Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have a rat that is super friendly... but she always pees on me... it is really annoying. I know she is just marking me, but everytime she walks across me she pees, she likes to walk across my feet and pee Do you know of any good ideas to stop this- I fear that I will only be told I have to live with it...

Also, her nails kill me!!! Do you know of any good techniques for holding them still to trim thier nails? She leaves huge scratches on me... people think I have a 'killer cat'!

Thanks,

Christina

If you don't feel comfortable clipping her nails, you can do a couple of things:

If she will run in a wheel, you can tape sandpaper to the wheel (but don't keep it on ALL the time or they can hurt their feeties).

Or you can use rough-textured bricks as cage furniture or as stairways for getting between a multi-level cage.

They will wear their nails down naturally like that, provided they use the items.

As far a peeing on you, I had a rat that did that too. I used to keep multiple papertowels under her when she was sitting on my lap or shoulder so that if she peed it would not ruin my clothes. Antibacterial lotion stuff is a godsend.

If you only have her and no other rats, getting another rat for her to befriend could possibly help. That way she'll have someone else to mark. Even if it doesn't help, she'll certaintly appreciate having a pal if she doesn't already have one.

That's all I can suggest, good luck!
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*Sara*
along with:
3 ball pythons
1 burmese python
1 black-lined plated lizard
3 leopard geckos
lots'a ratties
2 gerbils
fishies
2 dogs &
1 kitty

Thanks for the reply... I do have another rat- I have had them both together since the second day I had my first one So I guess I will just have to live with it Oh well...

They both LOVE the wheel... how often do you suggest I put the sandpaper on it? ( I am afraid of hurting them) Also, what roughness of sandpaper is recommended?

Thanks again for your expertise!

I'm not completely sure on how long or what roughness of sand paper to use, as I've never had to do it (I clip nails) and I've only heard this method through the grape vine.

If it were me though, and I had to come to some conclusion for my own rats then I would probably use medium-grain sandpaper and use it one the wheel one day on and two days off. I would be inspecting feet after each day that the sandpaper was on though to make sure nothing like scratched up skin was happening. The good thing is that rats are usually very smart and won't continue doing something if it hurts them. You will need a lot of sandpaper though, because I can guarentee that they will chew on it. It might even become one of their favorite pasttimes. That's another reason why I would only use it one day at a time, because chewing on sandpaper probably isn't the healthiest thing to do.

You could double-up on methods (use the bricks too) so that you achieve maximum nail-shortening.

I wish they made those little "soft claw" things for rats like they do for cats and dogs. That would be very convienient.

If you do decide to clip nails, I reccomend two people (one to hold and one to clip) and only clip off the clear, thin, sharp end. Don't clip off the entire nail. If you make a mistake and it bleeds, use cornstarch or cornmeal (put the bleeding toe into it and it should clot most immediately).

You might find that wrapping the rattie in a thin towel while clipping nails makes it a lot easier. I use baby nail clippers (human baby that is) with my rats. Don't use the scissor kind, they are too hard to control.

Good luck.
-----
*Sara*
along with:
3 ball pythons
1 burmese python
1 black-lined plated lizard
3 leopard geckos
lots'a ratties
2 gerbils
fishies
2 dogs &
1 kitty

I once tried sandpaper on a couple of ramps in my cages. Didn't work the rats chewed the sandpaper to peices but wouldn't walk on it.
I do the brick thing, I have the 2 cages connected together & they have to step on the bricks to get from one side to the other.
I've heard of others putting a brick under the water bottle so that they must walk on it to drink, that may work.
My sandpaper experience didn't work out at all.
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PHRatz

Haha, my rats won't use the ramps at all regardless. They climb the sides of the cages to get to the level they want. I think sandpaper would work better on a wheel than a ramp, but I can still guarentee that they will chew it. That's why I said to invest in a lot!

I agree, bricks probably are a better option, but trying the sand paper in conjunction couldn't hurt.
-----
*Sara*
along with:
3 ball pythons
1 burmese python
1 black-lined plated lizard
3 leopard geckos
lots'a ratties
2 gerbils
fishies
2 dogs &
1 kitty

What if I file her nails... I am afraid that the back and forthe motion may break a toe- is that a valid fear?

I guess I will just clip them- A brick wouldn't really work in my cage, and I don't know if I can really see the sand paper working. (I am curious to find out though- so I will give it a shot.)

Do you know if places like Petco can clip nails, or how much that would cost? I would probably feel more comfortable having a vet do it though, so maybe I will check into that. (Unfortunately I don't have someone around to help me hold them still- they are freaked out by the rats and think they will bite )

Thanks again for the input!

I took my rat to petsmart groomers, and they refused to clip the nails. They said it is in their rules to only do grooming services on dogs and cats. (I even worked there at the time, so it wasn't that they didn't like me. And a few of the groomers had pet rats themselves).

I wouldn't file the nails with a nail file. I think that could be painful.
-----
*Sara*
along with:
3 ball pythons
1 burmese python
1 black-lined plated lizard
3 leopard geckos
lots'a ratties
2 gerbils
fishies
2 dogs &
1 kitty

I'll tell you about a trick someone posted once that might work.
I don't see how you could keep the rat still enough but if you could it would work.
Someone posted once that they put their rat on a screen, like a window screen in a frame so the nails come through the screen. Then they gave the rat a treat & clipped under the screen while the rat ate. That might work for the back feet but what about the "hands"?
I think rolling one up in a towel would work better because you could keep the rat still in a towel.

Best way of course is to have someone who can hold the rat while you clip but if you don't have anyone who can do that then .....

I wonder about other dog groomers? We have Pet's Mart groomers here but in the phone book there are lots & lots of them listed that are in business for themselves, not a large corporation, then of course there's always the vet.
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PHRatz

Any rough surface will take the sharp points off, wood, branches to climb on etc. Just avoid having everything be metal or glass.

>>Haha, my rats won't use the ramps at all regardless. They climb the sides of the cages to get to the level they want. I think sandpaper would work better on a wheel than a ramp, but I can still guarentee that they will chew it. That's why I said to invest in a lot!

Ok so I suppose you could look at it this way... if it doesn't file down the nails it'll keep the teeth trimmed down LOL!!!
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PHRatz

Sandpaper may well be toxic. I would avoid having them eat anything that isn't edible, known to be non-toxic or innert.