Rat iPapers with Cat-the-Rat and Starsky
Just something to share for those fancy pet rat keepers that like to have rat iPapers … and for any rat lovers in general.
3 New Girls
Just like Mrs.R wrote recently on the RatChatter forums, I am writing an introductory post for the latest addition to our mischief.
Although we do not consider ourselves rescuers we seem to have gathered a bit of a reputation for taking in rats that need a new home; and, we give them their forever home. Our latest additions are three adorable little girls from a nice family that recognized they would not be able to offer the time and attention fancy pet rats need.
Here are a couple of pictures of the little ones in their temporary (quarantine) home:
We hope to integrate these girls with our older group in a couple of weeks.
More Not Less
Although I have been posting mostly of our losses of late today I am happy to write a short bit about our new additions.
We have recently adopted two young rat boys. Their names are still to be decided although I am leaning towards Ossie and Skitch, but Mrs.R is not really a fan of either … yet.
Here is a picture of the boys their first night in quarantine:
We adopted the little guys from a local big box pet store. We usually shop there for various pet supplies and often walk to the back of the store where they keep the small animals. They have had two rat enclosures for the last three to four weeks but we had never seen any movement out of the second smaller enclosure.
We asked one of the store employees and she said there were two boys in the smaller habitat that had been returned to the store although she was not working the day it happened. At the mention of the word “return” Mrs.R immediately decided they needed to come home with us as we both thought they would not be adopted by anyone else with the “returned” label being attached to them.
The boys are very sweet and in great health. They are still a little nervous when being handled. One insists on burying his head wherever he can, while the other is a nervous and jittery. That gave me the ideas for my name choices, but we will see what their behavior gives us for more ideas.
Update: The boys have their new names … Tom and Jerry
Shadow Goes Into the Light
Our Shadow left today … some time in the early hours of the morning.
He is survived by his brothers: Turq!, Tanzi, and Colby … may they see the New Year through.
Mynx, the Second Passing
It’s been a few days now and it still is not any easier to write these posts. Our second Mynx, one of the Prodigal Sons passed to the Rainbow Bridge on Dec 22, 2009. I will remember him as one of the strongest willed rats I have known … and I will miss his indomitable spirit.
Read Mrs.R’s post for Mynx on the RatChatter forums
Sesame Street is 40 … with a Rat
I love Google doodles … it may have been in November that Sesame Street celebrated its 40th Anniversary but I found this today:
Pet Promise Certificate
The good people at Petfinder.com are gearing up for this year’s holidays. This is from what I found in my email today:
Celebrate the Gift of Pet Adoption!
Want to give a pet as a gift? Give our Pet Promise Certificate instead!
With the Pet Promise Certificate, your loved one can adopt the pet that best suits his or her lifestyle — and you promise to cover the adoption fees for the new family member.
In addition, the Certificate features a New Adopter’s Pledge that promotes responsible pet parenting.
Petfinder
I think this is a great idea being put forward and would like to see something like this as a standard. Please feel free to share this with your friends and family … and other pet-friendly people, too.
Happy Thanksgiving
It’s been a rough month but I am still very thankful for my wife, Mrs.R, our little ones (past and present), and our friends and extended family at the RatChatter forums … where I first saw this little smile maker:

Enjoy!
Bye Bye BJ
Being on vacation this week let us sleep in a bit so breakfast was a little later than usual. Even with that extra bit of sleep you cannot be prepared to wake up and find one of your little ones passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. Since everyone is used to eating earlier I immediately make them breakfast once I wake up. Today, like every day, I count heads once I put the plates into their homes; and, I make sure there are no stragglers … everyone needs their breakfast.
BJ was nestled into a corner so I reached in to pick her up and put her with her sisters. She was cold to the touch. She was gone. Mrs.R and I both had the same dream that one of the girls has passed, little did we know it was BJ saying goodbye.











