Okay, I don't know if I am the only one on this board with these pets, but I must say they are some of the most delightful, cheerful, good-natured, smart and funny animals, I have come across as pets. Please let me introduce my rats. I got "into" rats about a year ago (when I started doing surgery on them--go figure). We let the girls run around the bedroom at night when we are watching T.V. To get them to come back to their cage, I have a small container of “Yogies” which are yogurt chips about the size of a chocolate chip that they just love, so the all come rushing back to the cage to get their yogie treat. They are super friendly, sometimes, I will run across the room and two of them will come scampering after me, or I will chase them with my hand, and they will jump on it and lick, lick, lick. They are incredibly social, with me and amongst themselves. They have a hammock that hangs from the roof of their cage, and sometimes when I go into the bedroom, I look in the cage and all of them are just piled on top of each other snoozing. Two of the rats are sisters, and they are almost always together, even when they are out of the cage. When the rats are out of the cage playing, they always come over to us, and climb on us, groom our hair, nail, try to pull anything off that doesn’t belong, like band aids, or ponytail holders around the wrist. Geetu will chew on the bars of her cage to make sure we know that she wants to come out. Rats also have a thing called bruxing and it is where they grind their front teeth together, it sounds like a click, click, click. The do it, like a cats purr; when they are happy or stressed. Sasha Geetu’s sister will often (usually at night when I am reading) sit in the corner of the cage and look at me and brux, her little heart out until I go over and cuddle her at which point she starts bruxing like mad. I really love these little animals, it is amazing to see their little personality’s and how smart they are, they know their names, they use their litter box, they know when to come back to their cage, and unlike many small animals, they really enjoy interacting with you, it’s like the accept you into the “ratite” family, and you are one of them. Also they are very attached to their homes, so if they do get out they will almost always try to return to where home is. I chose female rats because males tend to smell musky. All of my girls are spayed, because they are prone to mammary tumors, which though harmless 90% of the time, do need to be removed or they will continue to grow, and I just didn’t want to go through that with seven girls!!! Anyway, sorry for the ramble, but I just wanted to share my lovely girls, they are truly wonderful pets!
Pictured is one of my two first rats. Her name is Ginger, but I often call her Gingerbutt, because she has splash of color right on her rump near her tail.
