My Lovely Rats

I just thought I’d make a post about the fact that rats are as individual as we are, having different tastes and eccentricities. For example, if the rats are out exploring on the floor, and I feel one pounce onto my back, I know without looking that it is Rocky. He always climbs onto my left shoulder and sniffs my ear, then more often than not he nibbles my ankle in the same place every time! I’m not sure why he does this, but my boyfriend is getting jealous! From the very beginning I’ve always worn shoes when the rats are about as they seem to be overly fond of the taste of feet!

Rocky enjoys Cycling

Stripe is always the first to greet me at the cage bars, and when I hold him he tends to flop in my hands and tolerates me stroking him alot longer than the others. He’s probably the most submissive of my rat family, and the most human-friendly. He always runs up my chest and gives me ratty kisses on my nose which is very endearing

Shy-Shy seems to have more of a wild streak in him, and squirms to get away if I hold him, although he never hesitates to run to me if I call him, and will happily climb up onto my shoulder, where he likes to be carried about. He’s the most active of all of the boys, and his ears and whiskers never stop twitching. If I have food with me Shy-Shy will shoot towards me like a rocket, and eat out of my hand.

Shy-shy scouts out area Shy-shy getting better view

Pip, or Pipsy as I fondly call him, is a bit shy and enjoys his food, is always the last out of the cage, and first to hide if there is a funny noise or the kids are being too excitable. He tends to lounge about most of the time, or follow his brothers about when he’s feeling more energetic. If there’s a scrap between the rats though, Pip can hold his own! He’s the strong silent type. If I call him, he will come along cautiously, and creep up onto my lap via the side of me. He usually gives me a brief salutary sniff and then hides under my leg.

Today my rats have been mostly eating small coconut pieces and grapes.

Tags: Behaviour by admin
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It is probably no surprise that rats learn to recognise their own names. One day the four brothers were relaxing in their giant pink checked “beehive” (an abhorrent choice of rat decor - I admit), when I decided to test out the theory that they had learnt their own names. I called Stripe first, and he emerged all bright-eyed and enthusiastic (probably thought there was food being offered), then one at a time I beckoned the others out of the beehive and each answered to his own name.

“I know there’s scrambled egg around here somewhere”

Learning names is one thing - but last week Shy-Shy learnt the phrase “Do you want to play on the floor?” Every day their play-time begins on the table, as this is the easiest place to let them get used to us, but after a short time they get agitated and want to explore. As soon as I say “Do you want to play on the floor?” Shy-Shy belts over to me like a caffeine-induced whippet, and launches himself onto my person (he knows I will place him gently on to the floor).

“Are you looking at me?”

I am convinced that the ratties also know the words “out to play”, “scrambled egg” and most definitely: “eggy custard”!

“I’m lost”

My daughter is actively encouraging this penchant for human speech in the rats, and she is teaching them more useful words from the English language like “Happy Birthday Daddy”!

“Mmm.. time for escape plan B”

Today my rats have been mostly eating mashed banana in milk and popcorn pieces.

Tags: Intelligence, Behaviour by admin
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