stinky rats!

[mxmvlcty]

hi everyone. I've had rats for a while, and I know that there is no way to keep them from smelling at all! but, this is my first time having boys instead of girls and it is definitely a bigger challenge to keep the smell under control.

does anyone have any suggestions for air fresheners that are safe to use near a cage, or ammonia absorbers, etc? anything like that. I change the bedding completely once a week, more often in their bathroom corner. is the best thing to do just give a major scrub down of cage once in a while?

the cage is not stinking up the whole room, or causing any health problems or anything, I'm just looking for anything more I can do. I like people to believe me when I say rats are great pets, and you know they will be checking for a smell!

thanks in advance!

[Mousey]

I put bio odor in my male rats water. It helps siome but not completely in my opinion. I get my bio odor from the petstore in the ferret section.

[pinkie1205]

What kind of cage and what kind of bedding do you have? They can make a HUGE difference in the way the cage smells. I have noticed that some paper based products don't absorb the smell well. It's really hard to tell without you posting what kind of bedding and what kind of cage you have.

[mxmvlcty]

yes, sorry about that, should have mentioned the details! I have them in a big bird cage that I fitted shelves into, and I'm using carefresh bedding.

[pinkie1205]

How long have you had them? I personally am not impressed carefresh. I think Yesterday News works better...some people mix it with carefresh or aspen so you don't use it as quickly and so it's a little softer on ratties feeet.

[mxmvlcty]

I have had them for almost a year. to be honest...they almost never touch the bedding! the only time they leave their hammock is for play time, to grab food from the bowl, or to go to the bathroom. I will give Yesterday's News a try, though, I'm almost out of bedding anyway.

[Kendalle]

I think that yesterdays news absorbs the smell alot better than carefresh

[cerulean42]

I've also noticed that the brown/cardboard-colored Carefresh has kind of a funny smell to it. The white Carefresh doesn't have that same smell, but it costs more. That's interesting about Yesterdays News. Good to know that it absorbs odor better. Do rodents like nesting in it as much as they do in the Carefresh?

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by cerulean42 I've also noticed that the brown/cardboard-colored Carefresh has kind of a funny smell to it. The white Carefresh doesn't have that same smell, but it costs more. That's interesting about Yesterdays News. Good to know that it absorbs odor better. Do rodents like nesting in it as much as they do in the Carefresh?

It's kind of hard for rodents to nest in Yesterday's News because it's more of a litter then a bedding. It looks like small pellets.

For rodents who like to build nests and burrow I usually mix it with Carefresh or aspen shavings.

[cerulean42]

Thanks, Stephanie. I think I might try mixing. Maybe my hamster would like some. She likes to root through her litter box. It has "potty litter" in it.

[pinkie1205]

If you like them to burrow (I have lazy man rats that only sleep in their hammocks) some eco bedding mixed with some other type of bedding might help you out....

I personally think the gray carefresh smells A LOT more then the white does. Also if you are getting YN get it from the kitty litter isle. It's the same stuff but cheaper and in a bigger bag. I don't know what kind of cage you have but you will use a good bit of the YN in just one filling if you aren't mixing it.

Ecobedding is a bedding for them to burrow in. It's just recycled crinkled paper. Be warned though you might find yourself sweeping it up a lot more, and you'll find the crinkles everywhere. It is pretty awesome though because the poops and pee soak to the bottom so it pretty much stays completely dry on top. The wetness on your carefresh is probably what is smelling the most.

[Vanilla_Rat]

I use Yesterdays News and aspen and usually mix the two.It absorbs well and the aspen provides some softness on the rats feet.

[rat freak]

Ive never heard of yesterdays news and trust me I check up and down the rows to look at all the bedding!

[Vanilla_Rat]

Quote: Originally Posted by rat freak Ive never heard of yesterdays news and trust me I check up and down the rows to look at all the bedding!

It is sold in the cat litter aisle!

[rat freak]

Cat litter??? Wow I would have never thought of looking in the cat litter isle! I will be sure to check next time! Do they sell it at petsmart or petco?