http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/ Discussion forum for Guinea Pig Cages (Cavy Cages), Care, Housing, Diet, Health and Adoptables en Sun, 19 May 2013 21:12:10 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/ http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/1000-wow-its-been-while.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:34:56 GMT Hey guys! So This will be long...very long...here it goes! So the last time I posted was about rats...hmm. Ok, well anyways I do not really want rats anymore. Yes they are cute, yes they are... Hey guys! So This will be long...very long...here it goes!

So the last time I posted was about rats...hmm. Ok, well anyways I do not really want rats anymore. Yes they are cute, yes they are smart, but not the pet for me. I think I have found the perfect pet. Ferrets. ok, well now I sound weird and obsessed with random differant animals that I will never have, but really, I have learned that they are amazing. I think I need to back up a bit though, because I have not said what happened in between the rats and ferrets.

Ok, so my mom did not have a job before, back when I had my Oscar and George, my guinea pig and hamster. Well, she got one. We lived in New Hampshire. Now we live in Florida. You can guess what happened. Well, the move had nothing to do with Oscar and George leaving, they sadly passed away. George of old age, who lived to the age of 3 (he is the hamster), and Oscar of possible disease as he had a lump in his side. We could not afford vet care, then, but we can now. Im telling you this because I do know that ferrets are a big responsibilty and can be pricy and need more vet care then most rodents.

Anyways, so here we are in Florida, having given away my beloved Charlie, the dog in my profile picture, because he was too big for our rental house. We also gave up my kitty who is now 18. We didnt want to stress her with the move, and gave her to a very close family friend from which we get regular updates. We were down her with my one remaining pet, Angel the black pug. I love her so much! In fact she is sitting next to me as I wright and snoring so loud that im contemplating waking her up...hmmmm. So we get down here, everythings great, its been about 4 months maybe...? My mom apparently has had this secret want of having a ferret! She sees an ad for a person giving up their ferrets and everything including the cage for $75. Yep, you heard me, $75. its the classic case of parent buys for kids. Kids get bored in a month. Parent does all the work. So she had to sell them. We did meet before deciding to buy them, making sure they are in good health and arent coming with a cage so small even a hamster couldnt live there. Nope, the cage is 2 levels, 8 sq. feet on both levels. Of course they had no type of bedding, just one hammok and a dirty pillow to sleep on, and a few cat toys to play with. We obviously said yes. We gave them fleece bedding, bought better litter as they were using clay based cat litter, got a second water bottle, and bought a tunnel for them to play in. We also threw out their old hammok (it was disgusting) and bought a new one as well as a little cozy bed. They are in heaven now, and so adorable.

The owners told us that the people they got them from just bought everything for their daughter, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, gerbils, and ferrits. All in one room. They said it smelled horrible. So they basically rescued them from a life of neglect. I appreciate that, but they still wernt the best owners.

I found they are actually pretty easy to care for as they are almost fully litter box trained. All we have to do is scoop poop and do a full litter box cleaning/change the bedding out once a week, and they actually do not smell bad at all! I am in love. Well I have to go, I may go check up on them soon. Bye!

