my rat, Dorris

Question
QUESTION: hey how are you doing today? i was wondering if cedar is bad for a pet fancy rat, i have been using it for a year now, but i herd it wasnt good for hamsters so i was wondering if it was the same for rats? also my rats nails are gettin long and when she clean her self she is making little scratches on her ....and i was wonderng if there is something out where the can scratch it because i dont want to clip them because i dont know how.. thanks for your time and have a very nice day..
ANSWER: Yes, cedar bedding is very dangerous for rats. I'd recommend aspen shavings or recycled newspaper pellets.

If she is getting scratches on her, its probably because of a lice/mite problem, not because her nails are too long. Take her to the vet and have that treated right away. You can also ask them to trim her nails while you're there.

I also noticed that it sounds like you only have one rat? After Dorris' parasite problem is cleared up, I'd recommend getting her a same sex friend to keep her complany as rats can easily get depressed if they are by themselves, no matter how much time you think you can spend with them.


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QUESTION: yeah i thought the same thing about she should have another female rat companion but i asked a person at petsmart and they said that if i have had my rat for a long while and its been by herself that it is best not to get another one because they might fight? is this true?

Answer
If you get her a young friend then they won't be as competitive, making introductions much easier. Yes, they may have a few scuffles and first, but this is perfectly normal. Here's how: http://www.ratpalace.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=3&page=1