Search results

Maybe you could compromise by wearing a big hoodie and letting them play in the sleeves. They get their adventure and you get a sorta cuddle!

I don't know that it's possible for anyone to definitively say what may have happened, but I can say that I very much doubt her sisters killed her. My understanding is the tearing was likely part of their attempt to dispose of her remains after she passed. I've read that rats will occasionally...

First, your choice of names are very, very cute. Regarding anxiety about their health -- I can definitely relate. For me, personally, just joining this forum and hearing from and reading the experiences of fellow rat lovers helped massively. My other suggestion is to find a vet you really...

I'd probably avoid it. I think the beads tend to break apart pretty easily, so I'd be worried about some accidental consumption of the little, broken pieces while playing. I doubt the beads are easily digestible, so enough of that could lead to a risk of intestinal blockage. It's probably not a...

Since you don't have the funds to buy another cage right away, I wouldn't get too stressed. Give them fun things to do in this one -- have fun getting creative with the space. And have fun spending time with your girls outside of their cage. Honestly, rats are so dang smart that my favorite...

Admittedly, all of my intros have been pretty easy, so may not be the best to give advice here. But I think you might be going a bit faster than this group of girls can handle. While there are general guidelines on the timing of the steps of an introduction, every rat is different and you'll...

I admittedly know next to nothing on the topic, but this all sounds a little eerily similar to the symptoms of a toxoplasma gondii infection. I think the classic symptom in rats is a reduction in fear toward cats and, more specifically, an attraction to cats. I don't know anything about the...

I'm so happy to read that you're already in touch with your lawyer. Are there any special protections for emotional support animals in your area? If you do need to keep sneaking your rats out for the time being, maybe you could get one of those fashionable pet carriers. They have some that...

Most of my guys haven't had a preference. I did have one boy who absolutely loved it when people sang to him. Maybe that's just because I would sing constantly while he napped/cuddled on my lap so maybe he made some sort of association with singing/cuddling/feeling nice. I always liked to...

I’ve been meaning to reply to this thread! I also had to deal with a long-distance move. There are a few things I wish I could have done better, but I can share my experience if it helps at all. It sounds like you’re really feeling nervous at the moment and I can assure you it will be okay! If...

Rats are very inquisitive. I personally wouldn't rely on just trusting them to stay in the cage if there's any way for them to get out and explore. For now, I'd advise fixing up the cage by affixing some hardware cloth around the outside of it or something of that nature. You might be able to...

Welcome! I usually leave replies to more experienced members, but I think you should see this ASAP. If the rats are over 12 weeks old, you need to make introductions gradual otherwise they could feel threatened suddenly sharing space with a stranger and one of them could get hurt. I’ve...

Another great thread, SQ! Even those of us who don’t bring our guys and gals out often can benefit from a read through for those instances when it’s inevitable (like going to the vet) so we have a better idea how to plan. I really appreciate ViciousCurse’s contribution as well – particularly the...

Look up the DFW Rat Rescue (https://www.dfwratrescue.org/). There's a thread about it here: https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/dfw-rat-rescue.35349/ There are a lot of rats in need of homes right now! You can also always check local shelters.

Thank you so much for putting this together! The idea of snakes and other predators getting into my apartment and at my ratties through the cage honestly never occurred to me before this.

Thanks, jorats! I'm hoping he was just telling me to stop but I'll be keeping an extra close eye on him to monitor anything else that might indicate health concerns.

Double post. Super quick update -- I adopted two absolutely perfect boys a long while back. They're maybe about a year-and-a-half old and I love them to bits (I'll have to post some pictures in the registry). Introductions were frighteningly easy and they've been living in peace for months...

I'm with SQ. There are a lot of little things that could go wrong that we might not even consider right away. Finding pet sitters for exotics seems a little daunting but it doesn't seem quite so bad with rats. I personally haven't ever used a professional sitting service but before I moved to...

I'm really sorry to hear about your girl! I can't say anything with regard to what might have happened but I've heard of the cannibalization sort of behavior in some rats as an attempt to get rid of the body to ensure that it doesn't draw in predators. I think it may have just been instinctual...

@SQ: Hearing that many of you have had this experience in the past is encouraging! I'm hoping to contact his foster family soon to find out more about him so hopefully I'll know more about him soon. Thank you so much for the reply!