Back in the Day I Had Rats... (old pics)

[Cait]

Hey all! As you can tell by the unusual spike in Cait sightings around RS, I have a day off with nothing to do but visit with my lovely rat forum family. I was looking through some pictures, and ran across some of my rats I had way back when. I miss them! When we moved from SC to Iowa, I was unable to take them with me, but they all were placed into lovely homes and I still remain in contact with their new moms and dads.

But, anyway, I know what would make me happy and maybe perhaps entertain you guys, too. Pictures! Yesssssss!

First: my first rat, Ernie. Who was a she. I did EVERYTHING wrong with this girl... No friend, cedar... However, she lived for about 2 years. That was... 5 years ago. I still can't believe she lasted as long as she did with me, though.

Picture of pictures... G-h-e-t-t-o. You can see she wasn't a very happy girl. Lived in a tank, too! These make me feel horrible, but I won't lie that it didn't happen. She was such a nice baby.

I didn't have rats for some time after her. I (THANKFULLY!) researched them for some time before I ventured with my next two, Sambora and Hendrix. They were petstore buys... Both boys are now gone, but they lived long happy lives well cared for. Sam was the PEW, and Hendrix was the black hooded.

Then, we upgraded our cage to the Superpet 2x2 with 4 levels. And the thing felt so empty... I sought out a breeder and found one in Augusta, GA, and my 2 became 7!! I added Luther, a black hooded rex, Isaiah, an agouti dumbo rex, and Gigalo, a double hairless guy. Plus, 2 rescue boys whom the breeder had been fostering, Extra, a PEW, and Houston, a black berkshire.

Extra and Houston, lovable brothers!

Houston

Extra

Baby Isaiah and baby Gigalo. Gosh they were SO tiny!!!

Baby Luther

Big ol Sam and baby Gigalo

Boys getting to know eachother

Gigalo's first outside photos

Isaiah's, too. They were the babies!

A little later, a woman was loudly complaining about a baby rat she had, and that she wanted to be rid of it. So I took the poor dear off her hands. He was 4 weeks old, the cutest thing you'd ever seen. He was no bigger than a mouse! Chad was like a breath of fresh air for all of the boys. They all babied him and let him get away with just about anything.

Tiny baby Chad!

Is and Chad

A pretty popular picture of baby Chad... "I hab to wee, Mam!!"

And then it seemed like the family was complete!!

Luther and Isaiah

Sam and Extra, getting cheerios

Extra and Houston, big guys now!

Sam, getting fatter!

Is, getting personal with a rat beanie baby

Hendrix, Sam, and Luther

Bath-times were very eventful times!

The extremes: Sam and Hendrix, my old, fat rat men, and baby Chad

Lurkers

Kisses for mommy!

Out and about

Luther

Yogurt, and a much older and bigger Chad.

Then, old man Hendrix passed away. Sam was never really the same after that.

Individual shots. Everyone is much older and bigger!

Yes, this is baby Chad!

Extra

Gigalo

Houston

Isaiah

And here is that same beanie baby

Luther

Big bad Sam

Goofing off at Easter

Is: "What?"

Houston

My sister and Chad. Both are such hams!!

Then, we had one last addition: Wonky, a rescue from deplorable conditions at a pet store. He had been there for MONTHS, all alone in a ten gallon tank. He blossomed into a loving fatty and fit in wonderfully with everyone!

Another bath!

My trick to get them to take meds

I know it was a lot... Ok MANY pictures, but.. Hopefully you enjoyed them!

 

[jorats]

Wow!!! You've had some real beauties... I love Luther!!
I really enjoyed all those pics!!

 

[Fidget]

Wow!!! You've had some real beauties..

Raisins!!! That's exactly what I was gonna say!
Yup, you surely have, and you have the benefit of the heart-sight too that we don't.

I started out thinking "oh, I have to comment about that picture" then the next one, and the next one.... heck, I'd be at it all day.

So I'll just say that's a captivating retrospective of your babies, and most enjoyable to ooooh & aaahh over.

I'm glad you kept contact with your kid's new people. I think that's really good for both sides, I've always loved to be able to share my kids with their former people.

And Ernie.... Heck, in the beginning my ratties lived at worst 4 in birdcage, and I thought it was a great home cause I filled it with stuff they could fit in and enjoy. Didn't know they liked some space too
Though I was doing right by buying Walmart pine/cedar mix too instead of using free newspaper. I was doing alright according to the little books on 'owning a rat' I bought. And their diet? People food.

I don't understand it, but they seemed to live as long as the ones I've had since I got a computer and found ratsites But they don't live in a maze anymore and I've learned a lot....

 

[mamarat]

Wow those are gorgeous babes. I really enjoyed your pictures.

 

[ratamataz]

Wow, C-U-T-E!!!!!
Such dolls you've had!

 

[Nickelrat]

Truly great pictures!! I thoroughly enjoyed them all!! :love6:

 

[LA]

WOW those are awesome pictures. What Sweeties.

 

[rainbowbrat23]

OMG Isa was the cutest!!!

 

[Cait]

Thanks, guys! Those boys were my heart... I loved them all so much, it just about killed me to have to find them new homes... So I vowed never to get rats again until I KNEW I'd be able to have them their whole lives. So I wouldn't have to do that again.

 

[Melissa]

Awww. They are all beautiful!

 

[jennifer]

The second picture of baby Chad on the purple towel is soooooo cute, you should enter it in a photo contest. I'd buy any calendar with that picture in it. So perfect and soooo cute!!!

 

[jennifer]

i had to enjoy them a second time around and i think i fell in love with little chad. he's the cutest little photogenic rat!!!

 

[Cait]

Chad was the cutest little baby ever, and he was SUCH a lovey boy. He was the one that craved attention, that begged for pets and who always ran to me even when they were free ranging. He lives with a great woman named Paula, who also has Wonky, and his new name is Dallas. He is HUGE!! I shall have to ask her to send me some recent pictures... I got to see them both on webcam, and they both are montrous big boys!!