Vacation feeding question

[Mkcotton]

Hi, I am needing advice on what to do. I have a 8 month old non releasable grey squirrel. I have had her since she was 5 weeks old. Something has come up and I have to be away for 2 nights in early September. I have no one to care for her and wanted to know if I can leave extra food out before I leave? I feed Henry’s blocks everyday along with veggies and other items on the feed list. I bought extra water bottles and just wanted to see if anyone could direct me as to what to do. Thanks so much

[olorin19]

What is her name?

What is she able or not able to do on her own?

How does she get water now? From a bottle? Water dish? Is she self-sufficient as far as drinking from bottle or bowl?

What about food - i.e. if the food is in her cage, is she self-sufficient as far as getting the food, eating it, etc.?

Where does she pee and poop? Any issues there with needing assistance from you?

[Mkcotton]

Thanks for getting back with me. Her name is GirlSquirrel.
She gets her water from water bottles on the side of her cage and is self sufficient as far as drinking water and she can eat on her own from her food bowl. She uses a litter pan in her cage to go potty and has a little house she goes in for her nest.



What is she able or not able to do on her own?

How does she get water now? From a bottle? Water dish? Is she self-sufficient as far as drinking from bottle or bowl?

What about food - i.e. if the food is in her cage, is she self-sufficient as far as getting the food, eating it, etc.?

Where does she pee and poop? Any issues there with needing assistance from you?[/QUOTE]

[olorin19]

Thanks for getting back with me. Her name is GirlSquirrel.
She gets her water from water bottles on the side of her cage and is self sufficient as far as drinking water and she can eat on her own from her food bowl. She uses a litter pan in her cage to go potty and has a little house she goes in for her nest.

[/QUOTE]

I had a quadriplegic NR Ziggy who required help with drinking (not able to drink from a bowl or bottle) and would only pee and poop outside on the ground. So Ziggy always came along on vacation, although during the Ziggy years we did not take all that many.

I now have an NR Guro who has limited use of her right forelimb but is otherwise fine and lives in a huge cage. When we go away, we have two people that take turns coming in morning and early evening to make sure she is fed, has fresh water, etc.

First, I would strongly encourage you to find someone to check in on GirlSquirrel just to make sure all is well.

Or perhaps a webcam so you can at least check on her?

Otherwise, it sounds like GirlSquirrel would be fine for a few days as far as going potty.

And water would probably be fine, assuming there was ample in the bottles and there was no way they could tip over, leak out, or otherwise empty. I would make sure there are several water sources, just in case.

I am not sure it is ideal for blocks to not be fresh, but assuming she has plenty of food, she ought to be fine.

[Mkcotton]

I really can’t thank you enough for going over everything . I will get a web cam ordered and have someone on standby in case. My Mom always helped with my animals but has developed macular degeneration and can barely see anymore. So I had to try and figure out what to do.

I appreciate you taking the time to guide me along.GirlSquirrel thanks you too


I had a quadriplegic NR Ziggy who required help with drinking (not able to drink from a bowl or bottle) and would only pee and poop outside on the ground. So Ziggy always came along on vacation, although during the Ziggy years we did not take all that many.

I now have an NR Guro who has limited use of her right forelimb but is otherwise fine and lives in a huge cage. When we go away, we have two people that take turns coming in morning and early evening to make sure she is fed, has fresh water, etc.

First, I would strongly encourage you to find someone to check in on GirlSquirrel just to make sure all is well.

Or perhaps a webcam so you can at least check on her?

Otherwise, it sounds like GirlSquirrel would be fine for a few days as far as going potty.

And water would probably be fine, assuming there was ample in the bottles and there was no way they could tip over, leak out, or otherwise empty. I would make sure there are several water sources, just in case.

I am not sure it is ideal for blocks to not be fresh, but assuming she has plenty of food, she ought to be fine.[/QUOTE]

[olorin19]

GirlSquirrel is likely quite used to having you around, and beyond food, water, etc. you are likely her main source of companionship, entertainment, feeling safe, etc.

I have gone away twice now and have two people (one is my adult daughter) look after Guro. In general, Guro does not really like anyone besides my wife or I being around her cage. So, first time away, it took Guro a couple days to warm up to her caregivers. When we went away the second time, she was happy to see them from the first day.

My point is that if/when GirlSquirrel warms up to whoever is caring for her, there is benefit just to them being there - hanging out, talking to her, etc.