Rats! :)

I have always loved rats! I had one years back who passed away the day after biting my Grandmother. I told Nan she is toxic and to stay away from my animals.

Last weekend I had someone adopt a Cat Rescue Maritimes kitten who also had 2 rats. Well I held one and remembered how much I LOVED having one. They are so affectionated and smart...and this one just curled right up in my arms.

So this evening I convinced Dana that rats make lovely pets and we now have 2 beautiful female rats, beige and white Cricket and grey and white Lulu! Any other rat lovers here?

I never thought I'd be the one to admit this, but I am a fellow rattie lover. But, I never was until I worked at PetSmart and had the opportunity to experience them first-hand. I had previously always thought them to be dirty and gross, but I quickly learned how wrong my prior assumptions were. Rats are very intelligent and social and they make wonderful pets!

Unfortunately, my roommate does not agree and so I will not be a rattie owner anytime soon. However, I do get to play with them often as a friend of mine recently adopted a tan and white, female dumbo rat named Cecilia (Cece) and a black and white, female dumbo rat named Vera. I had spotted them at one of the local shelters and had begged my roommate, but she was categorically against the rats (which is okay since I truly do have a full house -- and a new foster to boot!) and so I found a friend to adopt! So, while I'm not a rattie mommy, I am an auntie. And, that's just as fun!

Congrats on your two girls, Kailie. I'm certain they'll be loved and cherished just as much as your kitties are! There's just one thing that bothers me, though -- where are the pics ?!

Oh Alison sweetie, I will get pics FOR SURE! I have NEWS though!

So last night I'm holing them and noticed Lulu was incredibly round... Then I saw her belly moving. I even told the guy we bought them from that I wanted females who were kept from the males. Well something happened along the way because we woke up this morning to a whole bunch of rat babies! I'm doing a whole ton of research online this morning because I know nothing about baby rats but I'm learning lots.

Just my luck seriously. So now I not only need to find homes for my foster CATS but I now have baby foster RATS too!

Congratulations on your surprise additions ! I bet that was quite a sight to see this morning when you woke up! And, I suppose congratulations are also in order for new rat mama, Lulu!

I've never dealt with rattie babies and so I'm going to be of new use to you there, but I am certain that there is loads of information on the internet (and I just read that you're already searching the net for info) to be found. I have dealt with hamster and gerbil pups, however, and I do know that the cage they are in is best kept in a quiet place. I know, with gerbils, that two females in a cage with babies is not necessarily the best situation as the other female could harm the mother's pups, but I'm not sure if that is also the case where rats are concerned. I remember that you should not change the bedding or nesting material for some time as well so as not to disturb or frighten the mother. Thankfully, I have never had to deal with a mother harming or eating her young, but I know that it's a possibility with some small animals. But, I am sure you are learning about this and more through research. And, rats are so different from hamsters and gerbils -- the little information I have may be completely useless for your situation.

I'm sorry you wound up with more than you bargained for with the two female rats (and now Lulu's babies!) but I am certain they are in the best place possible for them. Thank goodness they found their way to you when they did -- otherwise this joyful time may have been a very sad and desperate one. Regardless, congrats again. I'm sure you'll be able to find the little guys homes when the time comes, but, until then, try to enjoy the process. Good luck, keep us posted, and, yes, we do need pics!

Oh I AM glad she had them here with me because I know they will all go to loving homes and not end up snake food.

It looks like we have 9 little ones!

Sorry Kailie, I can't get excited about rats. But you have fun, fun, fun with them.

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

Sorry Kailie, I can't get excited about rats. But you have fun, fun, fun with them.

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You're not the only one hun. They're certainly not a pet for everyone.

Originally Posted by Alison Joy

I know, with gerbils, that two females in a cage with babies is not necessarily the best situation as the other female could harm the mother's pups, but I'm not sure if that is also the case where rats are concerned.

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That also applies to rats, so the other adult has to be removed from the cage asap.

Congratulations on the new additions! I used to keep rats, and think they're some of the best pets ever, except for their short lifespans and tendency to get cancer (the reasons why I no longer have pet rats; it was too much heartbreak).

