wikiHow to Care for Your Pet Rock

The following comes from a creative post on WikiHow. 

How do you properly care for a silent, stone-faced pet rock? You never know when it's hungry, mad, playful, or tired. How do you feed it? Clean it? Play with it? This article will tell you all you need to know about caring for your stone-faced pal. 

Choosing Your Rock
Pick a rock. It can be any kind, anywhere. It's best to have a specific rock in mind. Be sure to look and see what breed it is, also see if you want a smooth rock, or a bumpy rock. You can find different rocks at the park, your garden, etc.
Determine whether its size is convenient for your purpose. If it's for a traveling companion, pick a small one. If it's for a friend, a larger size is best. But you can adjust to what you want. If you want one that's medium, or extra small, you can pick it! Its up to you. It's your special rock.
Wash it with soap and water. See Bathing for detailed instructions.
Congratulations! You now have a pet rock! 

Naming
Before you do anything else you must name your rock. You could give your rock simple names like Rocky, or settle with an exotic name, like Star. Make sure it suits you and your rock. Be creative and maybe name your rock a type of berry or a flower. Like for example the name Lemon, it might have little yellow cracks or be yellow. Or if you would call it Blossom, it could be slightly tinged pink or be a white color. You should also determine your pet's "gender". Don't call a boy rock Petal unless you really want to. If you can't decide, think of whatever name you like, boy or girl.
Look at your rocks appearance. If It's bumpy or smooth, give it a name that suits it. Maybe you have a brown rock? Get to know it's appearance to ensure you've picked the right name.
If you want a person's name, then you can search "baby names" in Google. It will give you plenty of names to look through. Some advice: Make a list of all the names you want, then narrow it down. Remember, you can always give the rock a middle name and a last name! 

Feeding
Feed your pet rock! It can't eat physical objects, so provide it with food for its other senses, such as sight, touch, smell, and hearing. You can play sweet music, paint or print of a nice image, find something soft, etc. If you can't print or find any thing that smells nice, try to see if your rock is interested in looking at your food and maybe if you're comfortable with it your rock could smell your food.
Make a potpourri for your rock to smell. This is only if you can. If you're a young child, ask an adult to assist.
Add some lemon or orange peels to a handful of cloves. You can also add rose petals, mint, or lavender.
Paint or print a pretty picture. Again, you can just let it see what you do for snacks.
Play some music. Classical music will do nicely. But if you don't like classy music, your rock can still be comfortable with catchy pop. Despite their name, pet rocks don't normally like rock music.
Make a texture board by gluing pieces of different materials to a piece of cardboard. Rub your pet rock over these different textures. This is a good idea for if your rock gets a bit rough. 

Bathing
Prepare a cup of warm water.You'll want a nice wide bowl.
Add some liquid soap. Stir it together, and carefully place your rock inside the mix. But before you do, check the rock's type. Some rocks may not be able to go in water.
Use a sponge or a cloth to scrub your pet rock inside with the soap-water mixture, if you can't use any of these use your hands. Scrub for 2-4 minutes. Make sure it rubs all over, under any crevices.
Dry your pet rock with a small cloth. Now, let your pet rock rest. Bathing is very important when "pet rocking", and rocks like to contemplate their day after a relaxing bath. You may need to redo any text/pen that you may have drawn on. 

Building Housing
Take a cardboard box and cut a small window in the side with sharp scissors. If you are a child, ask and adult to help.
Remove the lid and place a small box (e.g. a matchbox or Altoids box) against a corner of the box. Fill it with a soft material, such as cotton, felt, or some cloth. Even newspaper shreds will do.
Create a rug by cutting a piece of fabric or material and gluing it to the bottom of the box. Make sure it fits the whole area.
Make a beanbag couch, either by purchasing a beanbag, or stuffing a small drawstring purse with cotton or crumpled newspaper.
Make a litter-box by placing newspaper shreds in a matchbox. You may want to halve it.
Create a lounge by making a couch-shaped 3D piece of cardboard and placing tiny pillows from a dolls house on it. If you don't have doll pillows, try sewing a pillow.
Set the beanbag couch on the side, and make a table by setting a piece of sturdy material over four pebbles. You could glue them on.
Make a dining room by placing a mini potpourri in the corner. You can also play some music.
Your rock's favorite color depends on your pet's breed. Use this color for the carpeting in the house. 

