Wanna know what to with Peas?

One of my ratties Rizzo favourite toy was a ball for cats with a little bell in it. It also had several holes on it, so what I would do is put some peas in the ball and let Rizzo figure out how to take them out and eat them. The challenge is good mental stimulation for them, and it's certainly very fun to watch.

What a neat Rat toy!

Getting a Rat or 2? Heres a must have shopping list:

- A big cage (at least 2 square foot of space per rat should be allowed) Martins cages are great, apparently, in the US. Shelves etc. to maximise space are necessary too.

- Toys!! Mine love tubes and leap n' ledges, and also plastic baskest that I attach with cable ties. (zip ties) You can also get ropes and loads of other stuff. The rats have stolen all of the cat's little jingle-ball-toys. they play soccer with them.

- Hammocks! Rats love hammocks, really love them. These are vital....

- Maybe some daily vitamins? Am not sure what you can get, but here (UK) lots of ratty owners use 'Dr Squiggles Daily Essentials' and give this to their rats two or three times a week. It goes in their drinking water.

- A book - Debbie Ducommon's books are very informative, especially her 'Rat Health Care' book. There are also other good rat books out.

- Have a vet 'lined up' and picked out, 'just in case'.

- Baby wipes (fragrance free) are great for 'spot cleaning' cage shelves etc and you can also use them to give a rat a quick wipe over if the ratty gets a bit pongy.

- A basic first aid kit. Perhaps some animal antibacterial powder in case of injury and a cohesive bandage. Maybe also some ferretvite in case of problems with appetite etc.

A reputable rat breeder is always better than a pet shop too - you rat is more likely to be healthy and live longer if it's breeder knows it's heritage. Or a rescue, of course - rescuing rats is rewarding, and rescues often have young rats.

...and Welcome to the Rattie community!

Exotic Rat Food!

There is natural pet rat food being sold thats Vitamin enriched.

The products natural ingredients are:Cross cut carrots, raisins, apple slices, diced papya, safflower oil, puffed corn, rolled corn, pumkin seed, shelled peanuts, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, zinc oxide, puffed wheat, banana chips, whole wheat, small red beans, rolled barley, whole corn, alfalfa pellets, peanuts in shell.

You can purchase the food here at www.greenpets.com.

Natural for you, natural for your rattie!

If it squeaks, it's welcome!

Cages line the back room of the modest ranch house tucked along West Cone Boulevard. It doesn't take long to realize it's a motel of sorts.

Welcome to the offices of Rodent Rescue & Adoption of the Triad, a new agency devoted to the local protection of all God's varmints. What an active place it is.

Rats. Mice. Gerbils and hamsters. If it squeaks, it's welcome.

And for families who move into apartments with "no pet" policies, or for parents whose kids get tired of their creatures, this is the place to send 'em.

"In the last few years, it's become more acceptable to have a rat as a pet. Kids are always like 'Cool, a rat!' " said Michelle Pritchett, who launched RRAT in August out of her West Cone Boulevard home. "After I show the parents how great a rat is, they become attached themselves."

That's no easy feat.

Hamsters and gerbils have always been popular as starter pets. Rats, however, sometimes raise eyebrows when suggested as family companions.

Often associated with the bubonic plague that swept across medieval Europe, rodents have always shouldered a bum rap. It was the rats' fleas that spread "black death" to the millions of people who perished -- not the toothy animal itself.

Speaking of teeth, pet rats rarely bite, Pritchett said. They do, however, need a chewing device to maintain the incisors that grow nonstop through life.

The critters reach anywhere from 9 to 11 inches long, not including tails, and can live up to three years if properly reared. And rats take top cheese for intelligence when stacked against other varmints.

"Rats are wonderful, especially if handled from a young age," Pritchett said. "They're very social, very intelligent and can be trained to do tricks."

Pritchett provides shelter for the animals and handles adoption paperwork. Her quasi-partner, Alicia Smith, runs the Web site that features animals looking for owners. Their pets can also be found at Petfinder.com.

The women say theirs is only the second rescue organization in the state devoted exclusively to rodents. It's modeled after efforts in Raleigh, where Pritchett has spent time volunteering.

Pritchett has experience with all types of animals. She's volunteered with the SPCA and worked as a veterinary technician.

RRAT plans to participate in an adoption festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at New Garden Landscaping and Nursery. Pritchett said she hopes to find homes for many of her foster pets.

In the brief period Rodent Rescue & Adoption of the Triad has been around, Pritchett has found homes for two rats and two guinea pigs. She may try to convert her agency to a registered nonprofit.

"Pets improve people's lives, even if it's just a mouse," she said. "It's something you hold dear to your heart, and it makes you happy."

Rats are becoming popular pets!