What Happens When I Clean The Rat Cages

I usually hand wash all the smaller items like the hammocks, bunkers, cubes and cotton baby blankets. So when I pulled out the wigwam from Flowers cage, this is what I found. She has totally destroyed it. But I know she likes it so I washed it and will put a baby blanket inside it so she can curl up in it once again. 

I hand washed the baby blankets that I use to line the shelves and add into the cubes because they love having a soft blanket in their cubes that they can snuggle under. 

Flower has several hammocks, cubes, and a pouch she can snuggle into as well as some toys to play with. She destroyed the wooden bird toys I had in her cage so I added some non toxic baby teething rings to her cage and she climbs all over them, hangs upside down and chews on them.

Scribbles was looking at me like, "I really hope you're done messing with my cage now" after I replaced the baby blankets on his shelves. 

He really gave me, "the look." 

While Flower could have cared less as long as she has a Yogie to eat. 

Flower happily stayed on the bottom level of the cage while I changed the blankets and cubes on the upper level and ate her yogie and dumped over the food bowl to find all the good stuff. lol I clean it all up, fill her food bowl and she turns it over and dumps it all over the floor. 

Scribbles stayed in his cube on the upper level of his cage until I was done with the 2 bottom levels and then he came down to see what I had done, sniffing every square inch of the new blankets. 

Flower was happy with her new blankets and new cube and was ready for another treat. 

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Review: PEVA Shower Curtain Liner

I received this item for a deep discount from another site I found called, No Kidding Coupons. 

I am always on the look out for shower curtain liners since they have a tendency to get dirty from hard water, or get moldy on the bottom or just not stay looking as nice as they did right out of the package. 

The other thing that I really liked is that this shower curtain had no smell. You know that funky plastic odor that is always present with most plastic or vinyl liners? This one has no weird odor because it's odorless! I didn't believe it either until I opened the package and sniffed and guess what? No weird odor. 

This Premium PEVA Shower Curtain Liner is also Non- Toxic and mildew resistant. It's a nice big liner measuring 70 x 71 inches long. It has 3 magnets on the bottom to keep the liner in place and keep the water inside the shower.  This liner is not a thin piece of plastic or vinyl, it's feels heavy duty and very durable. It also has metal grommets on the hanger holes so the plastic hangers stay on the liner without tearing it. 

I am very happy with this shower curtain liner. 

How to Help a Rat Who Has Hind Leg Degeneration

*Marbles lived to be 3.5 years old and suffered from hind leg degeneration*

Hind leg degeneration can be caused by trauma to the spinal nerve from things such as a rat jumping off something high off the ground and hurting themselves or by being dropped. It also happens quite frequently to elderly rats as they age and their spinal nerve degenerates. It's a gradual process but there are things you can do to help your rat be more comfortable when he is no longer able to move around like he did when he was younger.

Move Things Closer
Marbles and a couple of my other rats had hind leg degeneration and they didn't move as well as they used to. So I put them in a small single level cage and moved everything closer to them.

Move the water bottle closer to your rat so they are able to get to it when they want to. Move the food dishes, treats and any toys closer to where your rat sleeps. I actually had to take out all the food bowls and pile the food in the corner so he could reach it easier. Just make sure to clean up any food from the cage floor each day so your rat isn't dragging his belly over it, which could cause scrapes and abrasions and lead to abscesses.

Acupuncture
Your Vet should be able to tell you whether or not an animal acupuncturist would be of benefit to your rat. If he is younger and in otherwise good health it is your responsibility to try all methods that could help your rat live a long healthy life.

Veterinarian care
If your rat seems to be having a hard time walking, is dragging their tails more instead of keeping it raised as they walk around, you should take your rat to a Vet and have them looked at. Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, steroids or antibiotics. Or they may tell you to just keep them as comfortable as possible.

Grooming Help
A rat who cannot use his back legs is going to need help grooming himself and keeping clean. Because he cannot use his back feet he will need help cleaning his ears, his belly, his privates and may become incontinent so his bedding will have to be changed daily where he sleeps if he urinates on it.

You may have to check his privates for dried feces and urine and wash that off. If he isn't able to clean his private area he may develop sheath plugs which are waxy plugs in the penile sheath and need to be removed or they can cause urinary tract infections and pain.

