elytra ([info]rubyforests) wrote in [info]laceandflora,
2010-04-08 19:28:00

rats!!

this is my second post on this theme.
i have always really wanted a pet rat (or two, i've heard you're supposed to get two) and i think when i move this summer i might actually act on this.
does anyone here have ratties? i would love to hear about them!!
also, is it possible for rats and cats to coexist? my cat is very small.







:3














this is what i want, but my cat has recently discovered that she can kill things D:







also, in theory if you had a rat, could you take it everywhere with you like rich girls with tiny dogs in their bags?

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  • 20 comments

[info]outstare

April 9 2010, 00:34:59 UTC 2 years ago

I looooooved my rats, sooo much better than hamsters and such.

but I hated cleaning them, and whenever I let them run around they liked to nibble at things.
My poor bedsheets.

[info]panda_parfait

April 9 2010, 00:40:46 UTC 2 years ago

My eyes teared up as I looked through this post- I miss my rats so much!

[info]amaikaorii

April 9 2010, 01:21:21 UTC 2 years ago

I love rats so much! I used to breed them for awhile, I really miss having them, they're amazing pets! And yes you can carry them around with you. My first rattie I got before he was ready to leave his mother, the girl who had them was forced to get rid of them by her mother. I used to have to feed him from my mouth, because he was too little to eat by himself.

He used to live in my sweaters in the winter time, and he never once peed or pooped on me. But he would go when I set him down or gave him to someone else. :D

As for coexisting, it's possible, but I have three cats, and would never try it! My first rattie used to love our chihuahua though, and they would play for hours!

[info]lullabyspring

April 9 2010, 02:15:07 UTC 2 years ago

Ratties are sooooo cute! I love little rodents, but have mostly had hamsters. I had two rats that looked exactly like those in the second picture. My roomates cats were actually scared of going anywhere near them!

I'm not sure about everywhere, but I had a friend who would take his rat many places with him, he had a soft little carrying case for it and would just hold it in that or in his arms.

[info]sacrosankt

April 9 2010, 02:27:14 UTC 2 years ago

I had two rats. One of them died recently.

They're fantastic critters. They're extremely affectionate and smart.

When they were little, I'd take them for walks on my shoulders. When they got older I'd let them loose in my room and they'd get into all the furniture. Bubo used to run up to me when I was on the computer and bite my toe, and run away again.

No two rats are alike and they make the best companions.

[info]sayonaraophelia

April 9 2010, 03:16:06 UTC 2 years ago

Rats make the best pets. :)

[info]dig_your_self

April 9 2010, 03:20:09 UTC 2 years ago

aww! i love rats. they're really the sweetest things. i used to carry my old guy on top of my head.

[info]ohdear88

April 9 2010, 03:35:51 UTC 2 years ago

I love my rats. This is my favourite post ever.

[info]casriel

April 9 2010, 04:39:42 UTC 2 years ago

My brother was a backpacker, and he took his rat everywhere with him ^^ Although she eventually ran away after a time.. These photos are adorable, and beautiful, and some even elegant ♥

[info]teaology

April 9 2010, 06:15:02 UTC 2 years ago

aw. i love this post. :']



here's a shot of two of my three babies. one (the other two are dogs) being myra the ratty. i miss her dearly. rip♥

[info]pulse_fairy

April 9 2010, 14:46:50 UTC 2 years ago

i used to keep rats and they are the best pets x1000000. they are so smart and funny, i used to just tuck mine up the wrist of my sleeve and carry it around with me, and it used to sleep in my hood. they are much smarter than hamsters and even rabbits, and are really active and curious. you don't need to get two, but be warned: you must clean the cage every week cos their pee reeks, and they are really prone to illness: they aren't that hardy. they get cancers, respitory diseases, and parasites in particular. they do poo everywhere too, and i suspect heavily your cat would kill the rat. they are only friends if they grow up together, and even then they should only be around each other for small periods of time. there's a really good book called 'rats, for those who care.' that was invaluable to me. also, the cool thing about rats is you can get all different colours and patterns: i had a siamese one that was white with brown feet, nose and tale!

[info]nynniefroufrou

April 9 2010, 17:45:04 UTC 2 years ago

My bf just got me a rat for my birthday!
Photobucket

[info]spinbird

April 9 2010, 20:00:48 UTC 2 years ago

I had a pair of males, Grissom and Horatio, and they were the sweetest little pets. They're smart and gentle and so inquisitive.

[info]faefawn

April 9 2010, 21:16:55 UTC 2 years ago

This is such a sweet post ^^;
Rats are amazing pets, I have two males myself and they are so sweet and friendly, they're curious about everything and always want to explore. They're also very clever and they have their own very distinct personalities.

My own cats don't really bat an eyelid at my rats but I wouldn't leave them out alone together, I think it really depends on the temperment of the cat. You could try holding your rat close to the cat, let it smell the rat and just see how it goes. I think the key would be to very slowly and gently introduce them to eachother.

As for carrying them around, I think that would also have to depend on temperment. Some rats can be quite skittish I've found and might easily get away, I know one of my boys loves to jump and I wouldn't even put it past him to try and jump off my shoulder if I was walking around with him up there. My rats also don't like to go into sleeves like some do so that might not always be a possibility. I think if you raised them from very young to be carried around they would be okay though ^^

[info]skeenskool

April 10 2010, 02:07:48 UTC 2 years ago

Rats are awesome pets!
I have always had cats and have had pet rats consistently since 2001 (I got my first around 1994 and then took a break from them after he died). I have never had a problem with them co-existing. If anything, the cats have been afraid of the rats.

Right now I have 5 adult rats and a litter of 9 three-day old babies(it was an intentional litter; I have been breeding for several years and track my ratties throughout their lives). I can't imagine being without rats.
I had a rat who was trained to stay in a bag and she would ride around with me. I have one now who will climb onto my head and just hang out there.

They are super sweet, smart, and just great little friends.


[info]eexposed

April 10 2010, 03:34:11 UTC 2 years ago

Eee, I have a friend with a rat that she brings with her everywhere and she is the cutest creature ever.. super smart and hilarious and adorable when she burrows into my friend's (or my, or anyone's) hair and peeks out. :D I'm considering getting one but I'm not sure yet...

[info]mrs_rabbit

April 10 2010, 16:05:27 UTC 2 years ago

We just got a pair for my son. (Really they were more for my husband I think.) We are really enjoying finding new ways to play with them and fun activities.

[info]rideout_dbza

April 11 2010, 00:50:52 UTC 2 years ago

<3 <3 <3 if only they lived longer.. sooo loving

[info]rideout_dbza

April 11 2010, 00:54:55 UTC 2 years ago Edited:  April 11 2010, 00:55:52 UTC

PLEASE spare yourself much pain and get them from a breeder! Poor little pet-store ratties have too-short lives -- 2 or 3 yrs -- and suffer serious health problems at the end. But if you do get them at the pet store, just love them like crazy while you can. And give them 'hand time' (play time in your hands, petting) for at least half hour a day! (and yes, 2 is good)

[info]noa

April 11 2010, 22:08:10 UTC 2 years ago

i used to have rats. they are lovely lovely lovely. i would bring them around town with me in a messenger bag.
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