresh apple, frozen mixed veg and dandilion leaves. They practically fight to get at the dandilion leaves, which is great because they are full of vitamins and other goodness. Â Yes, dandelion leaves are full of iron and Vitamin C, irrc. Your boys sound a lively pair. Any chance of pics?
Rusty -
Message 11
Posted by Todaymueller - (U8053762) on Monday, 7th May 2012
Better than that I've got video !
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Message 12
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Monday, 7th May 2012
They're beautiful, Todaym, and look ncredibly lively and itnerested in everything. Do you/will you let them out into the room from time to time? I bet they'd like that but I'd be terrified of losing them or treading on them.
Rusty -
Message 13
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Monday, 7th May 2012
Incidentally, when I was watching your videos, I got a pop-up advert for pest control services. Can't help thinking they got hold of the wrong end of the stick, somehow!
Rusty -
Message 14
Posted by LindaLee (U2777941) on Monday, 7th May 2012
Incidentally, when I was watching your videos, I got a pop-up advert for pest control services. Can't help thinking they got hold of the wrong end of the stick, somehow!Â
I got a missold payment protection refund ad - different sort of rat, perhaps?!
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