RatNap Pet Bedding

08/08/2023

SARCOPTIC MITES

We have dealt with several cases of sarcoptic mites on social media this week. The following article may be of use if you are getting new rats or suspect your rats to have sarcoptic mites.

WHAT IS SARCOPTIC MITES AND HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Sarcoptic mites or scabies is a highly contagious skin condition. The mites burrow under the skin and forms small bumps or crustiness on the ears, nose and tail of the rat. It causes intense itching and an infected rat may have permanently scarred ears from scratching.

HOW TO TREAT SARCOPTIC MITES
To kill the mites and break the egg cycle, you need to treat your rat with either Kitten revolution or Ivermectin. Apply one drop behind the ear and remember to treat all your rats at the same time to prevent the spread of mites.
Kitten revolution is a once off treatment while Ivomec need to be repeated twice a week apart to break the egg cycle.
The mites will die within hours if treatment and the ears and nose recover within a week or two. The rat in the photo had a moderate infestation and completely recovered after just one week with no permanent scarring.
Cut the nails of an infected rat to prevent scarring and apply an ointment to relieve symptoms.
Colonies of rats may be treated every 3 to 4 months as a preventative.

PLEASE DO NOT USE VASELINE!
(Or oils and other home remedies)
Vaseline, also known as petroleum jelly, is a common household product known for its moisturizing properties. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of Vaseline as a treatment for scabies.
Scabies is caused by mites burrowing into the skin and laying eggs. Vaseline does not have any insecticidal properties, so it cannot kill the mites or their eggs. It may provide temporary relief from itching and help moisturize the skin, but it will not eliminate the infestation.

TAKE NOTE
No reputable breeder or rescue will send a rat to its new home with mites. Recues will usually quarantine affected rats and only send them out after they have completely recovered.
They will also treat rats prior to leaving their facility as a preventative, especially where they are couriered / fly in cargo with other animals.
If the breeder or rescue gives you mite-infested rats, it is best to take your money and run. You are most likely dealing with a back yard breeder or retail rescue.
Always treat all rats from pet stores before introducing them to your colony.

26/07/2023

🐀 Fun fact: Domestic rats are social animals and thrive when they have companionship ❤️

Consider adopting a pair or more to keep them happy!

Rats are highly social creatures that enjoy the company of their own kind. Having a rat buddy or more not only provides them with companionship but also helps prevent loneliness and boredom.

Double the love, double the fun! So, why not consider adopting a dynamic duo of furry friends? 🐀🐀

31/12/2022

Happy New year RatNappers!!
🎉🥳✨ Thank you so much for your support & orders in 2022. Here is to 2023.cheers.🥂🍰🍪

24/08/2022

12/08/2022

So true.. remember RatNappers keep researching Information on your pets.new technology, equipment, enclosures & accessories are always coming out.😊 Your pets will appreciate it.

English

I know it's difficult to accept when we are doing things wrong, specially when we've been doing it the same for such a long time and it's the pain of wondering if we hurt our beloved pet that most of the time prevents us from improving our care.

Animal welfare and standard pet care keeps being researched and improved with time, and it's important to keep researching our pet's needs to do things better ♥️.

- Don't stick to what they told you at the pet store.
- Don't stick to the "we've always done it this way".
- Don't stick to what you see on media "I always see this cage on tv" "they always eat this thing on cartoons" "my favorite influencer keeps them this way.

And more important learn to forgive yourself, your pet doesn't need you to be perfect, they need you to do your best and keep improving ♥️.

04/05/2022

a hammy living the best life ever. ^_^

05/04/2022

Wow!! Such handsome boy rats🥰 as you can see, no doubt they enjoy their new bedding.🥳🐭🐀🐾

04/03/2022

🤭🤭🤭🤭😂😂 well they aren't wrong.do you agree with this statement Ratnappers?? 😜

virtually indetectable by the military

03/03/2022

Thank you so much, Leanne Ingram for your order.🙂. I hope your boy Toddy, loves his new bedding set just as much as he loved his last bedding set.🐾🐁🥰🎉💝

02/03/2022

Thank you so much, Ashleigh Palmer, for your order.🙂. I hope your dear boy ratties love their new bedding.🐾🐁🥰🎉💝

23/02/2022

Morning RatNappers. Don't forget ratties need at least 1 same gender friend/cage mate to live a life with.rats are social animals.###. please share 🙂

Rats need same gender friends! They should not live alone!

16/02/2022

Hey RatNappers.i found this info fascinating so I thought I would share it with you all.enjoy.###.😊

I post this at least twice a year, hopefully at least two sets of new eyes read it each time ❤️🐾

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep this image in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

01/02/2022

Happy lunar year for the Asian community.🙂

Wishing you and your family a happy Chinese New Year. May the New Year bring you lots of happiness and prosperity. May your hearts be filled with lots of love, happiness, and contentment as you welcome this new year.

13/01/2022

Hey RatNappers.A short article for the hedgie lovers.🥰🦔🐾

As all of you know - I am a great lover and activist for our indigenous hedgehogs.
Our Wild South African hedgehogs are not supposed to be kept in captivity and they need to be free.
Unfortunately there are still people who wants to keep them in captivity, but I urge all of you to please hand them over to a rescue centre or someone like myself who can get into contact with a responsible authority to reintroduce them to the wild.
It quite often happens that you will find them in your garden, foresting for food, or your dog will bring them home. This often happens when food is scares for instance during winter months or if you live on a farm, plot or near a green belt for instance the Magaliesberg in Pretoria.
Not all of the hedgehogs found in your garden is indigenous hedgehogs and therefore it is important to know the difference. For this reason I have added a photo to show you the differences. If you are not sure you can contact me, Elize on 0828200810 and I will identify them for you.
Just as the wild hedgehogs can't be kept in captivity, it is also important to note that our exotic hedgehogs cannot survive in the wild. They are depending on humans for food, heat and basic care and will die should you release them into the wild. It is also very important not to release them in order to protect our wild species as they might breed if they come in contact with a wild hedgehog and these hybrids then also dwindle our indigenous specie even further.

PLEASE LETS MAKE IT OUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO LOOK AFTER OUR INDIGENOUS HEDGEHOGS!

31/12/2021

Happy New year RatNappers. ^_^.

24/12/2021

Hello RatNappers!! ✨ It's time for a holiday. We are closing for our December break today and will open again on Tuesday the 28th of December. I am still taking orders but will only start them next week. Thank you dear clients for all your orders so far. It's a pleasure to help you spoil your pets this christmas.### MERRY CHRISTMAS & May God please Bless you all.

23/12/2021

Thank you so much, Chandre Nell, for the pic of your beautiful Furbaby.🙂. I hope he loves his new bedding.🐾