Traveling
Travel with your pet rock! Bring it to school, on a vacation or just take a nature walk with your pet.
Make a little house for traveling by following these steps:
Use a box big enough for your rock. You can add an attachment for its belongings.
Cut two opposite flaps on the box. The remaining flaps are to be folded about 3-4cm away from the ends.
Make a slit in the folded part of the flap. Please ensure that when you close the box the slits are lined up.
Cut out a long piece of cardboard from the leftover flaps and remember to make the width a tad smaller than the slit so it slides in effortlessly. Fold it.
Shred some newspaper (tearing it up is more fun though) and fill the box halfway. Then it's ready for use!
Always protect your rock when going into dirty or foreign places. Rocks can get sick too! They may pick up moss, fungi, lichen, and other unwanted diseases. 

Throwing Pet Rock Parties
Make a spa day from the below instructions.
Throw dried flower petals into some hot water and mix in very little bubble mix.
Massage your pet rock! Rub its nooks and crannies with Vaseline or baby oil. You could also get some other rocks to come.
Throw a sleepover with your pet rock!
Gather some friends, whether they have pet rocks or not. If they don't, you may desire to give them some.
Grab some of your favorite snacks, and feed your pet rock as well. Remember they must use the senses other than taste!
When it's time to go to sleep, bring your pet rock's bed with you in your sleeping bag. Tonight, you sleep with your special pet. If you don't want to, put the rock in it's home. If your friends brought or have been given pet rocks, place them in as well. Remember which rock belongs to who, though!
Have a birthday party! If you remember the day you found your pet rock, a birthday party is a great way to celebrate each year you and your pet spend together. If you don't, host it whenever you like!
Make a special meal for you and your rock. Keep in mind it can't eat your food, but you can eat yours.
Spend some alone time together. Maybe play a game. 

Making a Pet Rock Home Cinema
Make a home cinema! Its a great way for you and your pet rock to spend some quality time together. First of all, find some thin card (this will be used as a wall so find a box with walls the same size, if needed cut to size).
Measure your iPhone/iPod and then cut out a hole in the card the same size as the screen.
Ensure the screen is visible and that you are happy with it. When complete, cut out one side of the wall on your box and glue your cut out wall in its place.
Create a support for your iPhone/iPod on the back of the wall.
Cut and glue a piece of card (preferably rectangular) to the back of the support.
Slip your phone onto the support. Put your favorite movie or video on, pop some corn. And of course give your fellow friend a little beanbag to relax on, sit back, relax, and enjoy not having friends! 

How do you know if your pet rock will get along with your cat?
wikiHow Contributor
Let your cat sniff the rock. Then, on a sticky note write "I like it" and on another write "I don't". Stick the sticky notes to the ground and place a cat treat on both. The cat wants to say what'son the sticky not of the first treat it eats.
How do you choose your rock?
wikiHow Contributor
Simple. First, choose if you want a big rock or a little rock. Big ones are easier to make stuff for. Little ones are easier to bring places in your pocket. Then find a smooth rock the right size, shape, and color you want, and bring it home and wash it. Glue on googly eyes and you are done.

Tips

• If you have lots of rocks give them all related names so they are easy to remember, but then again, be sure to give them all equal attention so as to not have them feel left out or neglected

• Sometimes you should let your rock have some time alone without you. They need alone time too.

• Never take your rock swimming as they are not the most active pets around...

• Give you and your rock a special day each month to spend time together.

• Never glue Googly eyes or paint or draw faces on your pet rock. They already have a face. You don't scribble all over a dog, right? Also, the toxins will kill it. But feel free to add accessories to your rock such as bows, ribbons, string, etc.

• Don't let your rock mingle alone, you should always be there for your fellow friend.

• To get the best experience, educate your rock and give it attention at least 30 minutes every day. Maybe you could watch a movie with it!

• Find other people with pet rocks to see what things they get up to..

• You should never keep a bag that contains all your rocks inside. They might not liked being cramped in a small space with a dozen other rocks.

• Make sure to train your rock! No one wants a surly, untrained rock.

• Create a unique personality for your pet rock.

• If you take your rock(s) anywhere, be sure not to lose them. They would be lonely without you!

• If you like, dress up your rock so he/she/it feels classy. Every rock likes to be pampered once and a while!

• Make your house comfortable yet creative.

• If you aren't always able to make time for your rock, or you have to leave them at home often, if you are ready to assume additional responsibility, feel free to get a second, or even a third rock! They will never feel lonely when they hang out with their friends, and they will still love you for being their owner because you thought of their needs, as well as provided a loving home for even more rocks!