pusscat posted on Aug 11, 2009
| views: 201
As many of you are aware, hubby and I brought our 2 little baby rats home on Sunday (couldn't wait till Monday). We were at the front of the petshop purchasing a few extra supplies of food and the kitty litter, whilst young girl whom we had originally spoken to about the baby rats went to fetch them for us. They supply proper pet carrier boxes and each rat had his own box.
In hindsight, I must admit that there were a few alarm bells ringing for me when we first saw the rats. The girl really didn't want me to handle them saying she was afraid that I would drop one and it could escape and that would be aweful. Of course it would be aweful and I didn't want to be responsible for that so I left it at that. I did however ask her about how often they had been handled and how they reacted to it. Any baby rat handled regularly up to the age of 7 weeks should have no problem about being handled by anyone at all. She assured us that she handled them regular and at least twice a week she cleaned their tank out (they keep them in mini fishtanks as it minimises the noise of the customers). I know that you really shouldn't buy rats unless you have handled them yourself. Something was telling me that, no matter what, these were definitely the two I was going to have.
It was a little commical on the drive home as our route doesn't know what a straight road is lol! I took the corners as slowly as I could but I could still hear their little feet sliding around on the bottom of the box bless 'em.
When we got them home I ensured everything was ready for them in their cage. Wheel firmly secured and ladders fitted to different levels. Water bottle fixed in place, litter in a small tray and their next box was secure. I slowly and carefully lifted the lid of the first box. Now I do know how to handle rats. A very close friend of mine had different rats for years. I delicately placed my fingers under his front legs and went to support his bottom with my other hand. Jeez! You would have thought that I was trying to murder him! Poor thing was frightened to death. I had to really hold onto him tighter than I was happy with to make sure I he didn't wriggle free. He had just struggled out of my hand as I had him at the cage door so he went in. It was more or less the same story with his brother too. If these rats had been handled on a regular basis then I was bloody Madonna (trust me, I can't sing or dance!)
I don't regret buying these two darling little babies. In fact, as I said to hubby today, I am so glad that we, rather than someone with less knowledge of rats as pets, bought them. They will be given lots of patience and gentle persuasion and of course bucket loads of love.
They have actually come on in leaps and bounds in just 2 days. From being afraid of my voice to actually letting me stroke their cute little fingers and toes. They love their large 3 tiered cage and are fantastic climbers. Hey seer - I wonder if they could give you a run for your money ha ha! ;-) They really are excellent climbers and it's facinating to watch them.
Each morning so far, the floor of their cage looks like any juvenile's bedroom lol! What a mess. I tidy all the paper and wood shavings then refill the kitty litter for them to wreck it during the night again ha ha! I am in love with them both already. I know they will begin to trust us more and more each day.
They are a little camera shy at the moment as my phone camera has an automatic double flash but I will put some piccies up as soon as I can take some where they are at least recognisable as rats lol!
Comments
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onlymimi said on Aug 11, 2009....
They will have a wonderful, pampered love-filled life with you, peecee. I'm so glad you have them to shower with attention and love, as you have so much of it to give. :)You said they're babies -- how big are they? -
pusscat said on Aug 11, 2009....
Hi mims :-)) Oh, they really are just the cutest things! They look fairly tiny when they are just sitting or walking about - about 5 inches long (without tails) but it's amazing how long they are when they stretch right up climbing the cage bars!
They are such characters already. Zappa, the largest, is a little more timid than Aero. Aero can be quite leery already ha ha! Thinks he's Mr Big till he hears a noise he doesn't know and he scurrries back to his nest box as fast as his little legs will carry him lol!
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seer said on Aug 11, 2009....
Hi puss,I don't think experience in raising animals matters, they're going to be happy little friendly rats.You know my old boss had a guard dog, that once bit my hand. I punched it. It would attack anyone, regardless of if they had food. In the end, I used ot be able to walk around its enclosure, pet it, anything I wanted. Animals respond to human emotion, even rats. -
Hegemone said on Aug 11, 2009....
Well PC, I'm glad that you guys were able to get these little guys too then. It can be so traumatic if animals haven't been taken care of properly to begin with and then to go to new owners who don't know what they're doing. What lucky little guys. I bet they're adorable, they sound like a lot of fun too. Can't wait to see those pictures when the boys are tolerable enough for it. :-) -
secretlife said on Aug 11, 2009....
hey puss- i'm sure you know they can bite quite hard......so you might want to consider wearing gloves when you pick them up until they are used to being handled. i agree with your assessment that nobody really held them on a regular basis.....have fun! -
MsStar39 said on Aug 11, 2009....
