Maggie has developed some interesting habits. I was hoping
some of you could tell me if this is routine glider behavior.
Firstly, Maggie craps and pees more than any little creature
I have seen in my entire life. In preportion, she would clog
up a gas station pay toilet. And it now seems she will only
go on me, or in her nesting box. IN HER BED. She craps and
pees IN HER BED, then SLEEPS in it. She sometimes climbs out
with unspeakably filthy claws and dried crap the size of rice
grains in her tail. I had to take a Q-Tip and warm water to her
while she squirmed and scratched, trying to climb up my arm.
When I pull her out before she's had a chance to soil her bedding,
she will not relax until she's on my forearm. Then she will relax
her BOWELS. I've scared her in the past by frantically trying to
remove her from my arm in mid-crap and onto a paper towel, so now
if she suckers me into this I'll just stand there calmly until
she's finished and then put her back into her cage for a while until
I'm cleaned up and not gritting my teeth at her anymore.
Last night she did exactly that.. crapped and peed REMARKABLE
amounts down my arm. Then she climbed around me for awhile. 10
minutes later I was holding her on my palm and letting her glide onto
the couch. On her final attempt, she tensed her little muscles and
lifted her tail to jump, but instead CRAPPED on me AGAIN. HUGE amounts
that I would think would take two full days and nights for her to produce
I didn't think her intestines were that long. I'm not joking here. I'm
starting to wonder. It's like soft-serve, for chrissakes.

Currently, I'm using clean white handkerchiefs bundled up on the bottom of
her nesting box. It's screwed into her cage and up high, so it's hard to
remove daily for cleaning. Last time I waited about a week, there was crap
splashed across the walls and at the bottom. I don't want her to get sick,
so I'm tossing and replacing the handkerchiefs daily, while thoroughly
cleaning her cage whenever I can.
Does she not feel comfortable unless she's going ON ME? Is she scared to
come out of her nesting box to go to the bathroom? Will she get sick?
When I got her, I understood that I would be faced with "accidents,"
perhaps on a daily basis, but I can't abide by her storing up her best
pudding for my sleeve or pocket three times every evening.
There has been no need to replace the corncob litter in her cage
lately, but I wash my three bonding shirts every day.
In the meantime, I am hesitant to pick her up unless I know she
has already gone to the bathroom, and I can never tell when she
last did. I'm worried, because she seemingly has an endless supply
for me. So I can't let her climb on me, in my hair, around the
house, etc. Understandably, she's not happy with my getting
grabby with her when she's threatening my work shirt or climbing
on my CDs.
Please advise. This time, I promise I will answer any questions
you may ask that will better your understanding for this adorably
lovable and, at times, intensely disgusting pet of mine.

Follow Ups:

• get her to a vet Bourbon 05:53:36 05/17/2000 (4)
  • Oh yeah 1 more q? Bourbon 05:55:09 05/17/2000 (3)
    • Re: Oh yeah 1 more q? Wesley 09:27:47 05/17/2000 (2)
      • Kims got a few things to add too Kim 10:41:06 05/17/2000 (1)
        • I agree... Bourbon 13:16:04 05/17/2000 (0)