Rattitude – Where Rats Rule!

I found this gem of an idea while reading the RatChatter forums:

Every animal has a purpose. We often take our furry, feathered and scaly friends for granted, and it’s this folly that makes us ultimately less like human beings, and more like the animals we once were.
Kerrigannn, member of the RatChatter forums

… I think everyone should share it.

Along my way today catching up to various interests I came across a post in a forum of a gentleman describing himself as old.  That in of itself is not too unheard of, nor were the replies recognizing that age is not always a measure of time, but it did lead me to this thought:

Age is relative, counting it is the key.

Just thinking with how busy it has been in the real world of late that I need to stop in and remind myself of the rat world.  That place filled with twitching noses and long tails; soft tongues and quiet padding feet.

I added a weekly twitter post. There are not a lot of rat keepers that use twitter, or maybe there are? For those that do not tweet and frequent this little piece of rodent-dom, every week there should be an automated digest post made … at least for now.

Some may have noticed I attributed a quote to myself in a recent post. Most likely in the future I will post the author’s name, or anonymous, if I do not know.  If there is no author cited, then I penned the words myself. I hope everyone enjoys them.

Comment suggestions: Do you tweet? What has been your favorite Rattitude quote?

Just something I was thinking of this morning about keeping pets, things do not always work out for the best.  Sometimes you have to make hard decisions, ones you wouldn’t normally deal with.  On the other hand, when all is well you enjoy living the life of Riley with your companion animal and never worry about the bad times. More often than not, most pet keepers will have experiences someplace in between these extremes and life is good … and with that I would like to leave you this:

You hope for the best; you deal with the worst; and, you live in between.
~~ Edward A. Caissie aka Mr.Rattitude

I often wonder how people will react to the idea of keeping rats as family pets.  I use the plural form here, because simply put, I have no intention of even having a single rat.  Of course keeping to this intent would also mean never again being without rats in my life. I’m good with this idea, or better said, ideal.

Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
~~ Charles Mackay

One can only hope that headway is being made into educating others to the benefits of pet rats. It often appears the historical poor reputation of the rat has given to, in most cases, an irrational dislike that approaches a near panicked fear in some individuals; and, as I see it we are responsible for communicating to these people that rats are an intelligent, clean, gentle pet that would rival the so-called ”traditional” family pets.

One by one, more and more people are learning about and taking a more reasoned view of rats as pets.  This is thanks to all the rat communities that exist in general; and, to all the people that have, or have had, or just simply support the keeping of rats as pets.

A tempest is rising and better the devil you know. When the storm breaks, as is nature’s way, it is always best if you can see the horizon before the cresting waves.

Reveal not every secret you have to a friend, for how can you tell but that friend may hereafter become an enemy. And bring not all mischief you are able to upon an enemy, for he may one day become your friend.
~~Saadi

An apt quote to sum up a simple philosophy: bring no harm to others and have others bring you no harm.  That does not mean to simply let the storm wash you away in its bellowing winds, but more along the lines of securing the homefront and preparing for what could be an unwarranted, but long expected onslaught.

If the foundation is solid then the future is assured, and the strength of the community will bare witness to the storms and weather whatever they bring.

I say, Storm On Tempest! Then back to your teapot where you belong.

You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
~~ Zig Ziglar

What a handle on life to have.  It’s seems like such a simple concept, help enough other people get what they want and you will get what you want.  Of course, it would be important to know what you want out of life to begin with, but perhaps that is not really the point.  Helping others does provide significant rewards in and of itself.  Seeing another person excel in an activity or field of study that they were struggling with is immensely satisfying if you were able to help them along the way.  Especially having the favor returned sometime down the road, not out of necessity, but out of kindness is even more appreciated than words can say.

Gather to yourself friends and family, companions and co-workers, and help them through their days and lives and you will be rewarded; not for a debt, but simply as a return of your own kindness.

Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening.
~~ Barbara Tober

Tradition can often cause the wrong actions to be taken as well.  Just because something has been done a certain way for a great deal of time does not make it right or correct, it just makes it like every other time.

A repetitive action or process can actually be quite harmful, such as Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) come to mind. Where is it written than one cannot change the ways things are done?  Who said something must always be done the same way? Of course, some methods are tried and true and work quite well, does that also mean they cannot be improved upon?

I’m sure leeching was a grand ole thing to cure what ails you in the middle ages, but I think I much prefer modern day medicine and its advancements, even when it still involves leeches.

Keep an open mind to the way things are done, just because its been done that way for generations there is no reason it has to keep being done the same way.  Life is not an ISO standard!