|
teenytinymouse posted:I'm getting a couple of cats soon once we move house and I dunno how you recover when they die after being around every day for 10 fuckin years. Might have to get some geriatric cats with like 2-3 years left on the cloak to ease myself into it. Delurking to say that, if that's even a remotely serious idea, it's a really good one. There are a lot of older and/or sick cats in shelters and they're hard to find homes for, so if you can give a loving home to a cat with less time left, you'll be doing a very kind thing. Okay, that's all, back to lurking to look at the excellent rodent photos in this thread
|
#
?
May 9, 2020 10:48
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 19, 2024 22:53 |
|
|
Just remember it can get really expensive and sometimes time intensive to care for an elderly animal.
|
|
#
?
May 9, 2020 10:51
|
|
|
Also some people consider cats old at 12-15, but I had a friend who's cat just died and it was well over 25, he reckoned 28, and I've had two cats live over 20. They might be around longer than you think...
|
|
#
?
May 9, 2020 10:57
|
|
|
Antivehicular posted:Delurking to say that, if that's even a remotely serious idea, it's a really good one. There are a lot of older and/or sick cats in shelters and they're hard to find homes for, so if you can give a loving home to a cat with less time left, you'll be doing a very kind thing. Oh it is 100% genuine! I volunteer up at an animal shelter and I'll be taking some older kitties home from there. I said to one of the girls I would prefer an older bonded pair and she was so delighted you'd think I'd handed her a cheque for a million pounds lol. I haven't met any of the cats yet as one person is doing all the work in there to keep social distancing and I only really work with the horses but I have waved through the window! Nettle Soup posted:Also some people consider cats old at 12-15, but I had a friend who's cat just died and it was well over 25, he reckoned 28, and I've had two cats live over 20. They might be around longer than you think... Kittens are stressful, I don't see the overwhelming appeal to be totally honest. We had 5 born in the shed when I was a teenager and that's enough kitten for me for a lifetime. Here is Raggie to keep thread on track https://twitter.com/Shannonmcn/status/1257798274800594945?s=19
|
|
#
?
May 9, 2020 15:32
|
|
|
we adopted a stray 12 year old maine coon and he is an amazing cat
|
|
#
?
May 12, 2020 01:30
|
|
|
Hi everyone, Wondering if you all can help me decide on something. I have a chin who's going on 10 years old. In the last year he developed dental issues (he seems to be favoring one side) and has had to have his incisors trimmed about every 4 months, and he gets a regular dose of medicam from me to ease any discomfort he might have. I love him a lot, but changing circumstances are making it so that I am wondering if I should find someone to rehome him, as I'm not sure I'll be able to keep him. My partner lost his job, which has effectively doubled rent and expenses for me at this point, and it's made me both think about the cost of vet visits but also consider downsizing to smaller apartment (currently have a 2 bedroom, with 1 room for chin/storage). He is otherwise healthy, loves to come out and see me, is still inquisitive and seems happy. Is it worth looking for someone to take him? Is it bad to consider it, given his medical issues? Any advice on rehoming a chin this old? I wouldn't be thinking about this usually, but the stress of the last few months have been a lot. Even having a pet is seeming like a luxury given how much it limits my apartment choices. I feel bad thinking about this, but I want to explore options and be pragmatic because I would hate to get to a point where it becomes a crisis I can't solve.
|
|
#
?
Jun 8, 2020 08:55
|
|
|
The Little Death posted:Hi everyone, I don't have any chin experience myself but just wanted to comment that I'm sure there are rescues out there that could help you to rehome your guy, especially if he is still healthy, happy, and full of life. I assume the unsaid alternative here would be to put him to sleep, which doesn't really seem fair. It's possible you could even find someone who could foster him for a while until you get to a better place financially and may be able to take him back. It is totally worth your time to look for someone to take him. This subreddit may have some info for you https://old.reddit.com/r/chinchilla/ I also found this list: https://www.chinchillarescue.org/links-rescue.html
|
|
#
?
