What great news!! :party: Congratulations!!!

What a great idea! I just did a very quick search, and looked into this organization: http://www.mainecoonrescue.net/ They have many, many "success stories / adopted cats" listed on Petfinder, which means they are actually doing what they say; they are fostering cats and adopting them out to new homes. Their cat listings contain specific details about their foster cats' personalities, too, which means they are really getting to know the cats in their care. And, they seem to be a nationwide organization. I would feel comfortable donating to them.

One more vote for Cutco. I've had mine over 15 years and they still work great. I've never had them sharpened. I put the small ones in the dishwasher and they're fine. I did have a problem with the "joint" on my kitchen shears a few years ago, and they replaced them immediately, no questions asked.

The pine bedding should be fine, especially if you air it. I would rename the piggies and not worry about it at all. I would be very surprised if they know their current names.

Yes! The fresh veggies and fruit are one of the best ways to win your pigs' affection and trust, and they're very healthy as well. They each should have about a cup per day; you can feed half a cup in the morning and half a cup in the evening. Some popular choices are romaine (not iceberg) lettuce, parsley, and carrots (only in small amounts). Ours loved dandelion greens, but be sure to wash them well and only use them if you are *positive* they've not been exposed to herbicides, pesticides, or car exhaust.

Great! I hope everything goes well for you. Keep us updated! :) The piggies probably are not going to care if you change their bedding. If you do use pine, air it out before using it (dump it in a tub and leave the lid off for a couple days), and only buy "kiln-dried" pine, not air-dried pine. It's fine to mix pine with another bedding, or cover the pine with a thin layer of something like Carefresh. In my humble opinion: * Cheapest bedding: Pine, shredded paper, or old towels and/or fleece blankets (must be washed often; can layer newspaper underneath for added absorbency) * Easiest bedding: Carefresh or wood shavings (pine or aspen only, not cedar) * Best bedding: Carefresh (but it's pricey, so you're probably better off layering it or mixing it with something else) One more note: another poster in your earlier thread mentioned not using alfalfa hay. I agree; you should use Timothy hay (or another grass hay) instead. Alfalfa hay is really only suitable for baby guinea pigs and pregnant guinea pigs. For pelleted food, I like Oxbow. Hope this helps!

From what I've read, some guinea pigs take to potty training, and some don't. Some tend to go in one or two spots, and others just tend to go wherever they happen to be! I don't think it's a particularly easy thing to teach guinea pigs no matter how old they are, and they will probably always have some accidents.

I would definitely go with #2. I'd be more worried about health problems in baby guinea pigs bought from a pet shop than in 2-year-old guinea pigs kept on pine bedding. A lot of people think pine bedding is just fine. Just switch them over after you get them if you have concerns. If one guinea pig is already pretty friendly, especially given the lack of attention, that is GREAT. Most guinea pigs are not what I would consider "super" friendly animals even at their tamest. If they sit in your lap without a fuss and submit to petting you are doing well. :) I would be willing to bet both guinea pigs will be begging for treats in a matter of weeks. Baby guinea pigs are very skittish. Even if they are gently handled, they will not completely settle down until they are older. Here is some good information about potentially adding a third pig: http://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm If it absolutely doesn't work out and you have a C&C cage, you can add another grid wall to separate them. Alternately, if you are able to adopt your third pig from a good rescue, you will likely be able to return him if things don't work out. A rescue could also possibly work with you on introductions to help you find a good match. Good luck!

:iagree: She allegedly complained to him about the infrequency of her TeA life. There's a reason she didn't sue him for harassment.

Or, maybe you could make a little construction paper "catalog" full of dolls she might like?

I posted this on another thread earlier this month: From the CDC website, regarding the flu: "Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days." From the Straight Dope website, regarding the common cold: "...the common cold is 'contagious' between 24 hours before onset of symptoms until 5 days after onset. Like everything else this varies depending on the organism, but that's a pretty safe estimate. This period of communicability was determined by taking nasal washings of experimentally infected volunteers." I would only take your children if no other kids are going to be there and if all of the other guests are aware of the illness and still want you to come. I'm not trying to be harsh, but I really would not be happy if someone showed up at a Christmas gathering with a feverish child. Even healthy adults don't enjoy getting sick, and little kids just aren't self-aware enough to avoid spreading their germs.

