Adopting a Small Pet- part two: rats

ADOPTiNG A SMALL PET

Pt II: Rats

written by Veronica of ScrappyRat

RATS

Kieran

adoptable rat

Carolina Pet Rescue

Rats are really no harder or easier to keep than gerbils or hamsters, they just have different needs and "rules". They are cuddlier (especially boys) than gerbils, but about on par with hamsters as far as snuggliness goes. They're much more intelligent than hamsters, though, so you need to be prepared for that, both the wonderful things that brings and the difficulties as well.

Rats are better shoulder surfers and can be trained much more easily than most rodents, but they are also quicker to figure out how to take advantage of you or escape, too. They tend to have considerably higher vet bills and significantly more health problems than most of the other commonly kept rodents, but they also offer a more dog or cat like bond than a hamster or gerbil. Their bites hurt far worse than those of hamsters or gerbils but many say that they are less likely to bite (though any animal who has teeth can bite if their needs aren't met or if they're frightened).

Rats are much more territorial when it comes to their nests, especially if the rats are not spayed/neutered, but respecting their nesting space is really a matter of just understanding the wants and needs of rats specifically. Rats can often be litter trained quite easily, but they are also more likely to spray if not spayed/neutered, but both depend on each rat’s personality.

Like gerbils, rats are very social and generally need to be kept in a group for their own well-being. They are easier to introduce than most gerbils, though, which is nice if you think you want to increase the size of your group (or “mischief”) later.

Rats require a lot more space than hamsters and gerbils and need to have their cages cleaned about twice as often. This is because hamsters and gerbils are desert creatures who produce very little urine and dense feces that don't smell all that strongly, whereas rats live in wetter climates and eat a far more varied diet. Rats are a lot more expensive to keep than hamsters or gerbils in general, but it's hard to find a hamster or gerbil with the same intelligence as a rat--or a rat's enthusiasm for your time and attention, which also means that rats need a lot more time and attention too.

If you’re still not certain... the volunteers at Carolina Pet Rescue will be very happy to talk with you about the different animals available and can set up a visit with the species you’d like to meet. They can show you the kind of habitat they should be kept in and can discuss their veterinary history and what to expect as far as their future medical needs.

Adopting an animal should be a happy event, and the best way to ensure that outcome is by preparing yourself with the knowledge you need to provide a happy home for your new pet.

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Adopting a Small Pet- part one: gerbils & hamsters

ADOPTiNG A SMALL PET

Pt I: Gerbils & Hamsters

written by Veronica of ScrappyRat

So, you’re considering adopting a small pet to make your home a little bit happier and a lot bit cuter, but you aren’t sure which species will be the best addition to your furry family. Hamster? Gerbil? Rat? They’ve all got sweet little whiskers and curious dispositions, but they also have considerable differences when it comes to their basic needs, personality types, and dietary preferences.

The most important thing you can do before adopting a new pet is researching their species to ensure that you’re setting yourself up for a successful match. A lot of people are quite surprised when they learn that these three species aren’t interchangeable. Other than all three being rodents, they actually have a lot less in common than you’d think.

HAMSTERS

Charlotte

adoptable hamster

Carolina Pet Rescue

Many people think of hamsters as a children’s pet, but they are wonderful companions for adults as well. They’re very easy to get along with and they are usually just waking up when you get home from work, so you don’t have to worry that they’ll be too lonely during the day.

The Syrians in particular, are usually quite cuddly once they get to know you. It’s important t that you work with their instincts, not against them. The #1 reason people get bitten by hamsters is because they don't understand the way hamsters live in the wild, or the way they communicate with us. In the wild, being woken up abruptly would only happen when someone was about to eat them, thus they have a natural reflex to bite if they are picked up or touched while asleep. They have a rather unfair reputation for biting because of this when typically they are quite communicative and once you know their basic body language, they’re quite easy to get along with.

