Comments on: Letting Rodents Into Your Life…

By: Michele

Michele — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:24:24 +0000

We used to have pet rats in the first grade, they were very fun. We’d be able to take them out of the cage sometimes.. at the beginning of the year they’d crawl through mazes we’d set up with bricks, and they’d do it relatively quickly. Once they got big enough though, they sort of just toppled them all over. It was cute.. I’ll probably get some kind of pet when I move out, although really I’m gravitating more towards dogs, I want someone to run with sometimes, and so many dogs have tons of energy… I’ll probably get a medium sized dog.

By: JOHN BROWN

JOHN BROWN — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:20:31 +0000

HEY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS SAYS IT ALL – STARRATS101, HOWEVER IT IS ASTRONOMY BASED, SPELLING STAR BACKWARDS ETC… I OR SHOULD I SAY WE (MY DAUGHTER) USED TO OWN 2 RATS AND THEY WERE VERY CLEAN AND VERY FRIENDLY. WE EVEN USED TO CARRY THEM SHOPPING WITH US CARRING THEM IN OUR FRONT SHIRT POCKETS. THEY ARE GREAT ATTENTION GETTERS.

By: Gale Siegel

Gale Siegel — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:47:37 +0000

Both rats and Guinea pigs are great pets. They are smart, affectionate, easy to care for, and relatively hearty. Baby Guinea pigs are born with fur and their eyes are open from birth. They actually look like miniature adults. I would stay away from hamsters and gerbils, though. They are more fragile and you never know exactly where they have been (eg. Richard Gere.) ;)

By: debbalee

debbalee — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:41:26 +0000

Yes, I do live in a SAD-prone area, but given that a rat in our area – somebody’s pet – recently infected a local vet with leptospirosis to the point that he was hospitalized in critical care, I think I’ll take my chances with my cats.

By: n2y2

n2y2 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:40:03 +0000

I have had numberous pet rats over the years. They are personable and friendly and quite intelligent (more so than some of the rodents I work with). I have trained every rat I owned to come to a wistle, like any dog. I would let them wander the house and when I whistle, the come running. I didn’t even loose too many things to chewing.

The trouble is that their lives are too short. They are notoriously prone to cancer, and that is not a pleasant way to have your loved pet go. I will probably not get another one because I grew weary of saying goodbye.

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:31:55 +0000

My first pair of rats were the best. I’d take them to the beach, set them on the sand, and take a walk down the beach…and they followed me! So cute!

By: becky

becky — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:26:59 +0000

yeah, not the best pic, but it’s a lightbox. really have to take one of those for a spin; my childhood on the tundra was pre-lightbox! and love all the great rat stories–makes me want to rent “the rats of nimh” again. dom deluise: so amazing.

By: Mary McClavey

Mary McClavey — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 04:20:06 +0000

(sigh) Guess it must be a lightbox.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:35:41 +0000

We have been blessed to discover ratties after moving from that rat free province Alberta (Canada). I had never seen a live rat in my life before and went in to the pet store looking for a hamster after my rabbit died. The lady in the pet store introduced us to two sisters and when she told us what they were, we nearly freaked but after about 10 minutes, we were sold and now have 5 (the last 3 being rescues, one destined to be snake food). There is so much to say about these little critters but all I really can say is that I will own (or they will own me) rats for the rest of my life (even if I do go back to Alberta… SHHHHHH don’t tell them…) Clean, friendly, smart, cuddly and sociable. My husband calls them the poor man’s dog…. Love them to death.

By: Marci

Marci — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:32:19 +0000

Rats are fantastic pets! They’re clean, intelligent, and incredibly friendly.

Nothing beats a rat snorgling in your ear after it decides that you need to be cleaned.