Bedding
Because rats with hind leg degeneration mostly scoot and drag themselves through bedding and cannot walk on top of the bedding, you'll need to change the type of bedding you use. Bedding such as pine, crumbly paper bedding and any other crumbly type bedding is not suitable. You'll want to use fleece blankets or fleece material and cover the bottom of the cage so that the material is nice and flat and your rat can move around easily without getting any fleece material bunched up under him.

I use a fleece animal bed for my rats who had hind leg degeneration and a small cotton baby blanket in it for them. Rats with hind leg degeneration can live a happy life if given the extra help they need.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

From Sample Source I received:
A Sample of Nature's Path Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla cereal.
Seventh Generation Baby Wipes.
A Sample of Gevalia House Blend Coffee.
A Sample of Tums Freshers.
A Sample of Tums Chewy Delights.

From Klout I received Samples of:
Ideal Balance Chewy Naturals with Real Chicken.
Breakfast Medleys with Country Chicken and Egg.
Breakfast Medleys with Savory Trout and Cheddar.
Crunchy Naturals with Real Tuna.

*All the samples of cat food were set outside for the stray cats in the area.*

I also received a sample of Unwash Bio cleansing conditioner, Anti Residue Rinse and Hydrating Masque.

Disclosure:

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout Influencer. I am under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company. 

Product Review: Quality Source 100 ft Expandable Hose

Product Description via Amazon:

Strongest Hose Available at 100-PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Working Pressure

300-PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Burst Pressure

Starts Out 33 Feet and Expands to 100 Feet with Water Pressure, Release Pressure and Hose Returns to 33 Feet

Lightweight will Not Tangle, Twist, or Kink

100% Money Back Guarantee For A Risk Free Buying Experience

My Thoughts: 

Living in an apartment complex we share any hoses that management puts out for us to use. And here recently we got a new manager that took the one hose we had in our courtyard and put it away in their maintenance shop so we can't use it anymore. So when I was given the chance to get this hose for free, try it out and review it, I was very happy to do so since if we supply our own hoses the manager cannot touch them. 

My neighbor has a nice little garden right next door to me and a few people who are crate training their puppies in my courtyard were depending on the water hose to water the plants, bushes and clean off the trays from the puppy training crates and now we are able to share ours with them which was nice. 

This hose works exactly like it says it does. You've probably seen these on tv and wondered if they really do retract when you turn the water off and I can honestly say they really do at least this one did. I did it a few times just because I thought it was really cool to watch the water drain from the hose and the hose retract back into the smaller shape.

I love this because it's lightweight, can be stored in a small area and is easy to take out and use. 

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. 

Product Review: Driver's License Personalized Pet ID Tag

*Click on pictures to enlarge*

Product Description From Maker:

We sell Personalized Pet ID Tags that look just like YOUR State's Driver's License! 

The Last Pet Tag You'll Ever Buy. Guaranteed.

We believe you'll be so happy with our Pet Tags, that this will be the last Pet Tag you buy, guaranteed. Our Pet Tags are waterproof, and extremely durable. If one of our Pet Tags ever breaks, or is damaged by normal use, we will you a new one FREE of charge!

2" x 1.2" - Great for dogs of all sizes!

Dog & Cat Approved

Veterinarian Trusted

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

365 Day Return Policy

100% Original

Hand Made

New- Made from Aluminum, with a Sealed and Hardened Finish guaranteed to last for years!

Since I now have a dog, I've had fun buying and getting things for him. So when I was given the chance to review this pet ID tag, I thought it would be a really cute item and I was right. 

I blanked out my address and phone number but you can see that they put a picture of your dog along with all his pertinent info in case he gets lost the person who finds him will be able to bring him back home or call you. 

What I found to be really cute and so original was the fact that it looks like my state issued Driver's License. All I had to do was tell the company what state I was in, send them all Falcor's info and a picture of him and they put it on this cute ID tag. 

But this tag goes one step further than just the dog's name, address and phone number. On the pet ID tag they also have your dog's, eye color, hair color, breed, height, weight and birth date. All that information on a small 2 x 1.2 inch tag. 

I really like to test products before I recommend them to my readers and I think this might be the cutest most unique product I've tested all year. 

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Organic Matcha Ceremonial Grade Green Tea Powder

Product Description: 

New!! ORGANIC MATCHA - CEREMONIAL GRADE

EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST GRADE AND QUALITY OF MATCHA, DIRECTLY FROM JAPAN.

NOTE:  Although this tea is ideally taken with just water, we have take the time to create a recipe guide that includes other ways to enjoy. But this type of Matcha itself is strictly for drinking because of its sweeter, and smoother taste.

