Bellatrix, Cleoratra and Meg are gorgeous... help me keep them happy and healthy.
October 8, 2011 4:43 AM Subscribe
Should I worry about the length of pet rat claws?
So, thanks to some great answers to my question when we were adopting baby rats, we have successfully kept Bellatrix, Cleoratra and Meg alive so far.
They seem happy and healthy. And they have won my heart, with their different personalities and general all-round cuteness.
They get food that grinds down their cute little rattie teeth. They get blocks of who-knows-what from the pet shop which they gnaw on, and they love it. And for a special treat they get peas or corn or porridge (oats) with vegies and a dash of honey.
Now I'm wondering about their claws. They spend time with us every day out of their cage. Cleoratra watches films with her 10 year old mate, sitting on his lap staring at the screen while he explains the plot to her. Bellatrix burrows into her 13 year old mates hair, while the 13 year old blogs and tweets about how hard her life is. Meg sits on my shoulder while I read or watch tv. When they get active late in the evening though, they like to clamber around our necks, inside our shirts, down our arms. That's fine with us, it doesn't break our skin, but they're scratchy and I'm wondering if I need to put something in their cage that will wear their claws down for their own comfort. When my toenails need trimming, they annoy me, and I don't want our rattie babies to suffer the same way.
We don't mind that they scratch us, but I want to be sure that I'm doing the right thing by them. Obviously I'm not going to trim their teeny tiny itty bitty nails... but should I provide something in their cage that will naturally shorten/blunt their nails? A rough rock or two?
So, thanks to some great answers to my question when we were adopting baby rats, we have successfully kept Bellatrix, Cleoratra and Meg alive so far.
They seem happy and healthy. And they have won my heart, with their different personalities and general all-round cuteness.
They get food that grinds down their cute little rattie teeth. They get blocks of who-knows-what from the pet shop which they gnaw on, and they love it. And for a special treat they get peas or corn or porridge (oats) with vegies and a dash of honey.
Now I'm wondering about their claws. They spend time with us every day out of their cage. Cleoratra watches films with her 10 year old mate, sitting on his lap staring at the screen while he explains the plot to her. Bellatrix burrows into her 13 year old mates hair, while the 13 year old blogs and tweets about how hard her life is. Meg sits on my shoulder while I read or watch tv. When they get active late in the evening though, they like to clamber around our necks, inside our shirts, down our arms. That's fine with us, it doesn't break our skin, but they're scratchy and I'm wondering if I need to put something in their cage that will wear their claws down for their own comfort. When my toenails need trimming, they annoy me, and I don't want our rattie babies to suffer the same way.
We don't mind that they scratch us, but I want to be sure that I'm doing the right thing by them. Obviously I'm not going to trim their teeny tiny itty bitty nails... but should I provide something in their cage that will naturally shorten/blunt their nails? A rough rock or two?
My rats seemed to trim their nails as part of their grooming routine. That said, I used to always be covered in scratches, as they just loved climbing mount HFSH!
I think it would only be a problem for them in an environment with lots of smooth, hard surfaces. If they have plenty of places to climb and chew, they should be a collective bundle of happiness.
I miss my little furballs.
posted by HFSH at 5:15 AM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think it would only be a problem for them in an environment with lots of smooth, hard surfaces. If they have plenty of places to climb and chew, they should be a collective bundle of happiness.
I miss my little furballs.
posted by HFSH at 5:15 AM on October 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pictures please!!
posted by whalebreath at 7:10 AM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by whalebreath at 7:10 AM on October 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Absolutely - we have a few bricks in our girls' cage, one under each water bottle and a couple of others - this helps keep their nails in check though they'll always be a bit scratchy.
Seconding the call for photos! Great names BTW!
posted by Carravanquelo at 7:57 AM on October 8, 2011
Seconding the call for photos! Great names BTW!
posted by Carravanquelo at 7:57 AM on October 8, 2011
Best answer: You can very carefully trim ratty nails with a small animal nail trimmer or a baby nail trimmer. Warning they don't like it very much and the quick is hard to see, but I found it easier than trimming my dogs black nails as at least I could see the quick.
In the end I put a few concrete blocks in the cage for them to climb around on to blunt their nails. After a while they would absorb the pee smell and I'd swap them out for some others and stick the smelly blocks outside in the rain and sun to clean. It would take out the wost of the sharpness, but I think because their nails are so small they are pretty much going to feel sharp to us no matter what length.
PS I found yogurt drops a great bribe for nail trimming. I swear my rats where addicted to them.
posted by wwax at 8:01 AM on October 8, 2011
In the end I put a few concrete blocks in the cage for them to climb around on to blunt their nails. After a while they would absorb the pee smell and I'd swap them out for some others and stick the smelly blocks outside in the rain and sun to clean. It would take out the wost of the sharpness, but I think because their nails are so small they are pretty much going to feel sharp to us no matter what length.
PS I found yogurt drops a great bribe for nail trimming. I swear my rats where addicted to them.
posted by wwax at 8:01 AM on October 8, 2011
I second the suggestion of clipping their nails with baby nail clippers, this is how I dealt with all my rats' nails. Get them used to nail clipping while they're young (or at least get them used to having their feet handled) and they'll be tolerant of it when they're older and their nails are larger and easier to see/clip.
Here's how I did it: Clip rat nails while you are sitting down with the rat in your lap. For front feet, just gently pinch the foot between your thumb and forefinger so all the rats' toes are sticking out, then go down the line and clip nails. The rat will try to pull her foot away, but just keep holding on - you aren't hurting her if you hold gently but firmly. For back feet, hold each foot similarly but also kind of gently squish the rat's head and body between your body and your arm. This calms them down due to the dark, enclosed space you've just created for her to burrow in. Reward with treats afterwards!
posted by illenion at 11:34 AM on October 8, 2011
Here's how I did it: Clip rat nails while you are sitting down with the rat in your lap. For front feet, just gently pinch the foot between your thumb and forefinger so all the rats' toes are sticking out, then go down the line and clip nails. The rat will try to pull her foot away, but just keep holding on - you aren't hurting her if you hold gently but firmly. For back feet, hold each foot similarly but also kind of gently squish the rat's head and body between your body and your arm. This calms them down due to the dark, enclosed space you've just created for her to burrow in. Reward with treats afterwards!
posted by illenion at 11:34 AM on October 8, 2011
Best answer: I had a small (4 inch by 4 inch) red clay tile under their main water bottle. I had it flipped to the non-smooth side and that helped.
And yes, must have photos!
posted by deborah at 10:09 AM on October 9, 2011
And yes, must have photos!
posted by deborah at 10:09 AM on October 9, 2011
Response by poster: I ended up taking them to the vet, I couldn't get them to hold still, I was terrified I would hurt them, but the vet trimmed the front nails of all three for $8. Their back nails didn't need trimming, probably because I took the advice above and put a couple of rough flat rocks around their food and water containers.
I never got around to providing pics, so here they are:
Bellatrix
Meg and Cleoratra
Despite the look on Cleoratra's face, she happily lets her sisters climb all over her.
Pet rats are awesome.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:21 AM on March 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
I never got around to providing pics, so here they are:
Bellatrix
Meg and Cleoratra
Despite the look on Cleoratra's face, she happily lets her sisters climb all over her.
Pet rats are awesome.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:21 AM on March 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-860384-Lava-Ledge/dp/B00176F466
Something like that is made exactly for what you want.
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 4:55 AM on October 8, 2011