ayln
Member
Hi all, I'm a first time rat owner and obviously I have a lot of questions. First and foremost I guess the most, um, obvious question is, how do you keep odors down? I just adopted two boys who were neutered a "few weeks" before so supposedly they should be less stinky soon. They themselves aren't terrible but their pee/poop is still pretty strong; I keep them in a very large and well-ventilated room but if I'm close to the cage it's still a strong smell. The first day I had them I put them in my neutral quarantine room (a bathroom) and the entire room stunk up in only a 1/2 day. I walked in and was almost knocked on my feet by the smell, and my roommate said it smelled like something died. I initially put some cat litter pellets (Cat Country) in there which I thought would help with the smell, but nope. Right now I don't have any litter bedding for them other than towels just so I can clean up after them easier -- would something like Carefresh actually help with the smell?
Also, what would be the difference between an intact male smell and a neutered male smell? I've never interacted at all with rats before so this is the first time I've actually smelled rat pee. My rats' pee smell kind of sweet (in a weird way), a little like corn and kind of fishy. And the smell is more strong than "bad", sort of like how dogs that haven't had a bath smell strong but cat poop smells BAD. Either way, though, I live with other people and would rather keep all smells down to keep everyone happy.
Thanks so much!
Also, what would be the difference between an intact male smell and a neutered male smell? I've never interacted at all with rats before so this is the first time I've actually smelled rat pee. My rats' pee smell kind of sweet (in a weird way), a little like corn and kind of fishy. And the smell is more strong than "bad", sort of like how dogs that haven't had a bath smell strong but cat poop smells BAD. Either way, though, I live with other people and would rather keep all smells down to keep everyone happy.
Thanks so much!