It's funny, not long ago I considered rats as vermin. I had been brought up on a farm cottage with my parents breeding dogs, and so keeping a store of dried food in an outhouse. Rats were an inevitable ongoing plague, and we lived in a permanent state of war against them. We laid concrete throughout the old thatched cottage, not for modernisation, but for rat-proofing. But rats being the intelligent sods they are found this to be no hindrance. I must admit to having trapped, poisoned, shot etc more rats than I care to mention.
However, in November '98 a friend of mine went into hospital. Her pet rat, Fudge, was taken care of a couple across the hallway. This couple were very irresponsible to put it mildly, and I noticed that Fudge was receiving little care and being mistreated by their toddler. Not being one to ignore mistreatment of any animal, even the accursed rat, I took Fudge on home with me.
It was not long before I began to discover what a sweet, gentle creature Fudge was. She was very shy back then and hid away most of the time, I put this down to her period of mistreatment, but she showed none of the traits that I knew of rats. I also got to know a friends rat, Patch, who also turned out to be a lovable creature.
After a week or so of caring for Fudge, I thought that I had better have a look to see how I might better care for her. It immediately became obvious from this research that Fudge should have a companion. Rats, like humans, are very social animals and to keep one alone is the same as placing a person in solitary confinement. So off I went to the petshop, and returned with Poppy. The effect on Fudge was dramatic, she immediately stopped being withdrawn and became much more friendly.
It soon became clear that Fudge and Poppy had two very different, but complementary, characters.
Poppy is like a hyperactive kid, I place my hand near her and she will jump onto it, dash up my arm, kiss me, stand up and have a quick sniff around and dash back. She is active and inquisitive to the point of being reckless, and regularly gets into scrapes. She often falls out of her run, but I have learnt that if I place a ladder by her cage, she will make her way home after a few hours spent exploring my flat. Unfortunately, I then spend the next few days waiting to discover which wires she has chewed. :(
Fudge is the clever one. Where Poppy might leap at an obstacle and fall, Fudge will sit and study the obstacle, she will then overcome it with relative ease. She will play just like a kitten, and loves chasing and catching objects.
After a couple of months month I began to dread Krissys return from hospital. I could foresee a major custody battle, Fudge was now part of my family and I was going to brook no argument. However, Krissy immediately pointed out that Fudge was so well settled that it would not be fair to take her back, but I had to find her a replacement. Fair enough, everyone was happy.
I bought some decorative drainpipe and built them a series of runs around the flat so that they could get around without going on the floor. This meant that I could let them run free without worrying that they might get into undesirable places. They loved it, and were only shut in their cages at night as this proved neccessary in order for me to be able to sleep in peace. If anyone is interested in doing the same I will publish details on a future page, in the meantime drop me an e-mail if you would like to know more.
While visiting my sister I learnt that a neighbour of her had a rat called Stalin. Within a few days I had been introduced to Dawn & Stalin. I found a rat that adored humans, but had bumblefoot & large patches of hair missing from mite infestation. Dawn was worried about the lumps on his heels and talked of taking him to the vets for a checkup, I quickly agreed that it would be a good idea.
A fortnight later the telephone rang. It was Dawn, who explained that she had got my number off my sister as she urgently needed to rehome Stalin, she was moving house, and the new landlord would not allow any pets. I told her that I could not take him as he was male, and in my flat would have to share with my two females. There was also the problem of his mites. However, I knew of a couple of people who might. I arranged to go round and talk with Dawn about it. On arrival at Dawns I discovered that she had already moved, and left Stalin for me to collect. So I had to take him home.
On getting Stalin home I phoned an acquaintance who I knew loved rats. She was very keen to take him but never turned up, I called her again the following day and she still appeared keen and again arranged to come round but never appeared again. I had had Stalin for three days by now and Fudge and Poppy were absolutely uncontrollable in their urge to get at this hunk of maleness. I was having to keep them shut in their cage at all times, and even feeding them was difficult. When Poppy learnt to open the cage door and escaped Stalin had to spend the night outside, until she was recaptured. While catching her is the only time any of my rats have bitten me. I was cussing, and realised that urgent action was needed. It did not help that Stalin had turned out to be a complete bundle of love, and was winning my heart very quickly. He could not get enough cuddling.
Krissy (Fudges' previous mum) then reappeared. She fell for Stalin and claimed him as her replacement for Fudge. I was very agreeable to this as it meant that I would keep close contact with this most lovable of rats. She also renamed him Coco. The only problem was that she had nowhere to take him, so he had to remain in my care until Krissy sorted out her accomodation.
Coco (Stalin) had by now been with me for over a month, and the girls were just as exasperating. They were not used to being locked in and Coco (Stalin) had won a definite place in my family but, as rats are more prolific than rabbits, Coco had to be neutered.
Coco, Fudge and Poppy now live together happily. Though Coco and Poppy still have the odd squabble, this is of a minor nature and is because Poppy can be a touch too hectic for the big old bachelor. He is very used to a quiet life and has to tell her to back off, while Poppy is very used to getting her own way. Coco's fur has returned and is soft enough to demand to be stroked, he certainly has no complaints about this and often comes up and asks for a scratch. All three seem much happier and need little to start their teeth-clicking (the rat equivalent of purring).
My earlier view of rats has been transformed. Now that I know them they are the loveliest of animals, as playful as a cat & as loving as a dog. I could not ask for better pets.