What a lovable home you have provided for them PC. I can tell that you are going to give them lot's of love, looking forward to the pictures. -
pusscat said on Aug 12, 2009....
seer - that is so very true. All living creatures, including humans, will respond to kindness and love. I've got bucket loads for them :-)
Hege - I keep imagining if someone had got them just for their kids. Aero did try to bite me - ha - call that I bite I said to him lol! I've had tickles harder than that. I think he was just basically tasting me as he hasn't done it since. If he'd tried to bite a kid god knows what the parents may have done to him.
secret - hi there. At the moment their bite is not too hard but I will be careful. I didn't want to use gloves if I can help it as I want them to feel my warmth and get used to my smell but will use gloves if I have to.
MsStar - I just wanted them to have everything that I would want if I were a rat lol! I've made them some of those toys where if they roll them the treats come out. They're for when they come out to play in a few days or so.
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AutumnJade said on Aug 12, 2009....
awww! I love rats. Ok wait..pet rats. Regular, run of the mill. cross the street and actually stop traffic, kid of rats are gross. (fishermans warf after dark *shivers*)
We use dto have 3 rats. We had one of those big 3 teired cages and loved on them constantly. I took them everywhere with me. On the bus, to Golden Gate Park, to the store. I had a big satchel i carried them in and they loved it. Scared the snot out of an innocent bystander once or twice too *grins*.
I would love to get some again, but like you said, the pet stores are unscrupulous! I have had friends get rodents and reptiles from supposed "good" pet stores and they ended up sick or dead. It is sad and frustrating to make such an investment of the heart as well as the pocketbook and lose it.
I hope all goes well for you and the newest members of your family. Mazeltov!
AJ
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pusscat said on Aug 12, 2009....
Autumn - wow 3! I must admit there was another brother we left behind and I still keep thinking about him poor little might but, if he is like these two, it would have been too much for me to handle having to start from scratch with them. I loved the taking them out in a sachel ha ha! I can't wait till they trust me like that too :-) -
seer said on Aug 12, 2009....
Wow pusscat is online!
Hows things?
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Girlygirl said on Aug 12, 2009....
YAY!! I'm so excited for you PC...that is so great what colors are they? did you say? I might of missed it lol -
pusscat said on Aug 12, 2009....
Hey seer - only for a mo lol! I just feel so bloody drained. I guess it's cos I went to the docs and got my meds changed and went to see folk at work and it all get's too much sometimes. i'll post about it tomorrow as going to bed now (I know, I'm a wimp ;-)
Girly - they are known as black rats but they are actually a dark, slate grey. Zappa has a white star across his abdomen whereas Aero has the same mark but then it's elongated right up to his chin. When they remain still enough I will get some piccies. I have a few but want to get better ones :-)
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seer said on Aug 12, 2009....
YES! We demand piccies!!It must be shit feeling drained all the time. Hugs! -
travelr712 said on Aug 12, 2009....
i thought rats were a bad thing to have in your house, not pets... -
pusscat said on Aug 13, 2009....
Your a good friend seer :-) I promise piccies honest lol!
trav my man :-) Wild rats are definitely a bad thing to have in your house ha ha! These little domesticated cuties are a delight though. Aero is so funny. He pretends he's frightened of me and goes in the corner while I attempt to stroke him and he's stretching right up as if to get away then, when I stop stroking him he looks at me as if to say, carry on then ha ha!
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seer said on Aug 13, 2009....
I know a guy with a five feet long Boa. That isn't big to crush humans. Because the snake is 'free range' in his house, at night time he sometimes will get into bed with you (snakes are cold blooded, you see).
Once this guy brought a girl home, and when they were getting to 'business', he said "there is a five feet long snake loose somewhere in the house. Don't worry, he's harmless. Sometimes he gets into bed for a cuddle, because they're cold blooded, so you may wake up with a snake between us....".
She left.
So Trav, what would you rather have in your house? lol
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pusscat said on Aug 13, 2009....
Ha ha!! OMG that is a corker LOLOLOL!!
Mind you I know a few women who'd be quite happy with that ;-)
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