Jun 9, 2020 13:47
|
|
|
The Little Death posted:Hi everyone, We went through the same thing with Barry the chinchilla a couple years ago. We got his teeth trimmed once and he did fine for a few months, but really started to slide downhill after that. We weren't able to afford the regular teeth trimmings, and had decided to put him down, but he died on his own that same day. When we went to a chinchilla rescue place to get his successor, Chester, the woman who ran it had a whole room of chinchillas with similar teeth problems. She wasn't comfortable giving them new homes, and was just taking the best care of them that she could. So, in your situation, a rescue place might be willing to take him in. One thing that was interesting for us, was that Barry had spent 12 years as a breeding stud, and had a very unique color pattern (looking pretty  I must say), and a lot of the chinchillas this lady had with teeth problems were a similar color. So it's quite likely that Barry had passed on his crummy tooth genes to a huge number of offspring. Poor Barry.We're sadly having our own problems with our female, Nooblet. She was a rescue so we're unsure of her age, but she's probably about 15-16. In late April she started wheezing, and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. We did a 2 week cycle of antibiotics, during which she nearly stopped eating/drinking, and lost a considerable amount of weight. The wheezing went away, but she still wasn't eating. Turns out she had a parasite, giardia. It's a bit hilarious that this is often called "beaver fever". This can lay dormant for awhile and only emerge when the animal gets sick. So we gave her medication for the parasite, which got better, but she's still barely eating and is visibly drooling. This points to the same teething issues that Barry had. We're hoping her teeth just grew extra due to her not eating, and she'll be fine with one trim, but we're not sure. The beaver fever gave her some pretty bad diarrhea, which necessitated giving her an actual wet bath. The poor thing.  Being wet makes her look slimmer, but compare her weight to how she looked last year. She's lost over 25% of her weight. Now the good news here is that because she was pretty fat before, she's actually still a healthy weight. The weight loss isn't good, but her current weight is okay. Strangely, her energy levels have actually increased during this whole ordeal.  And, just to share some happy pics, this was Barry:  And this is Chester, who is probably 10 or so, and is doing fine: 
|
|
#
?
Jun 10, 2020 21:25
|
|
|
Aww, Barry the Stud Chinchilla passed away? I'm so sorry to hear that  .Capn Jobe posted:The beaver fever gave her some pretty bad diarrhea, which necessitated giving her an actual wet bath. The poor thing. That is an expression of total betrayal and murderous plotting .
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2020 11:16
|
|
|
Thank you. No decisions yet but I am looking to rescues in the province to see if someone may have space. I'm more comfortable with that than the thought of trying to rehome him to someone looking for a pet. Even if I was 100% honest about his issues not sure I would trust people to understand until it was too late, or neglect them. I'm not in an immediate money crisis so will see what the summer brings.
|
|
#
?
Jun 12, 2020 04:17
|
|
|
Picked up some yogurt drops as a treat for my Hams while I was out getting some bedding, I was reading the feeding directons and it said 1-2 per day as a treat... That seems to be a bit excessive. Maybe one drop every two to three weeks, even considering that Dipper will ration out his treats over the course of a few days. Is this how people end up having those extra chunky hams that just sit around being lethargic?
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2020 16:44
|
|
|
-CHA posted:Picked up some yogurt drops as a treat for my Hams while I was out getting some bedding, I was reading the feeding directons and it said 1-2 per day as a treat... That seems to be a bit excessive. Maybe one drop every two to three weeks, even considering that Dipper will ration out his treats over the course of a few days. Is this how people end up having those extra chunky hams that just sit around being lethargic? Dwarves get diabetes. Also remember there are directions on the temptations cat treat pouch on how to give it as food. But in all seriousness probably 1 every few days is fine for a decent sized Syrian.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2020 04:23
|
|
|
I don't care about my hamster. Don't get me wrong, he's living in an Ikea Detolf with a couple of inches of bedding on one side for him to dig in, Eco Earth on the other side, he has a big wheel and nice toys, gets good food(need to restock on mealworms), fresh water, and sand, but I don't CARE about him. I don't really see him much as he's usually asleep or hiding when I'm awake, no matter what time it is. Switching him over to paper bedding was fascinating as he never cared about aspen, but now has a proper nest for the first time and is making tunnels and stuff. He could happily live out the rest of his days not caring that I exist. That's fine with some pets, but I wish it was a little different with this one.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2020 05:19
|
|
|
take some pictures of this incredibly lavish setup you've got using a goddamn entire ikea detolf as a hamster cage you madlad and if you want to get more friendly with your hamster, might I suggest getting some disposable shirts(because they will chew holes in them) and letting them crawl around inside your shirt? eventually they'll get comfortable enough to sleep in your shirt and they'll dream and kick and peep in their sleep and it's the cutest thing ever
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2020 05:49
|
|
|
https://twitter.com/bigkiller0118/status/1276508737784524800
|
|
#
?
Jun 28, 2020 10:15
|
|
|
 She’s lovely. She’s also getting calmer when we take her on the couch. I can let her run on the floor and after a while she comes back to my feet to say it’s time to go home.
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2020 19:02
|
|
|
mrfart posted:
That's a crazed ball of fluff. She looks very much like our dear departed Hillary.