P.S. I forgot to say their names are Sid and Ellie, like from ice age! :) ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/1000-wow-its-been-while.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/921-rats.html Mon, 23 May 2011 22:45:58 GMT Oh I so long to adopt a cute little pair of rats, but sadly it wont happen :(. The local SPCA had a mother rat and a ton of babies, 6 females including the mother and two or three males. Im not sure... Oh I so long to adopt a cute little pair of rats, but sadly it wont happen :(. The local SPCA had a mother rat and a ton of babies, 6 females including the mother and two or three males. Im not sure if its all one litter or just they had a couple extra and decided to put them in with the litter, (the males and females are in two seperate cages) but I really want to adopt one. Because I volunteer there i noticed the large amount and I asked why, and the supervisor person was like "do oyu want to adopt one?" and I had to explain how my mom hates the tails, and thats why i have a hamster and guinea pig, not mouse or rat :/. I just really want one, but its probably never going to happen... ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/921-rats.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/917-decisions.html Wed, 18 May 2011 19:29:42 GMT Well I have finally decided what to do. Its a sad decision, but it has to be done. I know it will be nearly impossible for me to have a guinea pig in college, and Oscar will live through my... Well I have finally decided what to do. Its a sad decision, but it has to be done. I know it will be nearly impossible for me to have a guinea pig in college, and Oscar will live through my highgschool years, so I know what I have to do. I wont be getting any more pigs, for a while, at least until im ready. Dont get me wrong, im keeping Oscar until hes gone, but I know that with my very busy schedual, I cant get any more. As much as its sad to me, and I cant think of myself not having any pigs, or small animals, which im very devoted to. I have always been interested in rats, and through research I have seen that they only live three years, and I have thought about maybe adopting some. There has always been an abundance of them at the local spca, but my mom absolutly loaths them. Maybe I will just stick with hamsters...whatever it is, it sadly cant be guinea pigs. I just dont have the time that guinea pigs require in college, even though im not even in highschool, knowing me, im going to be very busy. Im already super busy, and I have to make special time to care for him already, its just been very tight right now. Well, these are my big decisions, and any advice would be great! ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/917-decisions.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/905-grass.html Sun, 08 May 2011 21:28:56 GMT Today was mothers day, as well as a nice day in general, so after going to the beach with my family, I took my piggie Oscar outside for his first time in the grass when he was with me. There is no... Today was mothers day, as well as a nice day in general, so after going to the beach with my family, I took my piggie Oscar outside for his first time in the grass when he was with me. There is no fertalizer and no pestacides as well as its out of the range of where the dog run is so there was no dog poop and more grass. He mostly just sat there eating up all the grass, I gave him a bit of dandilion as it grows a lot in my yard. I took him in after clipping his nails outside, but he seemed to really like it! ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/905-grass.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/896-wanting-piggie.html Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:11:01 GMT For some reason I recently have been wanting to adopt a piggie friend for my Oscar. My parents wont allow it, that I know, but just recently I have been badly wanting one. The is a little cutie boy... For some reason I recently have been wanting to adopt a piggie friend for my Oscar. My parents wont allow it, that I know, but just recently I have been badly wanting one. The is a little cutie boy at a rescue near me, his name is Junior, and already I think of him as mine because if he is still there by my next birthday, which Im hoping he is/isnt if you know what I mean, then I will probably get him. He is shorthaired, white and tan, and the cutest little babay ever! I think he is 7 months old, maybe, I dont remember, but I really want to adopt him. I could give him a great home but My parents definitly dont want to get another pig. I just need to do some convincing ;). Oscar loves his new home, always running around, but it looks so lonely, too big for just one and needs another to play with him. Well, hopefully I can adopt him, Ill be asking though I probably wont be able to get him.

