Smelly rats!

blue_monkey_2

EmptyPockets wrote: »

Why were rats living in your bras? :eek:

LOL, bars - I meant it went straight through the BARS!!

Mankysteve

You can also litter train rats, They'll be spot that's more heavy used than others. Get a corner tray I believe there interned for ferrets. When you clean out then place some of the soiled litter with some fresh and eventually they'll use that as there spot then just change that . Just always keep a small amount of used litter.

Male rat will allways be alittle bit smelly but shouldn't be offensively so.

I didn't like that Litter you used found it broke up when wet and cleaning a PIA. ended up using this http://www.petsathome.com/shop/lightweight-non-clumping-recycled-paper-based-cat-litter-12ltr-by-bio-catolet-25872 slightly cheaper.

Old jeans and trouser make great hammocks.

Missy_Spud

I really wouldnt recommend having them neutered for the sake of the smell, the health risks that come with anaesthetic on a small animal is quite large for an op which doesnt need to be done, id rather put up with the smell than risk losing my pet through an op they didnt need.

Im sure if you let them scent and resist the urge to clean them out everyday (though i know it smells really bad for a little while) they will stop scenting as much making your home smell nicer! lol

ours did, when we first got them they stank but after a few weeks of weekly cleaning they do get better.

Miss_Ratty

Just read this post as I used to keep and breed ratties (sadly my jack russell will have none of it anymore!). I would really urge you not to use wood-based pellets at all, as apart from the fact that they break up when wet (and can be inhaled), softwood based litters can give off phenols etc which can be toxic to rats, leading to respiratory problems, skin and liver problems. Some hardwood-based products are ok, but really expensive. We used to use Biocatolet but had to stop as they changed the ingredients which included a perfume which wasn't good for them (this may have changed now as we haven't had rats for about 4 years). We have been campaigning PAH to change their approach to bedding for rodents, as it causes so many problems.

With regards to the smell - sadly rats have very smelly wee, but the more frequently their cage is cleaned, the more they will wee to try to remark their territory. They can be trained to use one area of the cage as a loo, but as they are essentially unable to control exactly where they wee, this only really works for poop. We found that just using a very mild detergent to clean the cage (e.g. a dedicated cloth soaked in soapy water mixed with ecover or a plant-based washing up liquid) was best, as harsher and more "rat-specific" cleaners contain chemicals which makes the cage smell to a rat like it needs to mark even more! As suggested by a previous poster, the Fancy Rats website is without a doubt one of the best resources, and if you check that out you will find lots and lots of tips.