I thought that having pet rats would be similar to having a hamster or a gerbil - that they'd just sort of be things that sat in a cage looking cute. But in the first few weeks of having them, I was amazed by how smart and friendly and genuinely interested in people they were! They're like teeny tiny dogs! Hahaha.
Ratso and Roxy! Rats are so funny and smart: any time they have a treat, they're worried that the other rat is going to try to steal it from them. When we gave them both treats at the same time, they experimented with different cage positions before finally settling on the "mutual butt-touching treat-enjoyment position." They back up into each other and know that as long as they can feel the other one's butt, they can enjoy their treat in peace! Hahaha.
We bought them a wheel, but they didn't use it. At first we thought it was because they didn't understand what they were supposed to do in it so we kept picking them up and putting them in it. They'd run for like three steps then climb out. Over time it because apparent that they understood, but they just didn't really like excercise. (Meredith: "See? Rats ARE really smart!")
After visiting Amy, Meredith and I went back to Petco and picked out a second rat! We been reading a whole lot about rats and learned that rats are highly social and that they get depressed without other rats around! We also read that you have to introduce them in a neutral environment - so we set up a little play area on the floor so that Ratso could meet her new roommate, Roxy!
I was puttering around the apartment on Sunday and Meredith texted me to announce that she was coming home with "a surprise!" She walked in with a huge smile and a tiny box!
On Sunday afternoon I was walking to brunch and came across this dead rat. At the time I just thought it was interesting, but since then Meredith and I have gotten pet rats so this pic sorta makes me sad. Awwww. (He's holding out his little dead paws just like our live rats do when they want a treat).
