My History with Rats before Breeding
My name is Melissa and I had my first pet rat in 2003. She was a sweet albino girl and she was originally my sister's but was then given to me when she went to University. Her name was Ophelia and she lived to the age of 3. She used to love riding on my shoulder and playing in my hair and when she wanted to go to the washroom she would lean her back end over my shoulder and would go on the floor. She never had an accident on me, but my most precious memory with her is when she pee'd on my boyfriend at the time, which I took to be her disapproval of him. Ophelia was a great rat, and she is the reason I love rats so much. When she died in 2006 I was devastated.
Then when I moved out to Barrie in 2009 I had rats on the mind. It wasn't until January 2010 that I finally got my next bunch of rats. I bought a rat from a local pet store. The store sold me it, but didn't know whether it was a she or a he, but I brought it home none the less. I decided to name it right away so I went with the gender neutral name Jade. It took me a few weeks after that to figure out it's gender was a girl. I then did research and discovered that I should have bought 2 at the time, as they are social creatures, and set out to buy a second rat. I wanted to make sure I knew the sex of the rat when I got her so I went to Petsmart and bought another female there and named her Micah. By that time I was obsessed with rats and went searching on kijiji for more rats. I found one in Orillia and I swore to my boyfriend that it would be my last one (for now) and I went to get her and found a beautiful Himalayan rat named Callie.
So to say the least I have been researching animal breeding since 2005 and then started specifically researching rats and how to breed them, their maladies and showing them since 2009. I didn't register my Rattery until I had successfully received my breeding rats in 2013.
In 2015 Due to personal reasons I had to take a hiatus from breeding and moved to Nova Scotia.
To view my breeding goals and what varieties and colors we breed Click here
Then when I moved out to Barrie in 2009 I had rats on the mind. It wasn't until January 2010 that I finally got my next bunch of rats. I bought a rat from a local pet store. The store sold me it, but didn't know whether it was a she or a he, but I brought it home none the less. I decided to name it right away so I went with the gender neutral name Jade. It took me a few weeks after that to figure out it's gender was a girl. I then did research and discovered that I should have bought 2 at the time, as they are social creatures, and set out to buy a second rat. I wanted to make sure I knew the sex of the rat when I got her so I went to Petsmart and bought another female there and named her Micah. By that time I was obsessed with rats and went searching on kijiji for more rats. I found one in Orillia and I swore to my boyfriend that it would be my last one (for now) and I went to get her and found a beautiful Himalayan rat named Callie.
So to say the least I have been researching animal breeding since 2005 and then started specifically researching rats and how to breed them, their maladies and showing them since 2009. I didn't register my Rattery until I had successfully received my breeding rats in 2013.
In 2015 Due to personal reasons I had to take a hiatus from breeding and moved to Nova Scotia.
To view my breeding goals and what varieties and colors we breed Click here
Why did I start breeding?
What got me interested in breeding was my female rat Callie. She was sweet and was always giving me kisses, and she taught Jade and Micah to give their 'mommy' kisses as well. When being handled Callie allowed the human to do what ever they wanted to her and didn't squirm at all. I want all my future rats to be just as friendly as her. Unfortunately she had some health problems and I couldn't do anything to help her. I don't want other rats to get health problems and leave their owners feeling helpless and sad.
Another reason that got me interested in breeding is all the diseases I found when researching about rats. There are just so many diseases that are in rats and I don't want any of my rats to suffer from any of them. I've been so paranoid of those diseases that I've taken my rats to the vets over just a tiny sneeze, and I frequently go for checkups and thankfully they have been just fine and I've been over reacting to everything. but I think it's better to be over protective then allow rats to contract a deadly disease.
