by Stephanie Cameron

Stephanie Cameron is a volunteer with Rattie Ratz Rescue in the bay area of California. Each month KRL will be featuring a column from Rattie Ratz.

For the month of December, I have decided to mix things up a bit, and while we will still be sharing a special story about two very special boys, this month the boys featured are not Rattie Ratz Rescue alumni. Instead, we have two boys who were lucky enough to find a great human mom who spoils them rotten. Rattie Ratz was introduced to these boys when their mom, Monica, had some questions about introducing a third rat to the party so she emailed the rescue for some guidance.

One of the wonderful things about Rattie Ratz Rescue is that we are not only an adoption organization, but also a resource for the entire rat community. Regardless of living near or far (we’ve had rat owners contact us from as far away as South Africa!) if you have a rattie question, our wonderful volunteers will do their best to help you and give you the resources needed to make sure all of our rattie friends live a long and healthy life with their human families.

In the spirit of the holidays, I will be showcasing Monica’s boys Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Naughty. These two boys, as their names suggest, have very different personalities. Monica describes her boys, saying: “You’ve heard the old saying, “opposites attract?” Well, this could not be truer for my two fur babies, Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Naughty. These two best friends were adopted together at 6 weeks of age and are true soulmates. I had no idea how much and how differently their individual personalities would develop over the next year.”

Mr Pinkerton – AKA Mr. P (hairless – no surprise there! -) is the quiet and sensitive rat who likes to enjoy long naps in his plush cozies and taking breaks to observe the outside world from the safety of his cardboard mansion. A quick peak out of his house to confirm the world is still as it should be, and back in he goes! When he isn’t napping or observing, Mr. Pinkerton’s favorite hobby is nesting. Monica recounts how – “Shredding newspaper, making piles, fluffing the piles, rearranging the piles and making a cozy home for himself and Mr. Naughty. Mr. P is a gentle soul, picky eater, likes to keep things clean and tidy, and loves nothing more than to groom and snuggle up next to his soul-mate, Mr. Naughty.”

Unlike Mr. P, Mr. Naughty (Himalayan), is a fierce and bold rat who, as the name suggests, can be quite naughty when he wants to be – but don’t worry, we’ve made sure he’s on Santa Paws’ Nice List! He is always the first man … um… rat… on the scene and he loves to explore. He has to know what everybody is doing at all times and has the most fun when he is in the middle of the action. “He has a large appetite for food and life.” Mr Naughty is a confidant boy who knows no fear and makes sure his family is taken care of. Monica tells us that “His favorite past times include chasing the cat, stealing food right of Mr. Pinkerton’s mouth, shoulder and sleeve surfing, giving kisses and grooming his fur mom, getting into the container herb garden to throw around dirt, and finding new ways to be naughty!”

It’s obvious that Monica loves her boys dearly. She enjoys “Crocheting them sleepy-time cozies, making mazes and box fortresses for them, and having them out of their cage for free playtime.” Being that these boys are so special it stands to good reason that their human mom wants to do the best she can for them, which is why she reached out to Ratttie Ratz for some advice.

Although they didn’t come through the doors of Rattie Ratz, Mr. Pinkerton and Mr Naughty deserve a feature just as much as our Rattie Ratz fosters, showcasing their own happy adoption story. One thing is for sure, there won’t be any coal in these boy’s stockings, but there may be a crocheted cozy or two!

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 other 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.

Stephanie Cameron works and lives in the Bay Area, and has been active in the rat rescue community for a number of years. She got her first pair of rats – sisters named Snowflake and Diamond – when she was eight years old. In her spare time she enjoys reading, walking her dogs, traveling, discovering fantastic vegan recipes, and singing in the shower.