Rattie lovers come out!

evilvegan · Oct 24, 2006

The bunnies have one, let's let the rats have a go at it. Raise your hand if you love little ratties! I always get them from people who can't care for them or from the shelter. I just lost 2 to old age, and one from a tumor, but my last little guy is recovering from a rather sever respiritory infection. What about yours?

Poppy · Oct 24, 2006

I don't have a rat now, but my Rat-boy was one of my very favorite housemates of all time. He was so sweet and so curious! And very affectionate.

Jessica Alana · Oct 24, 2006

I don't have rats anymore. I had 4 boys for the past couple years. 1 died out of the blue about a year ago. The 2nd I had put to sleep on Christmas eve. He was in terrible shape. The 3rd and 4th I had put to sleep earlier this year. 
I've been telling myself no more. When they die on their own without suffering, I can handle it. When they're suffering and I have to put them to sleep, I can't. 
I had 2 girls back when I was about 17-19. One died unexpectedly. The other was my baby. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smitten.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":smitten:"> When I left for college, I contacted the apartments and made sure I could have her. I got there, and since my apartments were through school housing, the school told me I couldnt have her and I had a week to get rid of her. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I took her to the local humane society. It was good, though, the front desk girl and one of the guys in the back fought over who got to keep her. 
I'd love to get a couple more girls, but I can't handle how short their life spans are and how predisposed to illness they are.

Eclipse · Oct 24, 2006

I used to have rats. I have mice but they are not nearly as fun,though much easier to care for.

kya · Oct 25, 2006

I like rats. I've never had any because my mom would freak if I even suggested it, but I think they're cute. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

ChiKat · Oct 25, 2006

I love rats!! People don't know what they're missing! 
I wanted rats for several years, and my parents never let me get them. I did research and joined forums and everything. 
*long story ahead* 
Last summer, my brother's roommate dropped his pet rat "Agatha" off for me to watch for a few months. She was living in a tiny plastic cage the size of a shoe box, eating a bird seed mix, and living on cedar bedding *cringe* 
She barely moved, and her eyes and coat were dull. 
Since I couldn't keep her I couldn't spend too much money, but I went out and bought her a big guinea pig cage, Carefresh bedding, and lab blocks. 
I wanted to get her a friend since rats need to live in pairs, but I couldn't since she wasn't mine. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
The change in her was remarkable. She became lively and friendly and sat by the door all day waiting for me to take her out. I took her out every day after school and she would fall asleep in the hood of my sweatshirt. 
Then the guy said I could keep her!! 
SO I bought her a Martin's cage (martinscages.com) and adopted two rats from a rescue!! Aggie, Daisy, and Fiona. 
Aggie had a stroke several months ago. It was THE most depressing thing ever. She could hardly walk without falling over. She had no coordination and couldn't use her hands to eat. I took her to the vet immediately and he put her on steroids and antibiotics, and she got better! 
But then she had another stroke, and got worse. I woke up to feed her every two hours- water/baby food, etc. 
My pretty girl passed away <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
Daisy and Fiona had really REALLY crappy genes and had respiratory problems all their life, despite being on antibiotics. Daisy died totally out of the blue one day. She was just a year old. Fiona became really depressed. 
So I went out and rescued two little rats from the feeder bin at Petco- Scarlett and Mable. Fiona cheered up, having the two young rats to keep her "young" but her respiratory issues ended up taking her a few weeks after I brought the new rats home. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
So now my sister looks after Scarlett and Robin while I'm in college. I must say, they're the most destructive rats ever!! They chew their hammocks completely destroy everything! Silly babies. 
I have millions of pics, so I'll have to post them tomorrow. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Katt Fink · Oct 25, 2006

Rats? No... no, I'm not too fond of them.... 
ppffffttthahahahahaha!

ChiKat · Oct 25, 2006

I just have to show off my little babies <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
Aggie: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/agbogstripe.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/Aggie2.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/Aggie4.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Fiona: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/FionaStand.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/100_1833.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Daisy: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/Daisy3.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/Daisy6.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Daisy and Fiona: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/100_1806.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Getting older... <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/101_0070.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
The new babies!! <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/100_0528.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/hoodiehands.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/tail.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Scarlett (PEW) climbed on her sister to protect her from me and the big bad camera... <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/protect1.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/sweet.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Whoops, sorry for the pic overload!!

ChiKat · Oct 25, 2006

Ooo I'll share pics of Aggie's tumor/removal. 
Tumor: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/100_1425.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
After surgery: <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/Rats/100_1433.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Tumor-free!! <img alt="" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/Tater1022/100_1613.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

the_technogoat · Oct 25, 2006

katherine, your rats are absolutely precious. i have had two male rats and two female rats before. both males hated and bit me often, but my girls were the most affectionate and social animals in the world. my last female rat, morgan, was a hoodie rat who would sleep in my sleeve (with her little nose poking out) for hours at a time. she loved playing with my hair when i would dye it bright colors, and had a habit of destroying clothing (i still have my "morgan jacket"). sweet as she was, i never knew rats hissed until we brought her brother home a few months later.

MeganLynn · Oct 26, 2006

I have 3 boys who are house rats and get free roam most of the time. They are 11 months old. I have have a deer mouse momma and 4 1 week old pinky babbies who I am taming, socalizing, fostering, and placing in new homes.....if anyone in the northeast/midwest is intrested.