It acts both as a stimulant and a relaxant. This is ideal for focusing on whatever the day throws your way.

Consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis (the body's own rate of burning calories) from a normal 8%-10% of daily energy expenditure, to between 35% and 43% of daily energy expediture.

Scientists have discovered that Matcha Green Tea helps protect the skin from harmful UVrays, while improving blood flow and oxygen levels lifting the overall quality of the skin.

Antioxidants are essential as you age to boost your body's natural defenses against oxidation. Researchers have found that a high level of dietary antioxidants can prevent many age-related diseases.

My Thoughts: 

I've been drinking different types of teas for the past few months even herbal and green teas and have been pleased for the most part with all the new and different teas that I have tried so when I got the chance to try this Matcha tea out for free, I was interested and excited.

I followed the directions for just mixing with water and found it to be ok. I then added a bit of honey to it which made it much more palatable. but I've found that true for most of the tea that I've been sampling over the past few months.

It was very fresh and came completely sealed.

Once the top was popped there was a little foil bag inside that was also sealed.

I opened the foil bag and emptied the contents into the reclosable tin. 

I made a hot cup of the tea and added a bit of honey to it and found that it was just ok for me and it had an awful smell to it. If you like Matcha tea then you will probably like this. I know now that it's not for me.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Scott Naturals Tube Free Toilet Paper Review

I never expected to be blogging about something that we all use, toilet paper. But Crowdtap sent me a free 4 roll pack to use and review and I felt like not enough people knew about this new tube free toilet paper so I thought I would do a little write up on it so more people knew it was a good product. 

I was skeptical at first. I mean, how does this work on a roller without a tube? Right?

It just does. The hole in the middle was a bit smaller than I had thought it would be and it took a few extra seconds to get the roll on the tube holder but once it was on, it worked just fine. 

I thought that when it got down to half or less of a roll that it wouldn't keep rolling and would fall off the roller but it didn't. It kept its shape like it's supposed to until it got down to the last few sheets and then it wasn't round anymore but it still stayed together and for that reason alone I would give this a positive 5 star review. 

Now having rats I do sometimes use the tubes as treat holders that I put in the rat cages and let them tear apart the tubes to get at their treats inside but I can do that with the paper towel tubes as well so I really don't miss the toilet paper tubes and since I already buy Scott toilet paper, I will continue to buy the tube free from now on.

Even my hubby was happy with the new tube free Scott Naturals and he got our new puppy to pose with him since the first thing he used this tubeless toilet paper on was a small puddle the puppy left for him on the bathroom floor. 

Disclaimer: I received a free product in exchange for an honest review. 

How to Give a Rat a Subcutaneous Injection

*Marbles*

There are many ailments that can cause a pet rat to become dehydrated where you may have to give him a subcutaneous injection of sterile saline. If your rat has surgery to remove a tumor or repair a broken bone, you could be sent home with the supplies to give your rat a subcutaneous injection should he become dehydrated.

Symptoms of Dehydration
The easiest way to tell if your rat is dehydrated is by gently pinching up or 'tenting' the skin just above the nape of the neck. The skin should immediately relax into its normal position. If however the skin remains 'tented' up longer than what would be a normal duration, your rat is dehydrated and is in need of fluid therapy. A dehydrated rat may also appear to have sunken eyes and may be lethargic.

How To Give A Subcutaneous Injection
Your veterinarian will give you the materials and instructions to give your rat fluids if he becomes dehydrated but here is the easiest way I've found to give the injections. Subcutaneous injections usually cause minimal pain and can be done quickly as long as you are ready with the supplies before taking your rat out to give him the injection.

Gather all your supplies together in one place to fill the syringe with saline.
You will need:
Syringe
Small gauge needle, usually an insulin needle.
Blunt fill needle (This needle is only to fill the syringe and should never be used for injection)
Sterile saline vial that should be at room temperature, not refrigerated.
Alcohol swab

Take the cap off the vial of sterile saline and discard. Open alcohol swab and wipe off top of sterile saline bottle. Take syringe and blunt fill needle out of plastic and attach the blunt fill needle to the syringe by twisting it on. Take the cap off the blunt fill needle and insert it into the top of the sterile saline solution vial. Draw up the amount of fluid your veterinarian told you to, usually between 2 and 3 ML.

