RSPCA Medway West Branch

Do Rodents make good Pets?

Pet rodents are very popular as pets, especially as first pets for young children. They require less care than many other pets and have a shorter life span, generally 2 - 5 years depending on the species. Their small size also makes them practical pets for people who live in places where they are unable to keep larger animals.

Rodents are generally friendly, affectionate and easily tamed. They are intelligent animals and do need regular care, affection and exercise to be healthy and happy.

Rodents have front teeth (incisors) that grow continuously throughout their lives. Overgrown incisors are a common problem and can be prevented by providing a correct diet and pieces of wood, or specially designed toys for your pet rodent to chew on.

Donations

We have no set minimum donation for our rodents. Yet again rely on donation to help us, up keep our rodent room. We have many rats, mice, gerbils and hamsters looking for new homes and appreciate people adopting them. All donations go back into feeding, bedding and toys to keep these intelligent creature amused.

All Donations are always gratefully received.

Please give generously

Please contact the centre for further information 

All viewings by appointment only.

Please contact the centre on 01634 681187

between 10am - 12 noon Monday- Saturday.

Hamsters make good pets, the more handling they get the tamer they will be. They are very easy to look after and everything you need can be brought from any pet shop. A wide selection of cages are available, from the simple plastic tray and wire top to the totally enclosed plastic type complete with tubes.

Can You Rehome One of Our Hamsters???

Gerbils have many features that make them excellent pets.

Probably their greatest advantage is that they are desert animals

and have a very efficient use of food and water.

The benefit of this for a pet owner is that they produce little urine

and their cages do not need to be cleaned as frequently as other rodent pets.

Another major positive to gerbils is that they are absolutely fearless.

People have speculated that this may be due to a limited number of predators in

their home environment or that nothing in their "pet" environment pushes their buttons.

Since the animals are not afraid, they are generally easier to tame, and their response

to new stimuli is generally to explore (they are very curious) or flee rather than to bite.

Could You Give a Gerbil a Home???

We have no set fee for our degu's - we ask for a donation

Degus are very social animals and can become very tame if handled from an early age. However, they do best if kept with other degus because of their social nature. They are playful and curious. Without social interaction and opportunity for exercise, they can be aggressive and neurotic. Degus are diurnal (active during the day). In the wild they live in communities (much like prairie dogs) and dig an elaborate system of burrows to live in.

Cage: Degus need a large cage. For a couple of degus a minimum of 24 inches by 18 inches by 24 inches tall is about the minimum size. Larger is definitely better and large multilevel cages such as those made for ferrets or chinchillas are ideal. The cage should be made of wire since degus are avid chewers. However, the cage must have a solid (not wire) floor and shelves and ledges should also be made of a solid surface since degus are prone to foot problems.

Other Cage Furnishings: Degus should have a solid surface exercise wheel (11 inches is a good size) in their cage. Thick branches can be added to the cage and will offer both exercise (climbing) and chewing opportunities. Thick cotton ropes can also be used for climbing toys. Using heavy ceramic dishes is a good idea (chew proof), and a water bottle with a sipper tube can be used for water. You may need to get a chew guard for the water bottle.

Dust Bath: Like chinchillas, degus need regular dust baths to keep their skin and coat in good condition. Provide a shallow bowl with an inch or two of chinchilla bath dust (sand) a couple of times a week (leave in the cage for a half hour or so).

Chew Toys: Since degus are such determined chewers, it is vital to provide them with lots of opportunities to chew. A variety of wood blocks and chews as well as branches can be provided. Willow balls and toys made for rabbits are great for degus, and cotton rope and wood toys designed for large parrots are also a good choice. A mineral or salt block designed for rodents can be attached to the cage.

Feeding: The basis of a good degu diet is a combination of high quality chinchilla or guinea pig pellets, and rodent blocks. Grass hay (such as timothy hay) should be available all the time (you can get small hay racks to make this easier), and a small amount of alfalfa hay can also be offered. A variety of fresh vegetables can be given, especially sweet potato (peeled, uncooked), carrots, broccoli, leafy greens, green beans, and dandelion leaves (must be pesticide-free). These should be offered in small quantities only or they may cause diarrhoea. Vegetables that are members of the cabbage family (cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale) should be fed only in very small quantities and some degu experts advise avoiding them altogether.

If You Would Like to Adopt One of Our Rodents or Would Like More Information,

Please Contact Our Centre on: -

01634 681187