Jessica Alana · Oct 26, 2006

Anyone have rats and cats? My recent rats were all boys (4 of them) and they were really antisocial. They didn't like to play, or be picked up, or held, or let out of the cage. I don't know if it's because I have cats now, too, and they knew that; or if its because they're male and males tend to be that way. My first 2 rats, a few years ago, were both female and SOO SOO SOOOO lovey and cuddly and loved being held and let out and didn't care about my dog being around. 
Anyone have any knowledge?

jenna · Oct 26, 2006

i <3 rats. 
i had gotten Abby first. she was a brown and white berkshire. (looks a lot like the pictures of Aggie on here). Then about a month later, I got a brown hooded rat and named her Sophie. Well, turns out Sophie was pregnant. So a while later she had 7 babies. They all looked like her except the all white one. 
I found homes for 5 and kept two. I named then Willow and Winter (the all white one). They're gone now, though. Rats just don't live long enough. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
Jessica, I had cats when I had the rats. I never really had any problems. My trouble-maker cat, Bailey, always wanted to bat at them or lay on top of their cage. He never could reach them because the bars were really close together, but Abby could reach him. She pulled out some of his fur from his tail once. My oldest cat, Harry, didn't care one bit about the rats. He got along with anything and everything. I had Sophie sit on his back one night and they were fine. 
Another kitten that I had a few years ago was running around on the floor. I put Sophie on the floor with her and Sophie started chasing her around. It was very funny. Sophie didn't care much for my dog, though. I had her on my shoulder one night. Bear came up to sniff at her and she lunged out and tried to bite his nose. Bear had his feelings hurt, I think. 
The only thing I really had to do was cover the top of their 3 foot wire cage because Bailey liked to get up there. I always made sure the more mellow cats were the only ones around at night when I was asleep. 
I know all too well about the tumors. Abby had two surgeries. Winter also developed one after she had been sick a while. 
I still have the cage and all the accessories. I'd love to have rats again someday.

Jessica Alana · Oct 26, 2006

I'm scared to get rats again because I wasn't sure if it was just coincidence that the 4 I had were totally antisocial, or if it was because of the cats. In case it was the cats, I wasn't going to subject anymore rats to that. 
I did have a cat/rat war when everyone was little. A couple of the rats attacked the cats when they got too close. And if any of the cats climbed the cage (it was a little over 4 ft tall, 3 stories) they'd get some bitten toes. 
Out of the 6 rats I've had, none got tumors. Every single one of my aunt's 4 rats got tumors. I'm fairly sure its because they always used cedar, which is terrible. 
I've always used CareFresh. I tried aspen for a while, but didn't care for it, and i feel the CareFresh is more comfy for them and their little feets. 
Anyway, I'd love to get another pair, but I don't want to end up with the same situation as before. I felt terrible that all they wanted was to be left alone & I'm afraid if I get more, they'll be the same because of the cats. 
My cats are only 2 1/2 and 4. There are plenty of years left for them. Maybe I'll have to wait until my cats are gone and i'm in my 40s before getting rats again. *sigh* 
Is that a common male-rat thing? Where they want to be left alone? I had my boys since 2 of them were 6 weeks old, and 2 were 4 weeks. Or was it just coincidence?

jenna · Oct 26, 2006

i've never had males, besides when Sophie's were growing and then they were adopted. I had always heard they were more laid back than females. They like to curl up on you somewhere and just chill. Females were more wanting to check everything out and never stop moving. 
Two of the boys from Sophie's litter were given to a co-worker of mine. She said they were some of the best rats she'd had. Very lovable, laid back, not the least bit anti-social. The only anti-social one of the 7 babies was one that was given away. I think if you get them young enough, there shouldn't be a problem. Not really sure, as that was my first experience having rats. Abby and Sophie were only a few months old when I got them. So, around the same age as the ones you had. 
It may all be just a coincidence. I definitely wouldn't let it keep you from getting rats again. What kind of cage did/do you have? I went through a few different kinds before I found the martin's cages to be the best for my situation. I had The Rat Tower. <a href="http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/rat/" target="_blank">http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/rat/</a> Mine's powder-coated, though.

Jessica Alana · Oct 26, 2006

I had a 4 ft tall x 3 ft wide x 1.5 ft deep one, with 3 levels, and I'd hang a hammock in there, too. 
Then I bought them a second cage so they'd have more floor space, which was about 5 ft wide, by 2 feet deep. I tried moving them back and forth between the 2, using the one-story one to let them run around freely without having to run up or down stories. However they hated being picked up and would hide, so I gave up on that and just kept them in their normal cage. Then donated the big one-story to the humane society.

Pirate Ferret · Oct 27, 2006

I <3 Rats 
However 
My mother hates them 
Now im in Uni I COULD get them (last year my housemates used to scream at rats on tv so errr i couldnt have them in the house! this year everyone would be ok with it) but its carrying them home on trains + affording to look after them (would need to buy 2 cages as it is)+ when theyre home finding somewhere thats cat-safe. mergh. 
when i properly move out ill get them yeessss. I went to a rat show last year, It made me sad. =(

evilvegan · Oct 27, 2006

Carefresh is definately a lot better for them. The one that had the tumor came from a home where they used pine cuz it smelled good. Breaks my heart. As for the cats, every rat is different. My rats chase my cat when they are out, she's afraid of rodents now.

MeganLynn · Oct 27, 2006

I don't think anti-social behavior is common at all amoung males. My boys are very cuddley and sweet. They do tend to be more mellow then females who tend to enjoy being more active. 
I think temperment for the most part has to do with genetics and socalization. Almost any rat that is adopted from a reputable breeder or a rescue organization...that has been properly socalized will be friendly. If you bought your boys from a pet store then that may very well be the reason they are anti-social. Feeder breeders don't socalize their animals....nor do they plan out breedings for health or temperment. They mass produce animals to sell at any pet store that will have them. 
The early life of a pet store bred rat is usually also traumatic....living in dark, crowded, unsafe conditions....they aren't given the chance the learn that humans can be loved.

jenna · Oct 27, 2006

i've always known that pine/cedar was bad bedding. i used carefresh the whole time i had mine.

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