Oddly, hamsters roll on their backs when they're preparing to defend themselves. This may look, to us, as if they are telling the predator, "Hey! Here are my juicy parts!" but it's their defense pose. The other indication that they want you to back off is the "I'm a biiiig bear" look, which is exactly what it sounds like. It tends to be *very* funny to us since they do this, not seeming to know that they are tiny and adorable, and anything but scary looking to a human. Nonetheless, it’s important to respond by backing off, even if you’re giggling while doing so.

If these rules are followed, hamsters are pretty laid back little guys who love sitting on your lap, riding in toy trucks, exploring a table or bed (just supervise closely since they tend to forget that they cannot fly), etc. They’re quite tolerant overall, and have a lot of fun just interacting with their human.

GERBiLS

Moonshine

adoptable gerbil

Carolina Pet Rescue

Gerbils are the most misunderstood of the small pets. They really need companionship, so a single gerbil may experience stress from being alone. Gerbils have a lot of fun with others of their own species and when they’re particularly happy, they will even sing to each other--it sounds like baby birds chirping!

Gerbils generally aren't as into humans as they are into other gerbils and doing what they do: burrow! They do best with a minimum of 3" of substrate in their cage so they can make tunnels to hide and sleep in. A ceramic sand bath filled with chinchilla sand helps gerbils keep their coats clean and non-greasy.

A group of two or 3 will do well in a roomy cage, like a 20-long aquarium with a secure lid. They’re great jumpers so make sure the lid is on tight. Gerbils like having lots of things to destroy, like mailing tubes, applewood branches, boxes from organic food or pasta boxes w/ no plastic windows will keep these little architects busy.

Tune in Wednesday for Part 2: Rats !

JAN 2011 EFA COTM: Carolina Pet Rescue

INTRODUCiNG JANUARY'S

CHARiTY OF THE MONTH:

CAROLINA PET RESCUE

written by Veronica of scrappyrat

Carolina Pet Rescue takes in animals of nearly every species kept as a pet. From iguanas to macaws to dogs, cats, rats and tiny mice, they treat every animal with equal respect and dignity. Size, truly, isn't everything.

Most of the animals at CPR are pets who have been abandoned at shelters around the Triangle region of North Carolina (That's Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and an assortment of suburbs, for those who aren't familiar with the area.)

Most traditional animal shelters are set up primarily for the care and rehoming of dogs and cats, with few resources for small pets and exotics. This is where CPR steps in. While they can't take every single animal in due to limited foster space and resources, they aim to help as many of these animals as they can by bringing them into their foster care program.

When they arrive at triage, the animals are vetted, treated for parasites, then they are observed and quarrantined for several weeks to ensure that they aren't carrying anything contageous before being brought to a more long-term foster home. Once there, the foster volunteer spends time with the pet, socializing them and helping them to trust humans again so they can be adopted into a permanent home.

LENA

adoptable guinea

waiting for a home !

A lot of people are surprised to learn that quite a few animals at CPR were strays before arriving in their care. Unfortunately people dump rats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. out in the streets to fend for themselves, just as they do with dogs and cats.

Sometimes people think these animals will "go free", but they are no more likely to "run free" when left on the side of the road than a human child would. Often the animal stands in the same spot, hoping that their human will return for them.

CPR is dedicated to caring for animals and ensuring that their lives get a lot better once they arrive in their care. Through careful screening of potential adopters as well as providing educational materials, events, and volunteer counselors to help answer any questions and provide assistance when needed, CPR ensure that the homes they choose for the animals they help are safe, knowledgeable, and permanent. In this way, they make certain that the animals they help need never feel unloved again.

Rat-tastic birthday bash cards

by scrappyrat

Stay tuned throughout this month for further articles & information about this Charity... click HERE to visit their website: a wonderful place filled with eager critters waiting to greet you... plus oodles of stories and resource information.

Click HERE to make a donation to CPR or if you prefer, purchase an item from an EFA member that supports our COTM program, click HERE to view those listings !

If you are an EFA member & would like to join in our efforts to raise money for our COTM program, click HERE to find out how to tag your products.

Thanks !