by Daria Filimonova

In November of last year, Heather adopted two male rats from Rattie Ratz. She was interested in adopting rats because she had previous experience owning them as a college student and she loved it. When her son asked if he could get his own pet rats, their family made sure to start off on the right foot with the most important step in the adoption process—research! After Heather and her son researched how to properly care for pet rats, they were ready to provide the best possible life for their new family members. They ended up doing a very kind thing by taking in two senior rats who needed a home. They drove a few hours to pick up their new pets, along with all the supplies that came with them. It was a good start as new rat owners since the boys came with their old Critter Nation cage as well.

Heather recalls their first two seniors: “Ace and Jack were the best boys but we knew going into it our time with them would be limited. We loved those two senior boys and when we lost Jack we started our quest to add to our family.”

Buddy and Dot

I asked Heather what it was like when they first brought Buddy and Dot home, and she had a lot to share about their experience and how the boys’ personalities blossomed:

“In preparation of bringing the boys home we added another level to our Critter Nation cage. We kept the boys separate from our remaining senior boy for a few weeks and ultimately chose not to introduce them after finding a tumor on our old guy. Instead we set up a second cage for Ace. This allowed Ace to see the new boys and we made sure to spend a ton of time with him. Honestly, having new “roommates” really perked him up – even if he didn’t have direct contact with them due to his health. Our new boys started out on the shy side but were never hard to handle. They loved exploring and snacks – the way to their heart is definitely through their stomach! Every two weeks my son changes out everything in their double Critter Nation – giving them treat boxes, new hides, new hammocks, new climbing things, and a completely different layout. It’s SO fun to watch them explore their new settings. Each morning they look forward to the fresh fruit and veggies we serve them. They are so cute and interactive – the whole family enjoys spending time with them. They are so good at solving puzzles, fishing for peas and digging around in their dig boxes.”

Now, the rats are doing “fabulous,” and Heather says it’s hard to believe it’s already been a year with the boys. Both she and her son are having a great experience as rat owners. Heather notes that it takes a lot of commitment, though, calling it a “labor of love.” The best part of having rats, she says, is their fun personalities and the constant entertainment they provide. The hardest part, however, has been finding a reliable pet sitter when they travel. Luckily, Heather found someone who can spend time with them (and give them all the fresh fruit and veggies they love) during their trips. It gives her peace of mind to know that the ratties are well cared for.

Heather’s advice to new rat owners is to do plenty of research to be well-prepared and ready to invest time into setting up a stimulating cage environment for the rats. “They are curious and smart; they LOVE to be entertained. Mentally stimulated rats are happy rats,” Heather writes. She also recommends getting a “snuggy,” a wearable blanket, as the rats love it. Her son received one for Christmas, and Buddy and Dot adore spending time with him in the snuggy. They love it so much that Heather had to buy a second one so that the rats aren’t left without their favorite hangout spot while it’s in the wash!

Thank you to Heather for sharing her adoption experience and for telling us how Buddy and Dot are doing! We love hearing happy rat stories at Rattie Ratz.

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.