Discard the sterile saline bottle and snap cap back on the blunt fill needle, then twist it off the syringe and discard. Take the insulin needle out of the plastic and twist onto the syringe. Take the injection needle cap off, the shield will still be in place. Hold the syringe upright and gently tap it then gently push the plunger up to remove any air from the syringe until a few droplets appear on the tip of the needle.

Now take your rat out of his cage and talk gently to him. The easiest place to inject fluids is into the loose skin right above the neck over the shoulders. Unlike with humans it's not necessary to swab the area with alcohol beforehand because you will most likely only get the fur and not the skin itself and prolonging the time you have to restrain your rat may cause him to panic. Before you pick up your rat, carefully push the shield away from the injection needle and set aside until you are ready to inject the fluids.

If you have not done this before you may want to ask another person to help hold your rat in case he moves. Place your rat on a table either on a blanket or towel and grasp him around the back of his body with your right hand if you are right handed and with your thumb and forefinger grasp the loose skin over the shoulders and tent it up between your fingers. The injection needle should go just under the skin not into the muscle or meaty part of your rat.

Pick up the syringe with your other hand and insert the entire injection needle in one quick motion into the center of the tented skin you are holding with your thumb and forefinger, now slowly push the plunger of the syringe all the way down until all of the fluids have been injected. When the syringe is empty, pull the injection needle out at the same angle you put it in and let go of the skin. Flip the injection needle shield up until it snaps into place, this means the injection needle is now protected.

Gently pet your rat and talk softly to him, he should perk up after getting the fluids if he was dehydrated. Try hand feeding him some water until he is drinking on his own again. A rat who is in pain or sick will sometimes stop drinking from the water bottle which can lead to dehydration and a simple subcutaneous injection of sterile saline can make a big difference.

Fluid replacement therapy is quick and easy to perform, and can be lifesaving.

Caring For An Older Rat

*Marbles*

Most rats live 2-3 years but some have been known to live a little longer. I had a rat that lived to be five years old. Each rat is an individual so it depends on the health and care of your rat as to how long he will live. When you adopt a rat you should always ask how old it is so you will know. Keeping track of your pets age may help you determine what's wrong with him as he gets older. As rats age they may begin to show certain symptoms for you to look out for.

Diagnosing problems early, the use of appropriate medications or foods, making trips to a veterinarian and changing your pet rats environment can often times help keep them healthier and happier as they get older.

Skin and Fur Changes
As rats get older they can sometimes have a hard time grooming themselves, but you can help by taking a damp cloth and doing a daily wipe down, especially on the abdomen and tail area if your rat is having bladder control problems. You never want to let a rat sit in their own urine as this can cause skin problems. Your rat will also love the extra attention you are giving him.

Diet and Weight
As rats get older their diet might change and they might not eat as much as they once did which can lead to them getting thinner. Giving a few extra, high calorie treats each day is a great way to keep the weight on and help with muscle condition. When my rats get older and start eating less I tend to give them high calorie treats I know they will like including things like, nuts, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, custard and avocado. I also add a vitamin supplement to my rats water. If eating becomes hard for your rat, you may need to hand feed much of their food several times a day, and make sure that the water bottle in low enough in the cage that your rat can easily reach it.

Changing the Environment
Depending on the type of cage and the accessories in the cage, you may have to make some adjustments to the inside of the cage so it's easier and safer for your aging friend to get around more comfortably.

Replacing steep ladders with low, wide ramps and covering them with fabric can make them easier to grip and walk on. When your rat starts to get really wobbly while walking, taking all ladders out of the cage is the best thing to do so he stays on the ground floor and can't fall off a ledge and hurt himself. Placing food bowls and water bottles on the ground floor so your aging rat doesn't have to walk far if they are hungry or thirsty will also help.

Changing to an all fabric bedding instead of litter can make sure that small pieces of bedding don't get into his eyes, mouth or nose if your rat has problems walking around. I use all cotton baby blankets.

Behavior Changes
Most rats as they get older love to be with their humans but instead of running all over the place when they come out, they just want to cuddle with you or sleep on you. This is a great time to spend more time with your rat. As rats get older they tend to become big, squishy cuddlers. I have 4 male rats right now that are just over a year old and they are all cuddlers who love to come out and lay around on or next to us on the couch.

