Hello all!
Considering many of you found @johndead ās Jon care quite helpful ( as I certainly have! ) I decided to compile a quick Gerry 101 care! Now, obviously, every Gerry is different, so this isnāt a one size fits all guide, more just some stepping stones towards proper care!
Environment: Gerrys need a quiet place to nest. Some ideal locations include unused storage cupboards, finished basements, spare bedrooms, etc. While you may find them wanting to snuggle up with you once theyāve warmed up to you, itās important to give them their own space!
Nesting materials: Shredded papers from files or ( as Iāve found theyāve preferred ) books. Scraps of leather and black fabric will likely also be included if found
Diet: Gerrys seem to be willing to eat pretty much anything you find yourself eating! Some may even try to hop up onto the table to try your dinner! I recommend you fix him a smaller portion of what youāre eating, so heās included in family activities. As for water, a large, shallow dish that canāt be tipped over is recommended
Enrichment: Gerrys will go on adventures through your house to find trinkets he thinks youāll like. While this is encouraged, itās important to remember to acknowledge Gerry first, then turn your attention to the gift. Otherwise, he might think you only want gifts and may grow resentful. Other forms of enrichment include giving him old books and files to burn, allowing him ( supervised ) interactions with makeup and black hair dye, and taking him for trips! Gerrys love to travel! They will also explore crawl spaces and other tight-fitting places like vents
Extra tips:
- Gerrys do not like old rich men with fucked up if true books. They can and will become hostile towards them
- Gerrys, if bored, may start burning books unsupervised. It is very important to keep anything you donāt want being destroyed out of their reach!
- They tend to be extremely standoffish at first. Donāt lose hope! Most Gerrys will eventually warm up once they realize you actually care about them. They make incredibly loyal friends!
- They have naturally occurring eye markings on their joints. These are called false eyes, and theyāre used to ward off predators
- They can and will hide all health problems until itās too late, so itās vitally important to routinely take them to the vet!
Remember: Gerrys are a big commitment. If you plan on getting one, make sure to do your research! That being said, these guys make lovely friends in the right homes!
