Getting Ready for a Show

Supplies:

• Shampoo - For a white or light rat, or a black rat, try a color improving or 'blueing' shampoo.  Otherwise a pet or baby safe one that you like the smell of works, but avoid anything with flea treatments.  Examples of acceptable shampoos:

• a gentle, unscented baby lotion

• a nice bath towel

• a hair dryer with a 'low' setting that is NOT hot if held in one place for a while

• a toothbrush -- an old one, or a cheap one from the dollar store works fine.

• a pair of nail clippers

• wear a long sleeved shirt with a high collar (believe me on this!)

• a sink or bath tub!

The Process:

1. The first step is to ready your work area. You really need everything in reach so that you can work quickly once you have an unhappy rat on your hands!  If you only have one or two rats to bathe a sink works okay but if you have a bunch to do, it's easier to use a bath tub.  Wherever you choose to work, set out your supplies within arm's reach.  Open your shampoo and set it aside, with the toothbrush nearby. Fold your towel in half and roll all the edges under except for one - to make a bit of a bag.  Run the water, setting it to be slightly warmer than room temperature, and fill your sink (or tub) with about 4 or 5 inches of water (somewhat deeper if you have a big rat - it should be enough to 'dunk' your critter, but shallow enough that its feet will touch bottom).

1. Once ready, grab your first 'victim'  ; )    Hold the ratty firmly around the shoulders and rear haunches.  Dunk the ratty into the sink and swish it back and forth gently.  Your rat may squeal or cry -- most DON'T like getting wet!  It's also about 100% guaranteed he'll poop everywhere (just so you're prepared for it).

2. Let go with your haunch-holding hand and grab the shampoo.  Your rat may scrabble like mad, so watch the back feet! Some rats will try to get away, while others will just hang limply crying.  Squirt a little on your rat's back and start using both hands to scrub everything.  On males or really dirty rats, you may have to 'rinse and repeat'.  Use your toothbrush to scrub your rat's tail -- scrub WITH the grain, or sideways to it (for really bad spots) but NOT against it, or it will hurt your rat.  My favorite way to do this is to hold the toothbrush in one hand with the bristles against my thumb, as if you were going to spatter paint, then run the rat's tail between your thumb and the bristles starting at the rat's bum and working down.  A few good swipes will get most of the dirt.

1.  Once everything has been scrubbed well (don't get soap in the eyes and ears!), dunk your ratty again to rinse him.  Hold your ratty in the water and 'scrub' well to remove all the soap.  If there's a LOT of soap, then you can run the tap (same temp. as before) and rinse your critter carefully.  You can also pull the bung on the sink.

2. Let your rat go into your towel bag.  Let him shake a little bit, and then use the towel to dry off your ratty. Using the towel to pet against the grain of his fur and 'scrubbing' motions sideways to it will work best.  If it's warm out, you can let your rat air-dry, otherwise I suggest using a hair dryer.  The hair dryer MUST have a 'low' setting so that your ratty won't get overheated or too frightened by rushing air; if you can't hold it close to your hand for a while, then it's too hot.  You can use the 'towel bag' idea to help again -- refold your towel, put you rat inside and then hold the hair dryer at the entrance hole.  You can use your hand to 'fluff' your rat every few minutes as he's drying.  This technique will give you a wonderfully fluffy rat (it doesn't last very long, because they'll get right to grooming, but it's cute!).

1. If your rat had a dry tail - with lots of flaky skin on it - then use a little baby lotion on it.  Just put a little in the palm of your hand and run your hand over his tail from bum down until it's well covered.  If the skin on his feet is dry too (sometimes happens, but is rarer) you can also rub a little into his feet.

2. After your rat is dry, and calmed down from his bath (or, you can do it before the bath too) it's time to trim his nails.  Use a small pair of nail clippers for people and clip off 'just' the point of each claw; this is a very tiny tip, but taking it off will make quite a difference when the rat slides down you arm!  The points of the claws should be clear all the way through - if you see any pink clip further out - this is the 'quick' and will bleed like stink if you hit it.  If you do happen to hit a nail quick, put a little pressure on it (if your rat will let you) or use a stiptic powder or a little corn starch to stop the bleeding.

3. You should now have a clean, fresh smelling rat all ready for show!  It is now a -perfect- time to enjoy tummy kissing and cuddling!  Just make sure that you put him away into a clean cage (with a clean hammock!) or he'll be stinky quick.