The Scuttling Gourmet

19/08/2025

Just putting this everywhere I can. There is an alarming error in copies of The New Scuttling Gourmet purchased before August 19th, 2025, that slipped through the pre-checks.

On page 31 in the 3rd paragraph, I have included eucalyptus in the safe herbs for rats with any caveat. Fresh and dried leaves are NOT safe for rats, and ONLY teas sold and prepared for human consumption that contain eucalyptus are safe if used as a drink.

That's a big caveat, and I have chosen to remove it altogether from newly purchased copies of the book.

13/12/2024

An infographic to twin with the "Choice" video.

Offering choice to our rats is a very simple way we can make their lives less stressful. Which of these things do you already do?

04/12/2024

One of the most important topics, not just for rats but for all the animals who share our lives.

Humans are thought to make thousands of choices every day - but what about rats? Mental health and well-being in mammals rely on us feeling that we can influence our environment and make choices to meet our needs and thrive. Rats need choice, control over their bodies and the environment, challenge, and success to remain confident and resilient to stress. Their mental health relies on it! So how can we make it all happen?
Find out more https://youtu.be/ljQBf7J3qmU
Follow up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

03/12/2024

December's here and we are moving on to look at what we can do to help our rats build stress resilience. Join us for one of my favourite rattie topics coming up next! Excited!

Follow along to see how you can help your rats build stress resilience...

30/11/2024

Come on over the the Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204 and submit your video for the challenge. 😀

Do your rats have a strange behaviour you don't quite understand? Is there something quirky that your rats do?

Head over to our event Facebook group 'Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise' to join in. Send in videos of your rat's behaviour and Alison will choose some to make into the behavioural voiceovers in December!

28/11/2024

More little rattie hands making big things happen.

Those tiny hands get busy again in our second Rat Hands video. Today we are watching rats use their hands during hierarchical posturing - also known as getting the upper hand (pun intended) without getting hurt.
https://youtu.be/qw43kH9ZukY
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

24/11/2024

My first food related video on the new YouTube channel, which was requested by Cucu Tótó T**i. It looks at supplementing essential micronutrients using specific food - focusing in this video on calcium, vitamin D, and Vitamin K2.

There's also a cooking demo and recipe for liver cake.

Today we are looking at how to use food rather than supplements to meet a rat's needs for calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K2, and why this combination of micr...

22/11/2024

This one was a joy to put together! Many thanks to the Ratwise members who kindly supplied footage (should that be handage?) - Tyler Gaymer, Katy Morgan, Lisa Koop.

Rat hands are so expressive, aren't they? Responding to rat emotions and defending space and resources. Making things happen! Today's video watches rat hands doing rattie things. Watch to understand their many varied approaches to saying "Mine!"

https://youtu.be/Tal22rbvKt4

https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

20/11/2024

This is an essential concept if you want to protect your rats from the effects of stress.

Do you think you could tell if your rat was in a prolonged state of stress? How would you know? It's a tough one in a species that has the ultimate "keep calm and carry on" superpower (even if they are like a raging storm on the inside).

Rats are so very good at hiding things.

Discover a world where you could predict a stress response in your rats - even before any telltale signs occurred. Where you could take action based on what you knew was about to happen. Watch to find out more.

https://youtu.be/3CahQA3MEzc
https://www.facebook.com/groups/34169566

18/11/2024

For all the benefits of this FREE-to-access event, join us at the Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise Facebook group. See you there...

Stress resilience is important for our pet rats so that they can comfortably enjoy their lives. Find out how 'Nature or Nurture' plays into this?
https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

17/11/2024

Here's an interesting and often misinterpreted behaviour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU79LGkrsRI&t=30s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU79LGkrsRI&t=30s

15/11/2024

Nurture has so much to add... or take away!

Baby rats - what's not to love? Little dynamic balls of fluffy energy and impossibility. Their only jobs are to play, and grow, and become.

And then along comes NURTURE with the potential to add so much value - or take a wrecking ball to their foundations.

This video covers some of the many factors that influence development in the first few months of life - a little nature that we can't change - and a whole heap of Nurture which we can often influence.

Get tooled up to support your youngsters towards a more resilient future.
https://youtu.be/Xy4pZpF_wjs
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204
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