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2020 19:48
|
|
|
Was just relaxing on the couch with Dipper, watching a documentary on the Great Plains, Dipper was sitting peacefully in his granola box until the documentary got to the prairie dogs. As soon as the prairie dogs started to do the emergency warning call, Dipper became at full alert. It's like he could tell that the sounds meant danger, but couldn't process any farther than that because as far as he could tell he was safe inside his box where nothing bad could ever happen. He has since calmed down and is now sleeping peacefully, curled up in the corner of the box like a tiny croissant. The little dude has got to be one of the most chill hamsters I have ever had, except for when prairie dogs are about.
|
|
#
?
Jul 17, 2020 02:42
|
|
|
To my hamster loving goons, how do you think the smell of a Syrian compares to dwarves? I only ever had syrians as a kid, and I recall their pee smells something wicked. Is it as bad as I remember? How much carefresh do you guys go through in a month? I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, but I've only cared for dwarves and robos as an adult.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 06:05
|
|
|
they're gonna stink, best just get used to it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 11:00
|
|
|
el fikus posted:To my hamster loving goons, how do you think the smell of a Syrian compares to dwarves? In my opinion, Syrians have a more noticeable scent gland odor. The usual pee odor never really gets bad as long as you do regular spot cleaning, hamsters are usually good about keeping a designated bathroom spot. And the wheel, because they can't be bothered to go somewhere else to pee when they are in the zone.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 13:45
|
|
|
I have to take coco's wheel away every day now because me going to bed is the signal for her to climb in her wheel and sit there incredibly loudly chewing on the yellow bit in the middle, completely defeating the purpose of a Silent Runner wheel.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 14:11
|
|
|
I feel your pain. Pokè keeps food in her wheel...while running in it. It sounds just like a rock tumbler.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 16:10
|
|
|
The dreaded yellow thing! Enemy of all hamsters! Thanks for the input on syrians. I lost the dwarf love of my life, Luna, a couple months back, and am contemplating a new ham companion maybe sometime soon. I currently have a robo named Petey, but he's too busy to sit still in anyone's hand! Some pics, of course:  Our dearly departed Luna. I miss her so fuckin much. Only had her a year, and she passed suddenly in her sleep. I'm grateful that it was peaceful, but it was unexpected. She was always super curious and would wake up to greet us and get a drink whenever me or my partner got home from work. Definitely a special girl.  More Luna.  Petey, the robo. He isn't as "involved" with us as Luna was, but I enjoy seeing him when he gets up. Robos seem more sensitive to the light and ambiance of their environment, so it's a treat to see him. He's a curious little bugger.  Sleepy guy in the corner of his cage  el fikus fucked around with this message at 17:50 on Jul 22, 2020 |
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 16:34
|
|
|
Used to love the sound of my hams running with food on their wheel. They would always do it after a cage cleaning, and it was just nice to know they were being healthy and active. el fikus posted:The dreaded yellow thing! Enemy of all hamsters! Luna looks like she was a real sweetie! I don't think I've seen a ham with a look like hers before either, it's almost like looking at a little bear! I recall someone in this thread mentioning that one ham that will always be special to you (Invictus?), and I've found that holds true for Bui Bui, my Chinese hamster. Had her three years, died almost two years ago, and still find myself broken up about her at times. It sounds like Luna is yours - which isn't to take away from Petey, since All Hams Are Wonderful. They deserve all the good things.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2020 23:26
|
|
|
el fikus posted:To my hamster loving goons, how do you think the smell of a Syrian compares to dwarves? Use a sandbox, makes cleaning easy and reduces smell drastically.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2020 18:38
|
|
|
ColHannibal posted:Use a sandbox, makes cleaning easy and reduces smell drastically.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2020 09:24
|
|
|
Rodent thread: the only thing mine generally did was be extremely scared of it
|
|
#
?
Jul 26, 2020 08:30
|
|
|
Sister just adopted three albino rats. Originally planned on two, but we couldn’t leave the other one behind in good conscience 
|
|
#
?
Jul 26, 2020 23:58
|
|
|
Note to self: Putting guinea pig in box in the kitchen while you clean their cage does not guarantee they will not jump out, run all the way to your bedroom, and hide under your bed.
|
|
#
?