The final reason that sealed the deal is the way pet stores were treating their animals. For starters, they mix the sexes together which can result in young females becoming mothers WAY too young. When rats become pregnant too young, there is a chance that they wont know what to do with the babies when they come and may abandon them. Also pet stores will sell rats as either feeders or pets and 80% go as feeders. Breeders that supply these rats to the stores are mass breeding in over populated bins. Who has the time to socialize THAT many babies? Then, because the workers have so much else to get done within the store between helping customers, cleaning cages and aquariums, merchandising their stock, and running the cash register, they don't have alot of time dedicated to socializing their animals with humans. They just clearly dont have the time for their rats as pets and so in my opinion getting a rat from a breeder who actually loves the rat and takes care of them is a better way to go. The new owners are much more happier when they get a rat that is healthy, happy and well socialized.
Another reason that got me interested in breeding is all the diseases I found when researching about rats. There are just so many diseases that are in rats and I don't want any of my rats to suffer from any of them. I've been so paranoid of those diseases that I've taken my rats to the vets over just a tiny sneeze, and I frequently go for checkups and thankfully they have been just fine and I've been over reacting to everything. but I think it's better to be over protective then allow rats to contract a deadly disease.
The final reason that sealed the deal is the way pet stores were treating their animals. For starters, they mix the sexes together which can result in young females becoming mothers WAY too young. When rats become pregnant too young, there is a chance that they wont know what to do with the babies when they come and may abandon them. Also pet stores will sell rats as either feeders or pets and 80% go as feeders. Breeders that supply these rats to the stores are mass breeding in over populated bins. Who has the time to socialize THAT many babies? Then, because the workers have so much else to get done within the store between helping customers, cleaning cages and aquariums, merchandising their stock, and running the cash register, they don't have alot of time dedicated to socializing their animals with humans. They just clearly dont have the time for their rats as pets and so in my opinion getting a rat from a breeder who actually loves the rat and takes care of them is a better way to go. The new owners are much more happier when they get a rat that is healthy, happy and well socialized.
Why Rats?
Some people need to start to open their eyes when it comes to rat ownership. Wild rats, and domestic household rats are very different creatures. They come from the same family, but just like the wolf and the domestic dog, the two have very different needs. In the wild, 95% of rats die within the first year of life due to diseases not being treated, or by predators such as owls, snakes, foxes, and hawks. They can be very destructive towards crops, can eat through walls of buildings , and can reek havoc on the wiring in your house. Yet domestic rats through years and generations of breeding have been able to isolate the diseases and have increased their lifespan and have improved their over all health and now have a life expectancy of 2-4 years. Although if a domestic rat escapes it's cage and is not properly socialized, does have the ability to reek havoc on wires, walls, and various items in your home that could be toxic to them. It's always good to practice responsible pet ownership and house them in a proper and safe cage to protect your home as well as them.
Rats are friendly, Intelligent, loving, exceptionally clean and just plain cute. They do not bite and they love to be with people. They come in many different colors and varieties, and have big personalities in a small package. Rats require simple care and do not smell when properly cared for. They are very playful and fun to watch, and can even be trained to do tricks, if you've got the right treat! They are great pets for children as they are just the right size for them to pet and it's great to teach children how to care for small animals.
Some people need to start to open their eyes when it comes to rat ownership. Wild rats, and domestic household rats are very different creatures. They come from the same family, but just like the wolf and the domestic dog, the two have very different needs. In the wild, 95% of rats die within the first year of life due to diseases not being treated, or by predators such as owls, snakes, foxes, and hawks. They can be very destructive towards crops, can eat through walls of buildings , and can reek havoc on the wiring in your house. Yet domestic rats through years and generations of breeding have been able to isolate the diseases and have increased their lifespan and have improved their over all health and now have a life expectancy of 2-4 years. Although if a domestic rat escapes it's cage and is not properly socialized, does have the ability to reek havoc on wires, walls, and various items in your home that could be toxic to them. It's always good to practice responsible pet ownership and house them in a proper and safe cage to protect your home as well as them.
Rats are friendly, Intelligent, loving, exceptionally clean and just plain cute. They do not bite and they love to be with people. They come in many different colors and varieties, and have big personalities in a small package. Rats require simple care and do not smell when properly cared for. They are very playful and fun to watch, and can even be trained to do tricks, if you've got the right treat! They are great pets for children as they are just the right size for them to pet and it's great to teach children how to care for small animals.
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