That's definitely not the first time somebody has gotten a pregnant female right from a pet store; in my case, a litter of ten arrived.

Congrats! I am a fan of ratties too. I currently have one female.

Well as of this morning, there are at least 15 babies. I don't know if Lulu just ended up having more or if Cricket had some too.

Actually I have been doing a lot of research and joined a rat forum as well and have decided not to seperate Lulu and Cricket. They get along splendidly, cuddle constantly and take turns taking care of the babies. I've been watching them closely for any signs of aggression with each other, but there is none what so ever. They are adorable to watch. There seems to be mixed feeling in the rat community, but the common concensus is that if they get along so well, there is no reason to remove Cricket from the cage. (Although I absolutely will if I start seeing anything alarming.)

Now I'll post pictures of them in the Pet Photo section for you.

I adore rats! They are amazing pets! sadly, I developed a horrendous allergy to them. If they touch me, I get a very itchy red rash. Being around them too long also makes breathing near difficult

Don't forget (I'm sure you all ready thought of this) that before too long at all all the males have to be housed away from the girls... don't want even more babies!

We used to breed em when I was a younger, and trade em into an awesome pet store that sold them as pets. In exchange, we pretty much got free food, bedding, etc. We had the most amazing mommy rat, Mary. She loved us, and would allow us to hold her babies day one with out getting upset. Made for the sweetest babies you could imagine. I remember once when we were moving, she carried each, one by one, out of their cage and put them in a box of stuffed animals. She was also known for escaping at night and finding her way into my sisters room (down a hall, up the stairs, down another hall, through my room, into my sisters room, and up into her bed) to wake her by sniffing her face. Mind you, she had never been up there till the first time she snuck in. Plus, if you made her little teeth chattering noise at her, she would come to you.

Have I mentioned that I love rats? I currently have two mice, since I can't have ratties anymore

You can live vicariously through me hun.

So there are 17 baby rats total. I think that's the final total. Yep I'm all ready to seperate the males from the females at 5 weeks. I've aquired a bunch of cages.

Dana had Cricket out on him last night and was actually petting her and playing with her. He wouldn't even touch her for the first few days.

i love rats till i see their tails dunno what it is about the tails but it freaks me out, im fine with mice and hamsters and other little animals

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

i love rats till i see their tails dunno what it is about the tails but it freaks me out, im fine with mice and hamsters and other little animals

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I actually hear that a lot, my Mom included.

thing is when i was at a pet shop my curiosity got the better of me and i touched a rats tail it doesnt feel as vad as i thought...bit like velvet so to speak i just dunno

I have kept rats for a decade, absolutely love them!!!! I used to have a lot of rats with extensive pedigrees, they are mostly resuces these days.

I currently have 10 ratkids in residence and they are a joy to be around. My colony is mixed sex, all of the females are spayed.

They range in age from 6 months to close to 40 months(ancient for a rat)-
Toby, Hoggle, Ludo, Jorge, Squiddy,Ruth, Rosie Consuela, Alana Maria, Peaches, and Sunni Delight.

They are an expensive animal to properly keep because the vet bills can be atrocious. I really love having them around though, they are incredibly loving, intelligent and always make me laugh.

This past December I had a tattoo done of my beloved Fergus who has been gone for two years. He was the light of my life and held my heart in his tiny paw. He was a Russian Blue Point Siamese-absolutely stunning.

I have a website that I dont update as often anymore, really a vanity site for the ratkids www.fragglerats.com

YAYYYYYYYY, you are obviously a Labyrinth fan, my favorite movie of all time! I would love to see a picture of your tattoo. I have 5 tats of my own and recently got one of my cat Imhotep.

Kallie-
I LOVE the movie and when these 3 boys came into my life, they were a perfect fit for the names.

Link to the tat the day it was done http://picasaweb.google.com/anitafra...56283638215506 I have since had his eyes, ears and paws colored in a baby pink and a heart added

Awww, that is GREAT! I love it!

My two previous rats were from breeders but the 3 I had more recently (got as a group) were rescues. I only have one now, but she is very skittish and will bite if handled. Who knows how she was treated before she was rescued.