Re: 15 new babies

When my children were young we always had pets. We've had Hamster's, Gerbil's and Gunie-pig's and when I think about it I guess Rat's are in the same family. We also had dog's and through the years different types of pet's.

Re: 15 new babies

Yes we have had that problem ...My daughter keeps females and i keep males ..It is true the females tend to get more tumours , the are usually mammary tumours but I have had some beautiful boys who have also got them ...we normally leave them until the are inhibiting movement or causing distress, when that happens its a trip to the vets ...

Re: 15 new babies

I absolutely agree with you, keeping any animal in a cage whether it is a snake, a bear, a rat or a bird is abhorrent.

Re: 15 new babies

????

Many animals think of their cages as their den, their safe place, just like you think of your home as a safe place.

The thing is making sure the cage/pen, whatever is large, not the crap cages they sell at pet stores! I've made my own rabbit, guinea pig pens & you can walk into them, the door is left open, half the time the animals don't even care about traipsing out. I know ours get plenty of exercise.

Our birds are free flight, they go into their (large) cages all by their lonesomes.
They know it's the end of the day & time for beddy bye.

Our rescue hamsters each have cages that are 30"x12" long. They also get to run around the bathroom for more exercise. Ever seen the sh***y little hamster starter cages people keep these animals in? About 12" x 8".

Let's see.....oh yeah, our rats are also in large cages with hammocks, things to climb around, exercise every evening outside of their cage.

So yes Bruce, cages are abhorrent but only with people that buy from pet stores & never let them out.

I think ours have it pretty good, considering the conditions they've come from, come to think of it better than some owners who think they're doing a good job too, so there

Re: 15 new babies

There been occasions where we have accidentally left a cage open , but we have still found our rats still inside ....they do come out regularly for exercise and have a free run ...when they are out they will make their own way back to their cages when they are ready..These animals are highly intelligent and if they didn't like their cages they would not go into them under their own free will...Besides these animals are not 'wild' they are domesticated an behave like dogs, they know who their owners are and respond to them , they cannot be released into the wild as they would not survive....