Trips to the Veterinarian
If it looks like your rat is in pain or having trouble breathing you need to take him to the veterinarian and talk to the doctor about euthanasia. Most time as long as your pet is happy, walking around feeding and grooming himself and isn't having a hard time breathing there's no need to euthanize but that's something you should talk about with your veterinarian. When deciding whether or not to adopt a small pet like a rat you should consider if you can give this type of care when your pet gets older. If the answer is no, then maybe you shouldn't adopt a pet that may require this type of devotion.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

A Spiral Hair Curler.
A LED Headlamp.
A Boar Bristle Hair Brush.
A sample of Beyond Dog Food.

What freebies did you get this week?

How Did a Dog Become Man's Best Friend

Dogs are social animals that have high intelligence and have worked with humans for many years. They become a part of the family and we in turn become a part of the pack. Most people have heard the saying, "A dog is man's best friend" or something similar to that, but if you are like me you probably don't know how dogs got the title of "man's best friend".

The Case
The first time the saying "A man's best friend is his dog" can be found is the manuscript of an old trial about the killing of a black and tan hound named Old Drum. Charles Burden who was the owner of Old Drum was a farmer and a neighbor of Leonidas Hornsby who had lost some sheep on his property, from what he thought were attacks by local dogs. He swore to himself to kill any dogs he found on his property and when Old Drum wandered on his property he ordered a hired hand to shoot the dog.

Charles Burden went to court and sued Hornsby for damages but after several appeals in lower courts the case finally ended up in the Supreme Court of Missouri. During the trial which was held in September of 1870, George Vest, the lawyer for Burden gave a speech to the court, that some call his "Eulogy to the dog", that won the case. Some of Vest's speech was not preserved but the first portion was: what follows is the speech that gave rise to the saying, "A dog is man's best friend."

According to History Place,  George Vest, the lawyer for Old Drum's master said these words to the court, "Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stones of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog."

"Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fierce, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come from encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of his company to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in his embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death."

The Outcome
At the end of the trial Burden won his case and was awarded fifty dollars. In 1958, years after the trial had ended, dog lovers throughout the U.S. pulled together and had a bronze statue of Old Drum erected in Warrensburg, Missouri, on the southeast corner of the current Johnson County Courthouse lawn. The bronze sculpture depicts a hunting dog standing on all fours with his head held high. On a plaque on the front of the statue there are the words that won Burden the case and is also the origin of that old saying most of us have heard from time to time, "A man's best friend is his dog."

Gerber Graduates: A Healthy, Nutritious Snack for Rats

Rats enjoy many different treats and foods. They will eat just about anything that we eat but that's not always the best thing for them. Some treats are better than other and fatty foods can make them overweight which can lead to health problems.

I used to buy a lot of the rat treats found in places like PetSmart but they can sometimes be expensive and fatty which is not healthy or good for my budget. My new favorite place to find rat treats is in the baby food isle and the organic food section in the grocery store. In both sections you can find dried fruits and and healthy snacks for your pet rats.

Healthy Alternative Treats
Gerber Graduates Banana Cookies are made with real banana puree and banana flakes. My rats love these Banana Cookies as a treat.

Gerber Graduates Fruit and Veggie Melts are made with real fruit and vegetable purees and juices. I used to feed my four rats Yogurt drops from the pet store but they are very fattening and these Veggie Melts are half the price of the Yogurt Drops.

Gerber Graduates Lil Crunchies are made with whole grain corn flour and are a better alternative to things like Cheetos. Gerber Graduates Puffs are a great alternative to sugared dry cereal since they are flavored with fruit puree and fruit juice.

Not only are these alternative treats better for your pet rats, but they will save you money as well. I found some of these for as little as $1.69 which is cheaper than most of the rats treats you'll find in the pet stores.

How Many Treats Should I feed My Pet Rats
Treats should be given daily but should not be more than 10% of their daily diet because most treats are fattening. Giving healthier treats will make sure they don't become overweight and stay as healthy as possible. Small amounts of Fresh fruits and vegetables should also be given to your pet rats daily. But remember to remove any uneaten fresh foods from their cage at night to prevent spoiled foods from being eaten by your rats.

While there are many sources for treats for your rats, in my opinion Gerber Graduates have clearly been made for rats, because on the back of the package it says, "Perfect food for little fingers" and rats do have some of the tiniest fingers you'll ever see.

Unusual Rat Behavior: Barbering

*Scribbles*

For those of you without pet rats, you might not know that rats clean themselves a lot. For the most part they keep themselves so clean that we don't need to give them a bath at all, unless they get into something toxic, smelly or sticky. At that point a ratty bath may be necessary. But rats will also clean themselves so much that they start pulling out their fur or in some cases, they nibble off their cage-mates fur.

