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Post by adoptaratcanada on Dec 16, 2006 15:11:18 GMT -4
With my last rats, I could wipe down the shelves no problem, with them in the cage. However, Hugh, the rather feisty one REALLY REALLY hates it if I put my hand in there if I have a paper towel in it.
I can't remember if I've had a regular paper towel yet, or just these heavy-duty blue cloths (they look like paper towel, come on a roll, are blue and VERY tough, you can put them in the washer and dryer). If he sees one of THOSE he flips! I can't wipe the shelves if he sees me coming, or if he hears me do it he comes running!
Today he managed to grab a corner and HOLY SMOKES he would not let go! He had his eyes squeezed shut and was pulling like mad --he had an amazing grip on that thing! We had a tug of war for a few moments which I was not going to win, so I gave him a quick, gentle poke in the side which made him loosen his grip!
Since I don't know what might be in those cloths I didn't want him chewing on it, and I wouldn't use it for bedding in place of paper towel or fabric.
Any thoughts on how I can get away with the daily wipe-down?
Linda
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 16, 2006 20:33:09 GMT -4
Why don't you remove him BEFORE you use those things?? Sounds simple enough. And if you can't remove him how do you clean?
Or use a sponge on a stick.
Or distract him to one side with one hand while the other cleans.
I was just told by a friend cage wipes are available in pet stores. I donlt know how necessary or expensive they are, but if they look very different they might help.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Dec 16, 2006 21:55:30 GMT -4
oops I see I wasn't clear enough. This isn't the BIG cleaning, this is just a quick wipe-down of their shelves that I do daily (or a couple of times a day if they've been peeing alot on the shelves).
It SHOULD only take a few seconds, so I hadn't thought of moving him out but I will if I have to.
linda
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 16, 2006 23:11:49 GMT -4
How long does it take to move a rat? He annoyed you with this action enough to post, so move him. Do you use the tail?
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Dec 16, 2006 23:18:43 GMT -4
no no no! Don't pick up ratties by the tail! I don't kow if you can pick up mice or gerbils way, but definitely not ratties. I was wondering if there were another way to clean it quick, or a good distraction. Definitley putting him elsewhere is a good idea. He's not the most keen on coming out, so it *can* be a bit of a challenge to cajole him. It just means I have to do it when I have a little more time, rather than a simple quick wipe (which I could do with the other rats). I just never saw a rat out to kill a cleaning cloth before!  L.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 16, 2006 23:37:20 GMT -4
He must think it an invader!
What is the problem with picking up by tails? (I mean BRIEFLY by the BASE of the tail).
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Dec 17, 2006 0:48:54 GMT -4
I think rats are just to heavy to do that....kinda like not picking up an adult cat by the scruff of the neck.
But heck what do I know.... it's just that that's what I've read everywhere, not to. The skin can actually come off like a sheath, exposing the flesh and the bones.
linda
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 17, 2006 1:19:03 GMT -4
A rat's tail at the base seems way to thick for that, and skin "sheathing" off sounds like what might happen to a scared gerbil if you grab one by the tail tip, not the tail base.
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Post by Andrea on Dec 18, 2006 15:06:59 GMT -4
Does he have a favorite treat he can have while you do this?
Baby my bunny hates when i whipe up his pee with paper towel, he attacks it grunting and yelling! He also lunges when i try to brush the carpet on his top floor of his house, even Jackpot has started doing that too. I pretty much have to push them away, or move them to another area even if it's inside their cage.
Rats, Degus, Gerbils all can loose thair tails the same way, but you can grab the base and lift there back end without a problem, it can help to have a little looky underneith if you need to re-sex one or if you are having troubles catching them to pick them up, but ya never any other part of the tail, just where it conects to the bum.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Dec 18, 2006 18:42:33 GMT -4
oh ok, I'm just going by what I've read...everything said not to do it. Given that my last rats were VERY big, and weighed about half a pound, picking them up by the tail would not be an option I'd consider for them.
Linda
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 18, 2006 22:16:27 GMT -4
That tail is proportionately thicker in bigger rats; it is quite thick at the base. I have no problem with a quck lift and hand dump.
Spiny mice have very thin tails, and those that have been biten off are hard to sex as you can't lift them!
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