Kaytlin :optimist: ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/896-wanting-piggie.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/889-massive-cage-redo.html Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:21:55 GMT So my last post said that I moved the cage to the basement, and that gave me a massive space. Well today I wasnt feeling good in the morning and stayed home from school, then my mom said she was... So my last post said that I moved the cage to the basement, and that gave me a massive space. Well today I wasnt feeling good in the morning and stayed home from school, then my mom said she was going to run some errands and also go to the dollar store. So I went with her to look for piggie stuff, and boy they had some good stuff! I got two boxes of zip ties, 100 in each, a cute small pillow that made a good piggie bed, a nice dustpan and mini broom for cage cleaning. Right next door to that was a small petstore, which does sell animals, but I have never gotten a pet from there and we only went because it was right next door. I saw the exact same playpen used for my cage (its an older brand and it was actually sitting behind a display hamster cage) so I purchased it. I went home and it suprisingly only took me about 45 minutes to an hour to set up the giant cage, but now its done! I use a shower curtain base which I previously had doubled up because I didnt need it to be that big, but I unfolded it and had to use all my fleece and towels :ohmy: for the bedding, but its very big. Each grid is 13 inches long, so only one inch less than a normal grid, so its basically the same. Now that everything is set up its a 5x4...not to mention it has a dog crate as a second level on a stand I made for it, but the dog crate isnt in the cage, its on a stand outside the cage with a ramp leading to it, if that makes sense :?:. He has so much room, and he was running around exploring it when I last checked up on him :D. ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/889-massive-cage-redo.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/888-big-move.html Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:51:58 GMT So we just recently did a spring cleaning of my basement, so it was nice and clean, so I basically turned it into my animal room! Its a good room because it stays cool in the summer, and we will be... So we just recently did a spring cleaning of my basement, so it was nice and clean, so I basically turned it into my animal room! Its a good room because it stays cool in the summer, and we will be moving at the end of summer anyways, so he wont be in there for the winter. So now he isnt in my room and my room no longer smells like piggie (which I dont mind but my friends and parents do). I also moved my hamster cage down there, so all the "rodents" as my parents call them (lovingly though haha) are down stairs. My dad made me promise to clean the cage of poop every day...which I do anyways...I dont know what he was thinking...whatever. So now they have their own giant room, and if I want to expand all I have to do is get the materials, while in my room I couldnt really expand it. On another note, I made even more changes to my cage by adding a second level made from an old dog crate. It was placed on top with a lot of supports so it was very staurdy, I even put a ton of weight on it and shook it around before using to make sure it was safe, then I built a ramp that isnt steep at all and sides. I used the second level as a kitchen and so he can just run around on the bottom level and eat on the top! He didnt like the ramp at all at first, but now he goes up and down fine! And for my last and final topic, me moving at the end of summer. Im in a house right now, but we would be moving to a condo thats basically the same size as my house now except the basement is more finished and mine is less finished (has carpet and ceiling but the walls are concrete and it is mainly used for storage. Its split down the middle and one side is storage and one side the large area where my cage's are). So the cage will go in the finished basement when we move! Im just happy we found a place thats a goos size, still in the same town, and we can keep my pets, not to mention im inbetween two of my bestfriends :). ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/888-big-move.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/881-cage-expansion-sort.html Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:00:58 GMT So if you look at the pictures in my album of my cage, you will see its a combination of two cages, but since then I have made some great changes that have maximized the floor space. First, I wasnt... So if you look at the pictures in my album of my cage, you will see its a combination of two cages, but since then I have made some great changes that have maximized the floor space. First, I wasnt counting the petstore baught cage to the square feet as it was disconnected and he couldnt do laps, and so my cage was the equivalent of a 2x3. So then I realized he couldnt really get out of the pet store cage because of how it was built, so I took off the base and just used the wire part to keep him in, with the door lying flat so he could go in and out. I still didnt count it though because the only way he could go through was a door and it was broken up into the two parts, so it wasnt counted. So today I was just looking at the cage and it came to me to take off the front panel of the petstore cage! I just popped off the top corner connectors and then the top came right off! I had to use some string to tie the roof to the sides because as of right now I have no zip ties :/. So now its all open! It looks great and I would post pictures but my camera is dead and takes a while to charge. I measured how much space it was and it is another grid and a half in length and its slightly wider than 2 grids because I had to extend the sides of the playpen out slightly. So now I have a 2x4.5! This is great also because it will be enough for another pig if I ever get one! ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/881-cage-expansion-sort.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/879-sewing-cozies.html Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:50:06 GMT So I had a bunch of fabric left over from various projects, most being just the cage fleece, and so I was searching the accessories forum for fun ideas that didnt use sewing because I never learned... So I had a bunch of fabric left over from various projects, most being just the cage fleece, and so I was searching the accessories forum for fun ideas that didnt use sewing because I never learned how to sew, but there wasnt much, so I looked at the directions to make a sleeping bag cozy thats a sticky. Its a bit complicated, but I was determined, so I cut all my pieces out, and then asked my mom for a sewing lesson. Well, she insisted on seeing how to make it first, and then she said it would be easier to do this, and this, and she pointed out a bunch of things to change and make it easier, and now mine looks very differant, but it was so easy! She taught me how to sew, and then left for my brothers soccer game, so using the pieces of the original design plus a small strip of fleece, I made 2 cozy sleeping bags! I thought it was a cool idea and good for first time sewers, taking into consideration I hand sewed this not with a machine!

