Easy-clean surfaces (was pleather?)

[Evie]

I'm working on lining their cage and need something very cleanable for their 'kitchen' area (that is, food bowl etc.). I've been using canvas which is ok but stains easily and doesn't really clean up all that well. I do have pleather from a previous costuming project and was wondering if that would be ok. I could see them chewing on it though which isn't exactly a good idea for them....
What do you think?

[RatAttack59]

My local Dollar Store has stick-on linolium.  Not sure that eating plether - and they will - is such a good idea.

[Evie]

Figured as much. They did eat the pleather/leather ears off of a stuffed toy a few months back. What do you do about the bottoms of the stick on linoleum, since it'll be sitting on metal cage floor/mesh?

[RatAttack59]

I haven't covered my shelves, as there are plenty of smooth surfaces in our cages without that.  I suppose you could sandwich the shelves between lino.  Assuming that you are concerned about bedding getting stuck to the adhesive?

[Evie]

Yeah, shavings on ticky-tacky.... *shudder*


Edit: I found some flexible plastic cutting boards that I can cut down and put in. However, it has an anti-bacterial stuff in it which can't be that bad, right?

[RatAttack59]

Actually it can.  It killed a bird we had.  Nasty stuff and not so very effective with the bacteria.

Stay awaaaay.....

[Evie]

Really? Did the bird eat it or just live on it? I guess I'll try to find something else in the meanwhile as it probably won't kill the rats by Sunday...


Edit: I guess I could use a wooden cutting board that is the perfect size on that ledge but I'm worried they'd knock it off and wood is just the opposite of 'easy to clean'...

Edit 2: On the other hand, this ledge just has their food bowl and water and it is probably ok for them to stand on the wire for this purpose. Right?

[CheesyRatte]

Edit 2: On the other hand, this ledge just has their food bowl and water and it is probably ok for them to stand on the wire for this purpose. Right?

Yeah, it would be fine if the wire mesh is small enough that their feet couldn't fall through.

[~*ChaoticSerenity*~]

Really? Did the bird eat it or just live on it? I guess I'll try to find something else in the meanwhile as it probably won't kill the rats by Sunday...

if there is a chance it will harm your rats...i wouldnt even leave it in there for any amount of time...a few days is enough to kill a rat if its poisonous to them..and if it killed a bird..id be worried...

especially since your kids have already proven to chew on things...theyll probably chew on that too

[Evie]

Ok. It's gone. Out with the trash
Their little feet won't fall through the mesh- it's a martins.

[RatAttack59]

Actually, I THINK what happened to the bird is that the water dish got washed in AntiBacterial soap.  It was (we thought) thoroughly rinsed, but the bird died within a day.  I don't know for certain that this is what caused poor Bubble's demise (budgie) but it put an end to our bird-keeping days.  I haven't kept ab soap in the house since.

[MiniMuffin]

Why would antibacterial soap hurt a bird?

[RatAttack59]

It kills the bacteria in the bird's gut that are necessary to digest food.