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[punkinbritches12]

im new to the rat community, and got my first rat about a week ago...i was wondering about some advice on bedding materials...i know the cedar and pine are out, and was told newspaper is bad, i finally found and got some aspen. my question is..what else is safe to use? can i use fabric or old towels? i know they would need more cleaning than just scooping, but i want my girl to have something comfy and the aspen seems a little bit pokey. so any help would be appreciated
thanx in advance
amanda

and heres a pic of Jelly

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0.0.1.0 crested geckos
0.1.0.0 veiled chameleons
0.1.0 rats
0.0.1 hermit crabs
1.0.0 kitty cats
0.0.1 emperor scorpions
3.0.0 children
1.0.0 husbands

[Iluvmyjovi]

I use newspaper for the bottom of the cage and then for their litter box i have scoop away...
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With love from:
Nicole <33
Jovi (The sweetheart).
Butterz (The baby).
Baby (The afraid)
Asha (THE attention hog and GREEDY one).
RIP- Jasmine, Bandit, Naho, Mr. Mouse.
WE miss you cookie wherever you are =[

[jenny]

Newspaper is fine, don't use any wood shavings. They are too dusty regardless of what it says on the bag

Did you only get one rat? Are you aware that they need company of their own kind?

Don't worry, your rat is still young enough for you to get him some new friends
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-Jenny x

http://www.rattyrampage.co.uk/forum/

[BaraLahatiel]

It's best that the newspaper either not have ink on it, or used a non-toxic ink. That and it can get on their fur and make them look dirty. Yesterdays News, a pelleted newspaper small animal bedding and cat litter, is what I use, but I add a little carefresh for some softer spots.

Yes, you can use old towels and cloth. Try to use something that isn't stretchy as it could get caught in their nails. Fleece is good because it doesn't fray. You can usually find some in the cloth scraps at a store that sells cloth. Or just buy some from the larger roll.

There is also eco-bedding, CareFresh, Corn cob bedding, and other such types.

[Darksong17]

Instead of towels and such which could become thready and dangerous I'd recommend using fleece as it has less instances of that. Aspen is the only wood bedding that is acceptable since it is a hardwood and does not have the phenols that pine and cedar have. I do not recommend newspaper as it does not control odor well at all and is not very absorbent. If you are going to use it, make sure that it is made with soy ink and not dangerous inks (most are nowadays but it's always best to check).

Also, as someone else said, rats are extremely social animals and must be kept in same sex pairs or groups (same sex always, you don't want babies.) You will definitely want to get your little girl a female friend. Always make sure to quarantine any new rat you bring in and do introductions slowly.

More on quarantining and introducing rats:
http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/rathealth.html#quarantine

http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/introducing_rats.php
http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html
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