Heres how to do it:

1.) cut a rectangle of fleece. Measure how big you want the opening to be (as in how wide) and then double it for the length. I used 10 inches by 20 inches

2.) cut a small strip of fleece, 3 inches wide, 2 inches shorter than the long side, so if its 20 inches then make it 18 inches

3.) Start to sew! First, fold the small rectange in half, the long way, and position it along the very edge of the big rectangle on the long side so it creates a little tunnel sort of thing. The rectangle needs to be centered so there is about an inch-ish on either side, its ok if it isnt perfect. Make sure the two sides are in line with the edge. Im sorry if its vauge, im doing the best I can without pictures.

4.)Sew the tunnel onto the rectangle, so there should be 3 pieces of fleece together when you sew on the edge. Leave both ends of the tunnel open!

5.) Sew the sides closed, so it looks like a sleeping bag with the tunnel around the edge, then flip it right side out.

6.) See the tunnel? Now take either a wire coat hanger, or some sort of bendable wire, and thread it into the tunnel, make sure its a little shorter so the ends arent sticking out.

7.) Now you have a cosy! To wash it all you do is take out the wire and wash it, then put it back in when your ready to use it!

Im very sorry if these directions are a little too vauge, im going to post pictures later, but until thent hats the best I can do. ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/879-sewing-cozies.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/875-hay.html Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:32:31 GMT So I just recently ran out of hay, and I knew of a feed store near me, so we checked and they sold bales of hay for only 8 bucks! Haha they also sold little bags for 8 dollars too but they... So I just recently ran out of hay, and I knew of a feed store near me, so we checked and they sold bales of hay for only 8 bucks! Haha they also sold little bags for 8 dollars too but they recommended buying a bale if you can store it, so now we have a bale of great hay, which smells amazing! They also say they sell guinea pig food, but im weary of buying from them. Do you think it would be ok? I might go and check what is in it then check to see if its ok for them and maybe buy it in bluk because it seems they sell for very cheap and its right on my way to soccer which I have every sunday, so it works perfectly! ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/875-hay.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/868-piggie-haircut-writing-life.html Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:19:30 GMT Piggie Haircut: So as spring is now here, the weather changes a lot up here in New England, meaning until the middle of spring, its verrryyyy unpredictable. For example, on week saturday was in the... Piggie Haircut:
So as spring is now here, the weather changes a lot up here in New England, meaning until the middle of spring, its verrryyyy unpredictable. For example, on week saturday was in the 60's, the next day it got to 70, but the next day? It rained with a high of 40...it can go from hot to cold with no warning, and on the hot days it takes everyone off guard. No one knows its coming, so there is no time to prepare, no time for fans or air conditioners, you just live with the heat (not saying 70 is really hot as our summers are in the 90's, but it was hotter than normal). When it finally gets hot, I know it wont be good for the piggie. For one, the air conditioner is only on in the night when im asleep and actualy in my room, not all day for the pig so we dont waste money as money is tight right now. So long haired piggie+hot-air conditioner=not good. So what I did was give him a haircut. Well more like a shave, because is fur was dragging on the ground and I wanted to see what he looked like as a short haired piggie, so I shaved im. Dont worry it isnt super short, its still longer than a short haired piggies fur and I left most of his head fur so he has like hair lol. He was so cute. Right after he got a bath to remove excess loose pieces of hair, then I towel dried him and put him back in his cage where he climbed right into his Pig Burrito (which is his white cozy, he looks like a little burrito in it! lol) and watched me clean his cage, haha revenge :p. He is the cuttest pig and I hope to post pics soon of him in his burrito and his haircut.

