Frozen rodents

ricardo222222

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OK so I was searching through the forums and found most people agreed with frozen pinkies as a treat. I would like to try these on my cats though I have some concerns. First and foremost I can't buy from the reputable online shops in the USA, as I'm in Mexico, so my only real option is to buy from a mexican shop which specializes in reptiles. I would be getting the pinkies (I don't know which size, just says pinkies) for around 34 USD 100 pieces. I wanted to know what would I have to do to ensure that these mice are safe for my cats. Also since I'm going to San Antonio on the 25th, I wanted to know if Petsmart or any physical shop carries them and what would I have to do to keep them frozen for the return trip which is around 15 hours if we don't stop.
 

marleyandme

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okay....are you really talking about buying frozen baby mice and feeding them to your cat??? i have never heard of such a thing, that is crazy and pretty disgusting!!!
 

twstychik

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If you can't find anything on the site about how they "treat" the pinkies before freezing, how they euthanize them or how they are frozen don't buy them. Most chain pet stores don't carry pinkies because they don't sell feeders. Petsmart in particular will NOT sell you a rodent in they know or even suspect that your going to use it as food. I don't know of any chain stores that carry frozen rodents. IF you do find one you'll need a well insulated cooler and probably some dry ice to transportation.

All that said, you might look into freeze dried mice instead. Plain Brown Tabby carries them along with freeze dried rabbit and calamari and lots of other lavish treats. You might check their shipping policies.
 

hesster

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Petco at least carries frozen rodents. They keep them in with the frozen fish food instead of with the other reptile stuff. They are extremely expensive compared to buying from a breeder in bulk, though. If you have any local reptile organizations, you might try asking them where they get their rodents. You might be able to find someone local who raises them for their own animals and is willing to sell you their extras. $34 for 100 seems to be a fairly reasonable rate for pinkies from a shop, though.

Here's a link to a post with a handy size chart for both mice and rats that you might find useful:

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/feede...ize-chart.html
 

chris10

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Originally Posted by twstychik

If you can't find anything on the site about how they "treat" the pinkies before freezing, how they euthanize them or how they are frozen don't buy them.
If I can remember right when I was searching for the best deals on the internet most of the U.S. companies would list these things. Which is good to know. So like twstychik said no info probably not worth chancing it.
 

hesster

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Most breeders use CO2 gas to euthanize their rodents. It's cost effective, simple, leaves no residue in the tissues, and humane.
 

hissy

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Originally Posted by MarleyAndMe

okay....are you really talking about buying frozen baby mice and feeding them to your cat??? i have never heard of such a thing, that is crazy and pretty disgusting!!!
Why is that crazy and disgusting? It is the primary food for a cat it is what they were meant to eat. Is it more disgusting to feed them food tainted with poisons and then watch helplessly as they die before your eyes slowly and in great pain? The mice have everything a cat needs to stay healthy-including their daily intake of liquid. I have been feeding my clowder mice for years- it is one of the reasons that they stay healthy and happy. www.miceonice.com is a good resource as their mice are parasite free

For the poster in Mexico, just be sure you deworm your cats on a regular basis if you are feeding mice. Parasites would be a great concern. I know you can get Drontal cheap in Mexico without a prescription- you just have to know how much each cat weighs when dosing them.
 
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