We have two new family members :

 

Sparky - Matilda We have a couple of photos, hopefully we’ll have some more in the next few weeks as the rats get a bit more comfortable around us and easier to get good photos of.

Sparky is about 12 weeks old, and originally came accompanied by a rat we named Belinda, who was a bit vicious and bit her constantly, as well as the rest of us! We got them from fish and Feather in Kilsyth, who were more than happy to take Belinda back the next day. Unsolicited plug - as well has being cooperative with that, we went in a number of times prior to actually getting the rats, for pricing and information, and as well as always being able to speak to someone who was professional and well informed, we found every staff member without exception to be cheerful, friendly and helpful.

We had to wait for the next batch of baby rats to come in, when they did we got Matilda, who is now about 8 weeks old and a fair bit smaller than Sparky. Doesn’t stop her trying to wrestle with her though.

Why rats? We don’t have time to properly walk, train, clean and play with a dog. We like dogs, but Enigma is much happier now that she has space to run (she lives with Mon’s dad and his partner, who have several acres), other dogs around and a human for company 90% of the time. With both of us working, any dog we get would just end up insane with loneliness and boredom like she did.

Birds are more annoying than enjoyable, seeds and poo everywhere and squawking and tweeting at all sorts of times, and just not that intelligent or interesting. Fish are more of a decoration than a pet - better off spending $10 on a fishy screensaver and put a spare old computer in the living room, it would be cheaper, you wouldn’t need to get someone to feed them while you are away, and the fish would be almost as interactive as real ones. Lizards and turtles and frogs and stuff look neat, but they don’t seem that fun to play with. It was obviously going to have to be something from class Mammalia.

Cats were not considered.

Rats have goth credibility, they are inquisitive and intelligent, and reasonably clean as rodents go (they don’t crap in their own food bowls for example). They are quite fastidious in fact - we’ve noticed that after we’ve touched them, they go back in their cage and wash all the people cooties off themselves. They allegedly smell better than mice. Pearl Jam speak very highly of them (warning - link contains explicit lyrics).

They are also durn cute!