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Wrat Wrangling
Oct. 22nd, 2008 05:41 pmMy rodent population has exploded - no, not that way. Not that way either. Messy. I'm simply minding the resident crowd of a couple of friends who have finally managed to go away together without all their animals :-) The psycho dogs are staying with a dog whispererer and I've got the rest; eight rats, one rabbit and two Manx mice named Stinky and Poo. The living room certainly looks a lot more populated; cages, dry food supplies and kitty litter for the trays. There are my own resident three rats as well, sniffing the newcomers' scents with dire suspicion.
Thank Ghod everybody seems to know how to use the trays. I cleaned Stinky and Poo's cage today to see if this cut down on the pong. It's amazing how two such tiny creatures can produce more odour than all eight rats. Things aren't too bad as long as the air can circulate but when I had to close up the room in order to air-condition it during the heat, well, it may have been cool but I had to hold my breath till I got the doors open after a day out of the house.
The five girl rats are a bit suss of me; one nipped me when I had my hand in their cage. Another one has two really bad mammary tumours. I hate those things! Haven't asked if surgery is possible but even if it was, the damn tumours would most likely grow back. She's a rescue rat, adopted as an adult like all the abovementioned animals. Stinky and Poo were abandoned outside a vet surgery.
The boy rats are gorgeous, three huge sleepy creatures who accept petting as only their due and come hurrying up for attention whenever I approach the cage. Each of them could make two or three of Luka, my senior rat but I don't think he's aware of this.
Thank Ghod everybody seems to know how to use the trays. I cleaned Stinky and Poo's cage today to see if this cut down on the pong. It's amazing how two such tiny creatures can produce more odour than all eight rats. Things aren't too bad as long as the air can circulate but when I had to close up the room in order to air-condition it during the heat, well, it may have been cool but I had to hold my breath till I got the doors open after a day out of the house.
The five girl rats are a bit suss of me; one nipped me when I had my hand in their cage. Another one has two really bad mammary tumours. I hate those things! Haven't asked if surgery is possible but even if it was, the damn tumours would most likely grow back. She's a rescue rat, adopted as an adult like all the abovementioned animals. Stinky and Poo were abandoned outside a vet surgery.
The boy rats are gorgeous, three huge sleepy creatures who accept petting as only their due and come hurrying up for attention whenever I approach the cage. Each of them could make two or three of Luka, my senior rat but I don't think he's aware of this.