by Daria Filimonova

Alana adopted two girls from Rattie Ratz in January of last year. Before adopting her hooded girl, Clover, and her champagne girl, Willow, Alana had already had some experience with being a rat owner. She had previously rescued three boys named Remy, Gunn, and Otto when she was fifteen years old. Once her beloved Otto passed away, Alana was browsing Instagram when she saw a rat adoption event post from Rattie Ratz. While she says that she did not have any intention of adopting rats, going to the event just to meet other rat owners and play with the rats, in hindsight she says she should have known she wouldn’t be able to leave empty-handed, especially with how much she missed having rats.

“When I went to the adoption event, the two girls were a little shy at first. I was holding them and they seemed a little bit apprehensive at first, but then Willow ended up falling asleep in the crook of my arm for the entire time I was there at the event and I fell in love with the two. It just felt right having them there with me. After that, I felt I had no choice but to adopt them,” writes Alana about the experience.

Alana reserved the girls and went home to discuss with her roommates as well as get everything ready to bring new rats home––including getting out and sanitizing all of her previous rat essentials. Once Clover and Willow arrived, they showed off their personalities right away. Clover was outgoing from the beginning, wanting attention and treats from everybody. Willow was shy but warmed up to Alana once she realized Alana was the source of food and pets. She writes that her experience adopting for Rattie Ratz differed from her previous rat experience in that the boys she had rescued as feeders took longer to socialize, whereas the rescue did a good job making sure Clover and Willow were used to being handled, making the process a lot more smooth.

Clover remains a social butterfly even now. “Clover is very spunky and sweet, and loves every single person she meets,” writes Alana. “As a college student, we often had lots of friends over and Clover would get so excited to meet anyone and everyone. Every time the door opens and she is having playtime on the couch, she runs as close to the door as she can get to see who’s coming inside and to say hi to them, just like a dog.”

Willow on the other hand remained more calm and completely trusted Alana. “My sweet willow was very passive, snuggly, and a complete mama’s girl. Her social battery was a lot smaller than Clover’s, but she would let anyone she trusted sit and snuggle her forever. She loved running around in the grass and playing with her sister, and was the most tolerant and sweetest girl ever,” Alana writes about her precious girl.

It is with great sadness that Alana informs us that Willow crossed the rainbow bridge due to an inoperable mammary tumor––a very common health issue, with cancers being the most prevalent disease that forces rat owners to say goodbye. “The absolutely only singular downside to owning rats is their lifespan and health issues, which are unfortunately common. Pretty much every rat I’ve had in the past has developed tumors, and although I typically opt for removal, it isn’t always possible. Two to three years really isn’t enough time to spend with an animal that can have such an incredible impact on you. However, I’ve never had a rat and felt like the grief at the end wasn’t worth the love that I felt from them during their life,” Alana writes and echoes the thoughts of every rat owner.

In memory of Willow, Alana shares caring words: “She stayed herself up until the very end, and fought so hard. Me and Clover miss her every day, and I’m so happy I got to have her sweet self in my life. Clover and Willow balanced each other out so well and it was an honor to see their little friendship; they loved each other so much.”

Not wanting Clover to be lonely, Alana has since gotten her a friend named Juniper. The introduction with the four-month-old dumbo agouti went well, and now Clover and Juniper are fast friends. As for any new rat owners, Alana would like to advise that the most important thing to do is to savor the time you have with your little friends. “Savor every day, take them on walks, have your friends meet them. Let them play around you while doing homework, sitting on your phone––spend as much time with them as possible. They’re there for a small amount of your life but you’re their entire life and getting to know them as well as possible will give you a tiny little best friend that you will remember forever.”

For Alana, owning rats has been a pinnacle of her college experience just as much as college life itself. She has owned the girls since her junior year and has now graduated and she will always remember the joy they brought to her during this period in her life:

“Having rats is amazing, and I could never picture my life without them. They are so intelligent, affectionate, curious, and truly do become little best friends that fit in your pocket. Every rat I’ve ever had has genuinely had such a deep impact on me, and I absolutely believe they are one of the best pets to have. I bring them with me on walks around the neighborhood pretty much every day, where they get some sunshine, and I get to talk to people about how amazing these little creatures are. I’ve had so many people meet my rats who had never seen one up close before; their eyes are opened as to how amazing and sweet they are. The rats I adopted from Rattie Ratz I got my Junior year of college, and I just graduated. My rats got so many people in my life and at my school to love rats almost as much as I do, and they have been such a huge part of my time in college whether they know it or not.”

Thank you to Alana for sharing your ratties’ story with us. We wish the best for little Clover and Juniper!

If you would like to know more about Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their Facebook page. If you are interested in adoptable rats or volunteering for Rattie Ratz Rescue you can visit their website: www.rattieratz.com.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Rattie Ratz every month. You can also keep up with our pet articles by joining our KRL Facebook group. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Rattie Ratz.