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I find that all rats have different personalities and what one loves another hates! I used to spend lots of money buying hammocks which they would chew overnight and it would resemble bedding in the morning. I have been using various things that I search the charity shops for and if they get destroyed then it doesnt matter because not much money was paid out in the first place. I find childrens stockings (christmas ones) are a favourite along with baby hats, these can be washed in the machine if not eaten. Small backpacks are a source of amusement, especially if they have several large compartments and even the largest, laziest buck cant resist nosing around and seeing what it is all about!! Variety definately seems to be the spice of life with my rats and they cant wait to get back after the weekly stripdown of the cage to see what is new and what sort of trouble they can find! A sewing machine has also proved to be a good investment and many different play things get made with some old material and imagination....but I have to be in the mood!


It has been my experience that rats I have got from pet shops have lived less than rats that have been obtained through a
breeder or have been bred by myself. My first rats were all 'pet shop' rats, the usual hoodeds and mismarks that you see in
every window and the oldest of them lived to be 23 months, with the average being about 14-19 months. I have found that breeders
rats seem to live to an average of 2 and a lot have almost made 3! It is easier to check the background from a breeder and
in most cases if there are any problems then you can always go back to a breeder who will usually be pleased to help and offer
advice. A lot of the pet shop rats I see are not handled a lot, if at all, and they have obviously not had the start that
a lot of breeders rats will have done with extra food being given and higher protein diets offered to make them big, strong
healthy adults. (I have got rats from pet shops who stole my heart and I hope that they will live long lives and I will do
whatever I can to help them!!!)



Elmo on the prowl


The main reason that I keep rats is as pets. I hope that I will start winning a few rosettes again and have some successes
with my breeding with time but as you can see all my rats are members of the family and running around the furniture is second
nature.....if I didnt get them out for a cuddle every day then I think there would be trouble.



Moose and Elmo think there must be either a treat or a cuddle on the way and both want to be first regardless.


All of our rats are fed a basic diet of alpha herbal deluxe rabbit which is 95% of the mix and I add some dried pasta, a few dog chocolate drops, both white and milk, a complete rat pellet and some monkey nuts. The extras are only in minimal amounts but just enough that each day the rats will find a slight variation and to date the bucks eat every last scrap and are always eager at around feeding time to be first one out! They also get a treat bowl which consists of eggs in various ways, cereal, vegetables, fruit, dog meat, fresh meat and fish, the odd chicken carcass, bones from the joint, etc etc. They all seem to do very well on the food and in moderation they seem to get a balanced diet and to date no spots....

It has taken many years and many pounds to find what they will and wont eat and there are many 'rat' foods around that I found they would refuse no matter how long I tried to give it to them. Rats can be very stubborn if they so choose.


All of the cages are wiped out every day and spot cleaned and once a week they are dismantled and cleaned in the bath with soap and water and everything is sterilized and re-arranged.

On the daily clean a hoover is used and the rats seem to love playing with the nozzle when it is on and the noise really excites them.


That sleep totally wore Yogie out, better have a rest before tea time!


Ferplast and Supapet do lots of tubes that the rats love and with some imagination a maze can be built which they will explore with enthusiasm....the rats can climb up and around tubes that you would think impossible....as in the photo of the tubes attached to the cage which the boys love almost as much as they do their food bowl...ok, maybe not almost as much but they do love it!!


What could be more perfect as a play mate than a willing friend.....Monty loved the dolls house and although no dolls ever lived there he was a frequent visitor.  Sadly he made more mess than the dolls and everything needed a good clean once he had finished. 


In every generation there are favourites....it doesnt matter how hard I try there are just some personalities that shine through
the others. Monty was such a rat and used to love being with people and would travel around in the sleeve of my coat. He
could tell you when it was time to collect Christine from school as he would be at the front of his cage waiting patiently
for my arm to be inserted and up he would climb. He would just sit there with his nose poking out when the weather was fine and would stay snug and tucked away when it was cold or wet.  Unfortunately he would love to see what was happening so if I stopped he would shoot up to my neck and look out....not so good when you were trying to sneak him into the shop to buy the ice creams!!