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I Love Rats

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My Life With Pet Rats

Ever since I was 11 years old my passion has been for pet rats. Since then I have been owned my 9 rats over the years. These amazing creatures have changed my life. You may be wondering what it is about rats that I find so wonderful, or what I actually do when I obsess over rats. This lens will answer those questions and hopefully make you like rats a little more too.

Why I Love Rats as Pets

Rats make great pets because:

  1. They are friendly. Rats love playing and snuggling with their owners. They can recognize their owners and bond with them. Pet rats will never bite if they have been properly socialized and treated kindly.
  2. They have unique personalities. Every rat has a different, distinguished personality. I have never had two rats that were exactly the same. This means you can bond with your rats as individuals. Rats also have different moods, and are very human-like. People are always amazed when I can tell how my rats are feeling, but it is true!
  3. They are cute. Adults, babies, dumbo, rex, albino...they are all so adorable!
  4. They are clean (they can easily be litter trained). I have never had anyone complain about my rat cages smelling (even people who thought they hated rats).
  5. They are smart. Rats can be taught tricks, like stand up, clap, spin, fetch, jump through a hoop, and lots more.
  6. They are entertaining. As long as you give rats attention and toys they will never be 'boring.' However, if you give your rat a boring cage and don't play with your rat, then the rat will get depressed and lazy and not do anything. Rats need to be stimulated!

Rats Are the Best Pet (at least for me)

Rats are very unique pets that possess many great elements of other pets:

1. Rats are playful and can learn tricks like dogs.
2. Rats can be cuddley and enjoy being pet like cats.
3. Rats can sit on your shoulder as you walk around like parrots.
4. Rats are beautiful and fun to watch like fish.

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How I Spend Time Obsessing Over Rats

Rat Related Activities

A double level house I sewed for my rats1. Playing with my rats: I spend a lot of time playing with my rats when they are out for free range time. I build them forts, chase them around with my hand, and hide treats for them.
2. Cuddling with my rats: When either me or the rats aren't up for running around we just cuddle together on the couch. Once rats get a little older they enjoy being pet and cuddled.
3. Making things for my rats: I sew my rats hammocks, tunnels, and beds; and build them cages, houses and ladders out of wood. I even bake them special treats. Having rats has really brought out my creativity (sewing, woodworking, cooking)
4. Photographing my rats: It can be difficult to get good pictures of hyper rats, but when I do it is so rewarding. I love being able to capture an adorable moment.

Amazon Spotlight Personal Review

This is a hanging cube bed for rats.
Cozy Cube

Cozy Cube

Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Rats love cozy places to hide and sleep. Cube's work very well as they are comfy, they look great, and they are machine washable. I have never actually bought one of these (I sew everything for my rats), but if you don't have the time or materials to sew your own I highly recommend buying one. All rats seem to love these.

My Beautiful Rats

Meet my rats!

Nimble, my most agile, daring rat. She could climb anything!

Nimble, my most agile, daring rat. She could climb anything!

Nimble, my most agile, daring rat. She could climb anything!
Mozie, my clumsy, goofy, entertaining rat.
Mylu, my baby rat that passed away much too young.
Koko, my sleek, adventurous rat.
Loki, my fuzzy sweetheart.
Radigan and Milligan, brothers I adopted after living most of their lives in a pet store.
Ezzie, the second rat I had. She was Olly's younger sister.
Olly, the first rat I ever had.

Rat Photography

My Homemade Rat Cages

I combined two of the original cages to make one giant one for the two rats I have now, Koko and Loki.

I combined two of the original cages to make one giant one for the two rats I have now, Koko and Loki.

I combined two of the original cages to make one giant one for the two rats I have now, Koko and Loki.
Koko and Loki's first cage.
Nimble and Mozi's cage.
An extra mini cage.

Make Things For Your Pet Rats

My Other Rat Lenses

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Love Rats? Please Share

  • Planit_Origasmi Jun 1, 2012 @ 12:11 am | delete
    Rats rock and so do your lenses! :)
  • keepingscore May 31, 2012 @ 1:24 pm | delete
    Adorable! My friend had rats, but they weren't nearly as cute as the ones you have! My favorite pic. is of your white rat when she's wet because of the grumpy glare she is giving! Haha
  • danniblaze May 31, 2012 @ 7:29 am | delete
    Your rat pictures are so cute. Love them
  • ScottiesRock May 21, 2012 @ 7:18 am | delete
    Thanks for opening my eyes on Rats. I never realized that they could be cute. :)
  • FallenAngel_483 May 18, 2012 @ 8:08 pm | delete
    Your lens is lovely and little Nimble looks a bit like my little rescue girl Misty. Thanks for sharing your ratty photos, they're so cute.
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JessyGene

My name is Jessy and my greatest passion is pet rats.

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