It's a rat thing...

When I say the word "rat", what do you think? I'm hoping your not still cringing and decide to read on...


Some interesting facts:

• Rats are the second smartest of all rodents. The squirrel is the first.
• Rats are more then capable of learning their names, learning tricks, showing love and affection and playing.
• The only difference between dumbo rats and fancy rats is ear placement.
• Rats rarely bite, and usually when they do bite its the handler's fault (ex. scaring them, threatening them in some way---mothers, cornering, not properly socializing, etc).
• Rats make perfect pets for children, even better then the ever popular hamster (hamsters, FYI...BITE and are frankly quite unintelligent, but very cute).
• Rats are very social and should never be kept as singles. Couples, Trios, etc. make for a healthier longer living rat.
• Most people are extremely surprised at the bond they have with their rats (new rat owners)

I currently have two rats, and four foster rats. 

Above is Bianca AKA Bianca Beatrice. She is an albino Fancy Rat. Her loves are bananas, yogurt (especially Chobani Greek yogurt) , worms, and riding on shoulders. Her dislikes are running on the wheel, green peppers, and going to get the mail with her mom (she peed on me once out of fright and we have never ventured out to get the mail together again). She used to be a bully to her little sister, but now they groom each other and get along great.

**Please excuse my double chin!**

 Above is Smootch. She is a Dumbo Hooded Rat. I got her about 3 weeks after Bianca (Don't worry, before that Bianca was out of her cage for hours at a time). She got her name because she is a big kisser (yes, I said kisser). Rats often give kisses to their owners to show affection. If your really lucky, they may nibble and lick you. This is how they groom and being groomed by a rat is the ultimate--the holy grail--of being loved by them. Smootch's loves are running on the wheel, tomatoes, bananas, worms and playing tug-o-war. Her only dislike I can think of at the moment is sitting still. She is pretty easy to please.

Those girls are what I call my permanents. They aren't going anywhere. I will discuss my four fosters (brothers) at a later time.

Rat Question of the day:

Q: Why should you never feed your rat carbonated beverages?

A: Rats lack the ability to vomit, and therefore burp. Giving your rat carbonated beverages will likely be their last thing they consume....