Hairless Rat

[FamilyGal]

We now have a hairless rat. These things are so ugly, lol...Anyone else have one of these? I'm wondering if I can use lint for the bedding. I will definitely check before using it just in case it is harmful. We save our lint for fire starters, so we have lots of it to spare.

[FamilyGal]

We use scented dryer sheets, so I'm thinking no on using the lint for bedding.

[schnauzermom]

Is it a pet?

Cause I'm thinking eewwww:D

[FamilyGal]

Yup, her name is Ginni and she is now living in my daughter's bedroom. It is so ugly. I really tried to convince her to get a fancy rat or a guinea pig. She really wanted that hairless rat. It isn't nearly as cute as Kim Possible's.

[schnauzermom]

You are a really nice mom!

My dogs would be all over that rat, at least that's what I told my daughter when she wanted to bring home the class guinea pig last year.

sorry, rats, guinea pigs eewwww

[Realtorchick]

any chance you could post a pic?

[FamilyGal]

Yup, let me upload it to Photobucket. It isn't a great pic, but the lighting was off.

[Sally Hardesty]

that is very cool, Fam-gal! I just watched a Nip/tuck episode late last night featuring a hairless rat. Apparently they are used in labs to grow human appendages; though I don't know how much you can actually depend on Nip/Tuck for accurate scientific info. Anyway, you should totally post a pic! What the heck do you feed a rat, anyway? You aren't worried that it will chew or bite stuff?
I guess that's no worse than a puppy.....
:mad: <------me: still bitter towards animals for the damn dog-peeing-on-the-bed incident

[FamilyGal]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/famlyferst/100_3770.jpg


Ugly huh? It does have a little bit of hair, but it looks like a bad shave job.

[FamilyGal]

It does chew and bite stuff, but it lives in a cage, so it can't do as much damage as a puppy. They do have balls they can roll around the house in, but with three kids around I don't really want a ball rolling around for me to trip on, plus we have multi-level flooring.

That Nip/Tuck episode, was it the one where Rosie O'Donnell needed a new ear? She is supposed to come back in the new season.

[Sally Hardesty]

I wonder if it's cold all the time. Our little dog always shivers 'cause she can't take AC, I wonder if it's even worse for a hairless animal. Cute, though. What did your daughter name it?

[FamilyGal]

Not to mention the cats using the ball as a play toy! LOL Ginni is in my daughter's room where the cats are not allowed.

[FamilyGal]

She named it Ginni. From what I read, they do get colder easier, so we have a lamp near one side of the cage for warmth.

[Sally Hardesty]

and Yep! It was the Rosie episode! I LOVE her character in it and she is coming back for the new season. Dawn Budge....too funny. White trash at it's best

[FamilyGal]

She is TOO funny in Nip/Tuck. I about threw up though the scene with her and Christian.

The new season will be coming SOON! :)

[Realtorchick]

I'm sorry but I find the Rat quite CUTE. Very sweet eyes :)

[Bonkers]

Awww! I had a hairless rat and a hooded rat as a teen. Sadie was my hairless, Samantha was my hooded. I would take Samantha for "walks" in thepark, she was VERY attached and would jump above the grass chasing after me - so cute! Sadie was cute as can be, but you have to be very careful with their skin. I didn't take her outside for fear of sunburn, allergies, colds, etc. They are soooo warm! I love the hairless! She did end up getting a skin condition from shavings, I bought the pine shavings and the oils caused her to break out, also...the green shavings caused her to have a skin condition as well, I had to use some sort of compacted litter that expands when you open the bag - can't remember what it was....

Samantha lived to the ripe old age of five and died nestled at my neck. (she had the cutest gray eyebrows) Still makes me smile to think of my rats, they really were great pets. I had guinea pigs, hamsters, you name it, but the rats were most like a real pet, they actually grow attachments to their humans and are smart as a whip!:)

[FamilyGal]

Bonkers, thanks for the advice about the shavings. I was thinking of using lint but realized the smell might irritate her. I went into check on her yesterday while all of the kids were gone and she was so cute standing on her hind legs. She acted like she was trying to tell me something. She is growing up on me. :)

[FamilyGal]

How cool is it that you can potty train a rat? We now have a "potty" in the cage. Oh, and there was a lady today at Petsmart that was telling us about her hairless rat named "Chemo". :) I thought that was a PERFECT name for any hairless rat as they have tufts of hair. Dd doesn't want to change the name though.

[Realtorchick]

maybe your rat can teach Mics dog? lol