Writing and life:
So I love to write, which might be obvious by the fact I try to post a new blog entry every day haha. My big problem when writing a story is I never plan it out and it ends up falling apart when I get bored or dont know where to take the story. So this time I made a plot, wrote quick character sketches, wrote a page and a half on the plot to expand it. And tonight im going to go chapter by chapter and summarize each one to keep me on task and so I know when I need to keep going or stop in a chapter. I wont tell anyone my story, but I will tell you that it is a soccer story, because thats one of the things I know best :). There are 3 main characters and it focuses on their friendship. Which leads me to my next topic, life. Being a teenager is very hard...well I personally dont like the drama, but it comes with being in junior high/high school. Its just sad though, some of the things that go on, what people do. I personaly know people who are suicidal, who have hurt themselves, who want or have tried to kill themselves, and they are my friends whic make it harder. One particular friend is going through a very very very hard time, and her life seems just horrible to me, and I feel so bad for her, and she was one of the ones who tried to kill herself and I think she burns herself too :weepy:. Its just horrible, but thankfully thats the worst of the dram/horrible things that happen. Another thing is that high schoolers basically hate my group of friends and i and they think we do some pretty bad stuff (im not going into detail but its bad). Even teachers think we do things at our parties, but we really dont...There is another group of girls who hate us, they call us the popluars and plastics and Them...I really dont understand that. When you picture popular peaopl, you think mean, viscious, rude, nasty, drama filled groups of people, but we are the oposite. We are just tiht friends who hang out a lot and all the guys sit at our table because we are friends with them. We have been accused of bullying, some of us getting called down to the office for it (thankfully not me, im the quiet one), and two of my friends got threats from people. Being a teenager is NOT easy.

-Kaytlin ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/868-piggie-haircut-writing-life.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/867-cozified-cage.html Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:28:52 GMT Hi! My name is Oscar, im a peruvian guinea pig. My mom just made my home waaaayy bigger, so now I have a whole place to run around and a seperate place to eat! I have never had a cozy before, I never... Hi! My name is Oscar, im a peruvian guinea pig. My mom just made my home waaaayy bigger, so now I have a whole place to run around and a seperate place to eat! I have never had a cozy before, I never even knew what they were, until my mom made me some this afternoon when she came home from school. She sat for a while with the fleece, thinking what to make, then took a white blanket and rolled it some way to make a tunnel! I looked so warm and fuzzy! Then she took another piece of fleece and make a hammock! She hung it up, then put the cozy in my cage. She put a peice of my favorite treat, melon, on the top edge, to show me it was safe to climb on. I sat on it for a while and ate the melon, then hopped down. I walked over and got some hay, I was hungry. After getting hay I wanted to check out the hammock again so I jumped back on it, it was so soft and warm, so comfortable! I walked to the cozy tunnel, and saw a piece of carrot inside, so I ran in and ate it, then turned around and layed down in the cozy. I love it! I slep in there for a while. I saw my mom also put a stuffed animal froggie in my home, but I havnt checked it out yet. Im so excited, my cage is soft and warm, nice and coomfy! ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/867-cozified-cage.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/863-very-very-very-good-news.html Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:24:12 GMT Sooooo im very excited because Oscar finally has an aceptable sized cage, and he is very happy, though there are a few problems. I got a shower curtain from my mom, layed it down, folding it over so... Sooooo im very excited because Oscar finally has an aceptable sized cage, and he is very happy, though there are a few problems. I got a shower curtain from my mom, layed it down, folding it over so its a double layer, layed down a towel then fleece, like I do for a cage, then used my playpen, which each grid is 13 inches roughly, so about the size of a cube grid, and layed it out, and it happens to make a 2x3 with the one of the short sides missing (so overall it has 8 grids). I put the petstore cage up against it, securing the playpen to the petstore cage, lowered the door and wrapped the door in spare fleece to make a ramp up into the petstore cage. This is where I meet my first problem. He has a great ramp in, but not one out...I first used a smaller wire grid thing for an old hamster cage, but it was too small, so now I have another, bigger part of the hamster cage which is on its side, creating a stool type thing wrapped in fleece, but he will only put his front paws on it! He can go in but not out. I now have no clue what to use, and I dont want him to hurt himself, but I dont know what to do. When I woke up this morning he was sleeping in the litter box because he couldnt get out! He loves to run around the new cage, but when he wants food and goes to the petstore cage, which is the kitchen, he gets stuck. I tried to teach him and coax him with treats, but he just chatters his teeth at me when he cant reach the treat. That is really my only problem, other than that he loves it. I included pictures on the bottom, but for more of them go to my album called new temp. cage.

