Blisstree » rats

Weekend Pet Links

Heather R. — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:22:12 +0000

There wasn’t a lot of breaking news in the pet world this week, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! I was able to find some interesting articles and blog entries just the same for this week’s link round-up.

~ Ten Ways to Know if Your Animal ER Has Got the Goods from Dolittler

~ 2007 pet-food recall an epic fail for the FDA at Pet Connection

~ Canine Oral Melanoma from Dogs Trust

~ Gymnastics for Birds at Curious Animals

~ Spay Your Dog While She’s Young and Healthy from Your Pet’s Best Friend

~ Why Hasn’t my Cat’s Bladder Infection Cleared up? at Vet Blog

~ Unlikely Animal Friends from Peternity

~ Rat Bedding Choices at Petlvr

~ Singing Kittens Video from Blog Eye

~ The Purr Factory at My Seattle Pets

~ Tiny Turtles from For The Love of Animals

~ Five Ways To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up On People at Dog Spelled Forward

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Weekend Pet Links

Pet Rats: Playful and Personable

Peggy Rowland — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:41:05 +0000

Should we stop using “Rats!” as a negative interjection? Perhaps we should be saying “Aw, rats” in a sweet manner.

Pet rats are domesticated creatures. They’ve been selectively bred in captivity. And pet rats are known for being very social, developing a strong bond with their humans.

Some rats may even learn their names! Just as rats groom themselves like a cat, they also learn tricks like a dog. They are intelligent creatures who need toys to keep them stimulated.

According to R.A.T.S (Rat Assistance and Teaching Society), rats usually live to be around 2.5 years old, but can grow as old as 7 years.

If you work in a pet store, vet’s office or shelter, check out the care recommendations from R.A.T.S. The care sheet from the group may also be helpful for new owners of pet rats.

If you own a pet rat, please introduce your pet in comments.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Pet Rats: Playful and Personable

How To Care For A Corn Snake

Heather R. — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:42:52 +0000

It’s been many years since I’ve had hands-on experience with snakes and I’ve never actually owned one (though I’ve wanted to!), so I found this neat series of videos by Holli Friedland, Reptile Rescue Coordinator at the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show.

The videos walk you through every step of set-up, care, maintenance and even troubleshooting in corn snake ownership!

I love snakes and the only thing that’s kept me from having one myself is that I’m squeamish about feeding time. Though I’ve (live- and dead-) fed many snakes (my first job was at a small pet store, and I was at the bottom of the totem pole!) and I know that snakes need to eat too, I also love rats and mice, so I just don’t have a snake!

Anyway, more videos below the cut!

How to Decide if a Corn Snake is Right for You:

Setting Up the Corn Snake Cage:

Corn Snakes – Temperature, Humidity & Lighting:

Choosing a Corn Snake:

Corn Snake Handling:

Corn Snake Feeding:

How to Trouble Shoot Problems with your Corn Snake:

Post from: Blisstree

How To Care For A Corn Snake

Bunny Cookies

Heather R. — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:46:51 +0000

Image details: Lop-eared rabbit served by picapp.com

I seem to be on a bunny kick this week (do not tell my husband!) and came across this recipe for “bunny cookies:”

- 1 cup of your bunny’s favorite fruits and veggies, chopped (bunny-friendly only!)
- 1/4 cup yogurt or banana (plus a little bit of water if using banana)

1. Cut up fruits and vegetables and place in a bowl
2. Mix water and banana until creamy (skip this step if you are using yogurt)
3. Place a small amount of yogurt or banana mixture on a plate
4. Place small amount of fruits and vegetables onto the mixture and put into the freezer for 30 minutes

Make the cookies a bit smaller and these would be great for rats too!

Post from: Blisstree

Bunny Cookies

The Year of the Rat!

Heather R. — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:28:23 +0000

I love rats. To be more specific, I love the domesticated fancy rat. I’ve never had an experience with the wild variety but I doubt they’d be at the top of my list. Anyway, last week marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rat!

Over the last six years we’ve owned four rats. Our first pair in 2002 were sisters we named Dot and Dash, and our second pair of sisters in 2005 were Starbuck and Boomer. Rats make excellent pets and I recommend them to anyone, especially anyone looking to get a first pet for a child. They’re smart, affectionate, affordable and easy to care for. The biggest drawback to owning such a small pet, though, is that they don’t live past a few years.

Even though it’s been a few months now since we’ve had a rat here at home, I still have a bunch of my rat resource links and what better time to share them during the Year of the Rat celebration!

~ altpet/rats has a very extensive FAQ covering everything from what kind of bedding is best (avoid pine and cedar) to the care of nursing moms.

~ Fancy-rats.uk is an excellent resource of articles, product reviews and even a cage calculator.

~ PetInfoPacket.com has information on behavior, reproduction, and traveling tips.

~ Suebee’s rat diet at ratsrule.com was what we fed our rats and they thrived – I recommend it! One batch, plus fresh fruits and vegetables, lasted for months.

Post from: Blisstree

The Year of the Rat!

The Rainbow Bridge

Heather R. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:05:20 +0000

I was feeling a little melancholy yesterday after reading a thread on a message board about pets that have passed on. It cemented my decision that much more that as much as we loved having pet rats we’ve decided it’s going to be a long time, if ever, before we’ll get more. They are really fantastic pets but they just don’t live very long and for anyone who’s ever had a pet die after a short time you know it doesn’t get easier the more you go through it.

Anyway, it goes without saying that I absolutely dread the day one of our longer-lived pets passes on. They’re all in excellent health and live stress-free lives (except when Turbo harasses the crap out of Sage, but she’s used to that by now), but the cats are all pushing 11 and Honey will be 10 this year. Still perfectly reasonable ages for housepets but that doesn’t lessen the dread.

Anyway, someone on the message board posted a link to Rainbow Bridge poems. The Rainbow Bridge, for those of you not accustomed to pet speak, is basically the animal version of heaven where pets wait for their owners. I know, the first time I heard about it I did a little “well, that’s kind of cheesy,” but I guess it’s just something you get used to because the reference doesn’t bother me anymore.

Keep reading to find out more about the Rainbow Bridge:

The Story of Rainbow Bridge
– Author Unknown

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

I’ve come across that many times over the years and it never fails to make me tear up a little, which, to be honest, isn’t that hard to do in the first place!

Anyway, here’s a whole page full of stories and poems about the Rainbow Bridge. An online Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial site also exists at RainbowBridge.org.

Do you have one to share?

Post from: Blisstree

The Rainbow Bridge

50 ways to Keep Your Pet(s) Warm This Autumn

Heather R. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:19:43 +0000

The Home & Dining channel decided our theme this month should be ways to keep warm during the autumn months. Of course, we can’t forget our pets!

More ‘50 Things’ around the Home & Dining Channel:
~ 50 Ways Chocolate Can Keep You Warm This Autumn
~ 50 Organizing Products to Add a Touch of Fall Color to Your Home
~ Hot Desserts, 50 Ways to Heat Up Your Autumn Evenings
~ 50 Awesome Crockpot Recipes to Keep You Warm (and Full!)
~ 50 Soul Warming Ways to Inspire the Next Generation of Offbeat Architects
~ 50 Things You Can Do to Stay Warm this Autumn
~ 50 reasons why a Japanese winter is hot
~ 50 Warm-Up Cooking Gadgets
~ 50 Vegetable Recipes to Keep Warm This Season
~ 50 Drinks That Warm The Soul

Post from: Blisstree

50 ways to Keep Your Pet(s) Warm This Autumn