dp

You can spot clean daily by scooping out soiled areas, and that will help keep the cage fresh longer. However, in my experience all of the bedding will need to be changed out and the cage washed about once a week. Some guinea pigs do tend to go all over the cage. The rescue from which I adopted our piggies lined their cages with newspaper to save money and completely changed it daily. However, I do *not* recommend only using flat newspaper. The poo just sits on top of it (and the pee, too, actually), and the guinea pigs will lay in it. (I imagine people who use washable fleece for bedding tend to have the same problem.) Plus, the ink can rub off on the pigs' fur. You really need something "fluffy" (like the mixed Carefresh and shredded paper mentioned above, or like pine shavings) so the poo can fall down into it and the urine can be soaked up. If you have something like a Tractor Supply near you, you can look for bulk bags of bedding. It takes a *lot* of bedding to fill a decent sized cage. If it's not something you can afford, I would go with another pet.

Not that I'm aware of, if your piggies are the same sex.

Pros: Guinea pigs are very docile and sweet and rarely bite. When tame, they are fun to hold and pet. They will squeal and beg for treats. They are sturdier and easier to handle than small rodents. However, younger children (under 9-10 or so) should *never* be allowed to take them from their enclosure without supervision. Accidental falls and too hard of squeezes can easily be fatal. They require pellets, fresh veggies, and hay, but these are not terribly expensive. Cons: While some guinea pigs learn to enjoy petting, they do not have the same affection for their humans that a rat or a dog or a cat would have. They require a VERY large enclosure to be happy and active. The cages in pet stores are NOT big enough. See: www.guineapigcages.com. I bought a cage "kit" on eBay and was happy with it; you can also make your own. If you put guinea pigs in too small of an enclosure, they will just hide in their houses and sleep all day. Guinea pigs are messy. They produce a lot of waste, and some will sleep in their pee and poo, given the chance. Their bedding can be very expensive. You really shouldn't use cedar chips; it can cause allergic reactions in the pigs and irritate their respiratory system. You can use Carefresh (very expensive), recycled paper bedding, aspen shavings, or Yesterday's News cat litter (although I wouldn't use this in their whole cage--it's pretty hard on their feet). Pine shavings *may* be okay; this is debated. Some people use fleece for their bedding and wash it, or a combination of fleece and other disposable beddings. You can google "fleece bedding for guinea pigs" for more information. Some people are allergic to guinea pigs. Guinea pigs must have hay, and some people are allergic to it, too. Their nails need to be trimmed about once a month, and it can be a little challenging. :) Pros OR cons, depending on what you want: Guinea pigs live 5-7 years, so are a long-term commitment. They really should be kept in pairs or larger groups. They are social animals and need the companionship of their own kind. For more info, see www.cavyspirit.com and www.guinealynx.info If you decide to go with guinea pigs, PLEASE consider adopting them from a rescue. Many guinea pigs from rescues have the added benefit of being already used to handling, and their foster parents can tell you about their personalities and find a good fit for your family. You can search for guinea pigs in your area at www.petfinder.com Hope this helps!

Thanks, all! It just seems like I need three hands or something... :)

Can someone please tell me the right way to make ponytails with this type of ponytail holder? I've tried googling it, but can't find clear instructions. Yes, I am completely hopeless when it comes to doing little girls' hair. :)

From the CDC website, regarding the flu: "Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days." From the Straight Dope website, regarding the common cold: "...the common cold is 'contagious' between 24 hours before onset of symptoms until 5 days after onset. Like everything else this varies depending on the organism, but that's a pretty safe estimate. This period of communicability was determined by taking nasal washings of experimentally infected volunteers."

According to the CDC website, the 2012-2013 multi-dose vials of flu vaccine contain thimerosal. The single dose vials do not.

You could try listing them as a large lot on eBay and see if they sell that way. I wouldn't bother trying to sell them individually.

I haven't heard back from the OP, so I'm assuming she hasn't changed her mind and can't accept the donations. I sincerely hope I haven't caused any offense. Thanks so much to all of you who wanted to help. OP, I'll be praying that you find a wonderful, loving home for your cat or can find a way to keep her. :grouphug:

Okay, I have to say, these funnels are awesome for travel and camping...if you can get past the cheesy website: Uri-Mate I've seen similar disposable and non-disposable ones on Amazon.

Amen, sister. :) This is absolutely true and such a good perspective to have. Hopefully just thinking through all this will bring you peace in the future. Everyone has shared such good thoughts here.

I do what you do, but most people don't and are fine.

I totally understand where you're coming from! :thumbup1: "Be anxious for nothing..." no doubt includes fears about public bathrooms. Just show them at home how to lay the paper down without touching the seat.