(by the way, the heater is off for the spring and summer because it has been getting really warm and also his petstore cage is a mess because it was right before I cleaned it, also the wire is out of his reach so he is fine) ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/863-very-very-very-good-news.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/862-cage-business.html Sat, 19 Mar 2011 20:22:37 GMT Sometimes I wish making a cage was easier...but its not. I have a bit of money saved up, I think in the 50-70 dollar range, havnt counted in a while, but im not sure if thats enough, plus I have no... Sometimes I wish making a cage was easier...but its not. I have a bit of money saved up, I think in the 50-70 dollar range, havnt counted in a while, but im not sure if thats enough, plus I have no way to get to the places that sell the materials. I really want to buy from online, but then I need my parents to help and I cant order coroplast from online unless I got the $100+ pieces that ship for some insane price...ugh. I see adds on craigslist, one of which is a person who needs to rehome their two pigs that are living in a 2x5 c&c cage, perfect but for the fact the two pigs are girls and I have a male. Neutering would be pricy and my parents wouldnt allow it, they would rather me just get another male instead, if they were evenopen to getting another pig, let alone a bigger cage. I know that another option is to give up the pig to someone who can give him what he needs, but that really isnt an option in my case concidering I got it from a friend who wasnt even making an effort to help him, all my freinds are basically anti-guinea pig or small animal because it smells. My friend once got gerbils for her birthday and returned them within the week because one was a biter and wasnt used to being handled by two little kids (as she was young when this happened). No way would I give it to the spca, as much as I love it, there is no way it would get the proper care he needs and the family that adopts him wouldnt give him what he needs either. So im stuck. The thing is, my mom will probably consider a bigger cage, then after a while, a friend, but right now she has no job and we are in danger of losing the house, and she says thats her main reason she is opposed to it. Once we are financially stable, I have a way better chance at giving him a better life, but until then I just have to give him love and the best life possible in a storebaught cage (which isnt as small as some of the others I have seen, but its only 4 square feet, so slightly more than half the size for one).

