OK, I know some of you think I'm a little crazy for letting my daughter have pet rats. Are you ready for this?
I just helped her bathe them - in the kitchen sink. With puppy shampoo. And I have the scratches on my hands to prove it!
Then we towel dried them and Elizabeth brushed/fluffed their fur while each of them took a turn sitting on my shoulder.
I wish there was a way we could have video recorded the incident. I'm sure it would have been hilarious to see.
A woman and her daughter, standing 5'5" and 5'4", struggle to contain a seven inch rat in the sink. (We only attempted one at a time!) One fills the cup with warm water while the other speaks kind words to the rat, trying to calm it down so it stops pooping.
With the rat thoroughly wet, the daughter squirts shampoo into the mother's hand, who then tries massaging it into the rat's fur.
**Note: Rats are not particularly fond of bathing. And rats with shampoo in their fur are slippery.
**Another note: Even though the rat's fur is slippery, it's claws remain sharp. Be careful!
Daughter gets raisins to give the rat - which don't have the calming effect intended - and Mom starts rinsing. The rat claws climbs up Mom's arm, as she squeals, "Elizabeth, help me!"
After a few more attempts to rinse the rat, Mom and Daughter call it good and wrap the critter in a towel. Then they massage the rat and congratulate it for doing such a "good job."
And as I re-read the account of my evening activities, I think I may be beginning to agree with those of you who think I'm just a little bit crazy.
But the rats smell and look much better now!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bath Time
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15 comments:
Wow, You are one brave mama!
Love the visual picture here! Too funny :) I've never had a pet rat, but I would imagine they don't like bath time very much! Great story, but sorry about the scratches. The things we mothers do *grin*
With rats, you're surviving better than me. My...you get the prize friend. I kill rats and their cousins that like to find their way into my pantry. Yes, video next time please.
peace~elaine
Yuck!
You're a strong woman and a nice mommy.
Yeah! Crazy! I am throwing stones in your direction...LOL! I have bathed a guinea pig and a Gerbil! ONCE...after that...we let them smell!
This post gave me personal flash backs to our Gerbil era.....
our mean (possessed lol) rabbit era.....
and our Guinea Pig era.....
Lets just say (thankfully) I have enjoyed our two chocolate Labs a lot more than our little critters that no longer reside at our place!!!
You are a brave momma....and rat bathing I am sure gets you nominated for mom of the year!! :}
I must admit you are the first person I have heard of bathing a rat...I am glad everyone survived the incident relatively unscathed!
Amazingly enough it sounds even worse than I had imagined when I first read about you bathing the rats on FB!!!
clearly the rats don't appreciate your "shower talk"
Well, what a great bonding experience with your daughter. LOL. I think we'll stick to board games over here.
I'd rather fight a fire than bathe a rat any day!
You are brave!!!
This is my first visit to your blog. I am amused, to say the least!
When our son was about ten, he had two rats, Wilma and Betty. They were fine pets, but the cats weren't too excited to have them in the same house. We eventually gave them to a catless home.
Blessings to one devoted mom!
Jeanette
Hey Karen, I gave your blog an award. :-)
OH MY GOSH!!!!! :) What a hoot! What a hoot!
We have 1 outside dog, 1 inside dog, a pet hog, we just put up a hen house (my request) and have 1 rooster (waiting on my baby hens to come in at the feed store).
When I went to feed Roto today (our hog) there was a ting grey mouse in his feed bin, which meant I was NOT going to feed him today, I had to get my son to come get the mouse out and feed Roto!
You have out done me! ;) I am HAPPY to say! LOL!
You go, Mama!
Maria
WAHAHAHAHA!!
Oh you are a brave soul.
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