Jul 29, 2020 00:08
|
|
|
We have two guinea pigs and we need to take a weekend trip. We'll really only be gone completely for one full day since we'll leave on Friday mid-morning and we'll be back early afternoon on Sunday. What should we do to ensure the guinea pigs are okay for a day? Just a bunch of extra food and an additional water bottle? We don't have anyone who can pet sit.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2020 16:13
|
|
|
me your dad posted:We have two guinea pigs and we need to take a weekend trip. We'll really only be gone completely for one full day since we'll leave on Friday mid-morning and we'll be back early afternoon on Sunday. Redundant water bottle (or more if possible, might be overkill but lack of water would be my biggest concern), extra food bowls, find a way to leave a large supply of hay that they can't immediately soil i.e. in a hay manger or feeder of some kind.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2020 16:19
|
|
|
Sirotan posted:Redundant water bottle (or more if possible, might be overkill but lack of water would be my biggest concern), extra food bowls, find a way to leave a large supply of hay that they can't immediately soil i.e. in a hay manger or feeder of some kind. Thanks - we'll go overboard on water and food and we have a hay dispenser even though those pigs eat it so fast it'll probably be gone five minutes after we're out the door.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2020 16:28
|
|
|
me your dad posted:Thanks - we'll go overboard on water and food and we have a hay dispenser even though those pigs eat it so fast it'll probably be gone five minutes after we're out the door. Guinea pigs are extremely efficient poop making machines. The more food they have access to, the quicker they will consume it and immediately turn it into poop. To be honest I don't think it's really advisable to leave them alone more than 24 hours, so I'd try to see if a neighbor can just pop in once to give them more hay and veggies or if there is a pet boarding type of place that might be able to take your pigs for the weekend. If this is absolutely not possible then I'd try to get a couple more hay racks or build something that can hold a lot of hay.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2020 16:39
|
|
|
Somehow this is a combination religion/rodent post. My GF and her fellow lapsed-Catholic siblings apparently had a long-running joke/bet over whether regular folks can buy communion wafers. It turns out they can, even in bulk, and "altar bread" is the non-denominational name for this product. Naturally, we ordered up a bunch of them and have been finding things to do with them while we're stuck at home. As it turns out, communion wafers are made from only flour and water, and are about one calorie each. Per some research, they are just fine for giving to chinchillas, though I wouldn't want to make it a regular thing. So we now have two christianized rodents. Also a fun fact: at least per Catholic doctrine, this is not considered sacrilegious, as this isn't the consecrated host, just regular bread.   Nooblet, in the second pic, is still having some sort of tooth problem. When she was at the vet about a month ago they did a teeth trim, but said she didn't really have any excess growth, just some sharp edges that may have been bothering her. She seems to have stopped losing weight, and is eating (albeit less than she did before), but she's still really drooly. So much that when she cuddles with Chester, her drool creates these smelly mats in his fur that we have to cut out. So we're pretty much in wait-and-see mode with her.
|
|
#
?
Aug 3, 2020 21:57
|
|
|
I am super tickled by your chinchillas eating the potential(? If it's not yet consecrated? Idk religion lol) body of Christ. Hoping for the best for Nooblet. Is their saliva that viscous that drool makes their fur mat? Or is it just hers, due to her condition? Themata posted:Luna looks like she was a real sweetie! I don't think I've seen a ham with a look like hers before either, it's almost like looking at a little bear! She was a sweetie! And her colors were so cute. She had little white feet and a little white tail. I always got sun bear kinda vibes from her chest splash, too. It was heartbreaking to lose her, because unlike previous hams, we just didn't see it coming. Hers was a wonderful little life cut short. It hit my partner really hard, because he has struggled with depression, and Luna lit up our lives. It's been as though that spark got snuffed out of him when she passed. I know time will help, but drat, it sucks. Petey is nonetheless loved! He's a darling little guy and knows when you get near his cage if he's awake, because he'll run back and forth in front of where you stand, hoping for treats. Your Bui Bui sounds quite special, too! I'm stoked you got 3 years with her - that's wonderful. (And post a pic if you have any of her!) el fikus fucked around with this message at 16:18 on Aug 4, 2020 |
|
#
?
Aug 4, 2020 15:46
|
|
|
Just gave all my pigs a bath, they were long overdue. Everyone mostly hated it, and one of them started out by screaming bloody murder, then when she realized this wasn't working, just went completely limp and gave up. Set her down in my little tub and she rolled on her side with all her legs sticking out, awaiting death. What a drama queen lmao Now they're all fluffy and smell good and pouting at me
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2020 19:03
|
|
|
Rodents will never, ever accept taking a bath, except maybe rats who are smart enough to understand you're not trying to drown them
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2020 22:05
|
|
|
Hedgehogs love baths, although not sure if they qualify as a rodent.
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2020 22:14
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 19, 2024 22:53 |
|
|
They don't in a very objective sense.
|
|
#
?
Aug 9, 2020 22:23
|
|