-Kaytlin ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/862-cage-business.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/860-aspca.html Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:46:51 GMT So I randomly decided to google guinea pigs, see if any other good sites to find info were on, and I found the ASPCA site, whihc I thought would be good considering I love my spca, like I said in my... So I randomly decided to google guinea pigs, see if any other good sites to find info were on, and I found the ASPCA site, whihc I thought would be good considering I love my spca, like I said in my last post. I read just a paragraph in and I was disgusted. Im the second paragraph it states that they are great starter pets for young children. Reading further it tells me to buy a good sized cage, at least 4 square feet. Then it lists the cost, saying that it wont be that much, only 75 dollars a year for food. In the diet section it reads that commercial guinea pig foods were the bulk of the diet, that the food contained veggies and fruit and good healthy food. "The ASPCA recommends offering small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to your guinea pigs every day. Try grapes, cucumbers, corn, peas, carrots and pears. Half a handful of veggies and a slice of fresh fruit per pig is plenty. Always make sure to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils" this is exactly what it said about veggies. It doesnt even list lettuce, whihc is the main part of the veggies! At least it didnt say to give it vit. c drops, instead just an orange a day...ugh. When it says where to purchase them it tells you to get them from responsible breeders or the animal shelter. The one thing I absolutly dont understand is why at the bottom of the page under refrences, it has this site, guinealynx, cavy spirit, and cavy rescue, all of which clearly state never to do almost everything they say! Im not sure if im allowed to post this, but it isnt a forum post so I guess I will, but this is just despicable. ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/860-aspca.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/855-i-just-want-mention-how-much-i-love-spca.html Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:10:48 GMT Alright, usually I post about Oscar, but not today! (Though he is doing great with the fleece!) I want to write about my love of the SPCA. I dont know if you know this, but I'm pretty young, 14 to be exact (yeah yeah you shouldn't post your age, but its not like I'm giving much personal info, and besides, you show way more info on facebook and anyone can see that). The NHSPCA is very close to me, about 15 to 20 minutes away, so I go there often, and they just take such great care of their animals! I hear about some shelters, as much as they try to do good, they dont really know much about small animals, or anything but cats and dogs, and often accidentally mistreat them because of ignorance, but this one is great. I am insanely, and rather strangely, in love/obsessed with animals (including the fact that I have my whole life planned out already...including colleges, high school classes, and I know exactly what I want to be, a Vet :) ) so obviously I would want to go there often. And I do, probably more in one year than some people go in their whole lives! I love it there, so much so that I'm a junior volunteer! Every month I head over right after school, get there as quick as possible because it starts only ten minutes after my school ends, and work there from 2:30 to 4:00 (but it typically ends at 4:30 unless we get everything done). They dont let junior volunteers work with two many animals, basically just the cats, though I wish I could help the small animals too, but we get to feed, water, and clean the litter boxes of all the cats there, which is surprisingly fun. First we do the front rooms, then we head out back where the rabies hold/feral cats (which we just make the food for, we aren't allowed to give it to them without assistance for obvious reasons), stray cats being held until they get put up for adoption, and my personal favorite room, the kitten nursery! When your done you even get to play with the little kittens, who usually climb everywhere in the cage and play and run around, so cute! So thats what I do there. I love going back after working to check out the dogs there, one of which is even the same mix breed as my dog now, though he might have been adopted by now...anyways, they are very cute and I just wish I could adopt them all! Then I look at the small animal room, which is mainly bunnies or rats, I never see hamsters or guinea pigs there...which I hope means that they all have loving homes! The best thing about this SPCA is the cage display I saw on my way out, I dont know how i didn't notice it before. I was walking out when I saw a table out front of the small animal room, with a cage and bunny toys as well as tons of papers with lots of info on bunnys, but the best part? Te cage was a C&C cage! It was only a 2x3, but thats all the table could fit, and it was two grids high, made for bunnies, and it was the example cage!!! I'm really hoping more and more people will learn about these and the cages will be the right size, it just gives me hope :). I was so happy, I wanted to show my mom but she didn't want to come inside. If its there the next time I volunteer, which will be next week, I will bring her in and show it to her. I'm just so happy, and I love this SPCA.

-Kaytlin ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/855-i-just-want-mention-how-much-i-love-spca.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/852-just-changed-fleece-first-time.html Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:43:21 GMT So, I have used fleece officially for a week so far, and I love it! Im definitly getting used to cleaning the poop up every day but I dont mind. I just changed it and it was so easy, way better than... So, I have used fleece officially for a week so far, and I love it! Im definitly getting used to cleaning the poop up every day but I dont mind. I just changed it and it was so easy, way better than cleaning up shavings. I just took it outside, shook it out, used a lint roller at first to get the hair off, but it didnt work well so I used the lint roller to beat it :) and that worked better. I put it in the wash in a pillow case, and its in there right now. Im going to air dry it, my mom doesnt want that in the dryer, but thats fine.