What is Barbering?
Barbering refers to the excessive and compulsive cleaning in which the fur is actually nibbled off or pulled right out of the skin. Rats in a cage with a cage-mate may barber each other leaving bald spots on the other rats fur.

What Causes A rat To Barber?
There are many reasons a rat may barber himself or a cage-mate. The most common are because of mites, ticks, fleas or lice. These tiny insect may be hard for a human to see on a rat but they can itch your rat's skin and make him chew the fur off to get rid of the itching.

Baby rats may barber their mother's stomachs when their teeth come in and some lactating mother rats may barber their own stomachs if there is any irritating around the nursing sites.

Other reason might be because of skin ulcers, lesions, small cuts or abrasions. Rats will sometimes over groom any small cuts they get on their skin, leading to barbering. A rat might also barber when they are stressed, annoyed, or lonely.

How To Stop a Rat From Barbering
Most times when you see rats grooming each other, they are not barbering. They are just grooming each other and it might even look like one is combing the fur of the other with their teeth while nibbling them at the same time.

If barbering is apparent and bald spots start occurring, check for mites, fleas or lice. They are sometimes hard to see but a trained veterinarian will be able to tell you if that's the problem.

Put more toys in the cage, take the rats out and play with them more often. Rats are very social animals, being lonely or bored may cause them to barber themselves or their cage mate. Buy a bigger cage. A larger cage and more toys will give them something to do and things to explore.

But in some cases there's not much you can do if the rats are barbering for other mental reasons. In the end it won't hurt the rat being barbered or the rat doing the barbering, but you might end up with rats who have no fur on their face, head or legs.

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Review: SterlingPro 6 Cup French Coffee Press

Product Description:

Brews 0.85 liter, 28 oz. of the best tasting coffee.Carafe is made of durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass.

The first and only coffee press use Double Screens System---No more GROUNDS in your coffee.

The only Stylish Christmas Red color Coffee Press in Amazon. ---Great as Wedding, House Warming, Retirement, Christmas & Birthday Gifts for Coffee Lovers

1 pieces BONUS stainless steel screens(over $12 value)---FREE!--Limited Quantity!

My Thoughts: 

This is my very first French Press and I love it. 

I usually drink instant coffee and so does my hubby but I had 5 bags of ground coffee just sitting in my cabinet waiting for me to use it so I decided to give this French Press a go. I don't drink ground brewed coffee because I think it's bitter unlike instant which is not. But making coffee using this coffee press I found that the coffee isn't bitter at all. 

It's much bigger than I had thought it would be and I love that since hubby and I drink our fair share of coffee during the day. I think it's also great for when company comes over because it's large enough to make coffee for several people. 

I found this French Press very easy to work and figure out, it's not at all complicated even for someone who has never used one. I know you're supposed to use coarse ground coffee with this so that that little grit and smaller grounds of coffee don't slip through the filters but I used the regular bagged coffee that I had in my cabinet and it worked perfectly fine, no grounds in my coffee at all. 

I am extremely happy with my French Press and will definitely be using it a lot. There are only a few parts to take apart when cleaning and that made this really easy to clean and put back together. I love the red color of it and have had several compliments on it already. This will come in real handy for the upcoming holidays. 

If you would like to purchase one of these for yourself, you can find it on Amazon. 

Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne System

I was sent this Clear Proof Acne System from Influenster to test at home for free. I began using it right away. It's a 4 step system that contains a clarifying gel, blemish control toner, acne treatment gel and an oil free moisturizer for acne prone skin. The active ingredient is Salicylic acid. 

I've tried over the counter Salicylic acid so I knew my skin wouldn't break out into a rash from using this and it's gentle enough to use each day. I have mild acne and it comes and goes but it's mostly on my chin, probably because I lean my hands on my face while at the computer. 

I did find that if I didn't use all 4 steps that it left my face feeling dry and tight. I highly recommend using the moisturizer each time to help with that. I've always had a hard time keeping my face especially my forehead oil free without using astringent several times a day and drying out my face. I used this system once a day and saw a great improvement in my skin being less oily, less shiny. 

I started seeing an improvement in about a week. It really didn't take long at all for the breakouts to start diminishing and go away completely. 

This is my before and after pictures taken just a week apart after starting to use the Clear Proof Acne System. I have a few blemishes on my chin and that's where I usually get them but they cleared up after using this system.