As you might have guessed from the footprints, I am a rat fan - right from when we got our first two. Officially I was just the co-owner and cleaner and my two boys were the main 'owners'.
Most of my friends are still not too keen about rats. Some say its the tails that give them the creeps, others have read too many horror stories and think of rats as dirty disease ridden things :-(
We enjoyed having them, although they were only with us for a few years. The only thing that was not good about them was their tendency to gnaw things. Things like the television cable! Also, we have a wall unit that they trimmed in order to be able to go behind it. Our books were in mortal danger every day as the ratlets easily climbed onto the bookshelves. We found out too late that it is difficult to ratproof everything!
It was amazing to see them squeeze into and out of the tiniest gaps - in cage or out and about in the house. But no matter where they wandered, they would always come running at the sound of a treat box being rattled.
It was very difficult when they got poorly. One of them survived against the odds for months by being hand fed on mushy cat food with vitamin drops (as recommended by the vet).
In the end though, we decided it was kindest to have her put to sleep as she was finding it very hard to breathe and get around.
Her sister survived but pined for her and also began to show signs of the same illness so we decided not to get more ratty company and in time she also passed on. This was a slightly more dramatic event and was very sudden. Both boys were very upset as each of their pets passed on, but time passes and now they just enjoy the memories - like me.
Behind the bookcase - trying not to look guilty!
The ratties did not stand still while people were trying to take photos of them - ever.
Although we did occasionally manage to catch them unawares.
They liked exploring.
THE END