(Tis is just a quick post, as thats all for new news right now) ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/852-just-changed-fleece-first-time.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/845-fleece-experiment-piggie-plan.html Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:10:33 GMT Forgive me for any typing errors, this is coming from my blackberry, which has extremely small keys...anyways I'm posting about how well my little fleece trial or experiment as its called in the title is going and also how well the piggie plan steps are working out, which is not so good so far.
First I will start with the fleece. All is going very well! Just about 10 minutes ago I did a bigger cleaning of the cage, which involves a more thorough poop scoop and pulling out any gross hay, as well as totally cleaning the litter box and food bowl, and giving him new food. The cage is very nice, not smelling as bad as shavings and looks nice. Oh and I forgot to mention I just gave him his veggies...he isn't a fan of red pepper though. I think I will continue with fleece, not that I had any doubt before, but I'm liking it way better as I go. Its a bit more work, but its great in the long run and its just the best for little piggie feet!
To get to my second topic, the piggie plan, as I aforementioned, it isn't going so good. My mom has a bad habit of changing her mind, which usually just happens when its about the pig stuff...hmmm. Anyways, its the second time she done this! I was so close to making that cage one time, she even promised to take me to get grids the next day! But I happened to be nagging her too much and then she actually thought about what she had said yes to and changed her mind. Now, she had said it would be a good idea to put the table in my room, but she changed her mind suddenly, saying that the table belonged in a playroom, not a teenage girls bedroom, which annoys me. She shouldn't have a say what furniture I can or cannot put in my room but sadly she does and said no. Don't worry though, this is just a small hitch in my plan. What I might do is while I'm persuading further, I will do my secret buying of the grids, then show her! The thing is she may be mad that I went behind her back and say no, or say no anyways, but if I can put it together myself I know she will say yes to it once she sees it, she just has to be pushed in the right direction.
Some of you might have seen my male or female post on the forum, that was because - couldn't tell, but - figured it out. You know how its very obvious its an unneutered guy? Well I gave him a bath and a haircut, and thereit was, hiding under his fur! I feel stupid for not noticing earlier, but now I know!

-Kaytlin ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/845-fleece-experiment-piggie-plan.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/844-new-cage.html Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:52:40 GMT So as some of you may know, I have recently re-discovered a table that my father made for my brother a long wile ago and has been sitting in my basement for years. I measured, and its 36.5 in. by... So as some of you may know, I have recently re-discovered a table that my father made for my brother a long wile ago and has been sitting in my basement for years. I measured, and its 36.5 in. by 46.5 in. and is a total of 11.7 square feet. I only have one pig, so this woudl be great for him, and if/when I get my second pig, he will have room! I am going to build a 3x3 cage and put it on the table, and there will only be a half grid overhang, wich i will support, I dont know how but I will find a way. This is very exciting, and even better my mom agreed to using it to put in my room and have the two cages (guinea pig and hamster) ontop of it. Im thinking of putting it im my room, then setting it up myself, showing her, and if she lets me, then I will have a cage! Here is my plan:

1.) Get the table into my room with some convincing.
2.) Secretly, or usining an excuse, buy two packs of grids (which I found a 23 pack for $17!)
3.) lay out grids and supports
4.)Show my mom, if she lets me, but coro for it!
5.) Buy or use some of my already existing fleece blankets to make bedding
6.) add pig and toys/hidey houses/cozies
7.) buy another pig after convincing
8.) In the future maybe a second level or loft...?

This is my master piggie plan, time for step one!

(table pictures are in the album called cage base or something like that) ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/844-new-cage.html http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/843-fleece-shavings-out.html Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:29:01 GMT So far oscar really seems to like the new fleece. I cleaned his cage and replaced it just moments ago. When I put him in his new and improved cage at first I think he thought he was still in a play... So far oscar really seems to like the new fleece. I cleaned his cage and replaced it just moments ago. When I put him in his new and improved cage at first I think he thought he was still in a play pen, because I have a fleece blanket for the bottom of his play pen in the kitchen. Then he walked around a bit, almost tipping his litter tray a couple of times by standing on the varry edge :ohmy:. Then I had to take him out so I could bring the cage back upstairs, and I tried when he was right next to the litter tray. He tried to bolt once he felt me picking him up as e hates to be picked up, and scattered shavings everywhere... :(. Me being just slightly OCD had to pick up as muc as I could before picking him up FAR from the litter tray so as not to spill again. I brought the cage and him upstairs, where he is now happily munching on some brand new Sweet Meadow hay :) ]]> KateandOscar http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/blogs/kateandoscar/843-fleece-shavings-out.html