Unexpected Friends

A Rat (EWWW)!

Companionship comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. In my case, the companions I chose ended up being quite non-traditional, if non-traditional can be applied to an emotional counterpart. Out of what could be chosen, I ended up with small, soft, and super cute friends regardless of the constant “EWWW, are they gross” reactions I receive. Irrespective of what’s often considered a “traditional pet,” I found some adorable and loving companions that have ended up being the perfect friends over the past few months, and I wouldn’t ask for anyone else.

I adopted several Norway breed rats from a lady I met online in Denver, Colorado, about eight months ago. They were both named after my favorite Greek Gods, Apollo & Hermes, potentially ironic choices as their personalities eventually unfolded into contrasting temperaments. Despite the common, wild misconceptions of rats being “gross” or “dirty,” these guys are far from having a wild character. Domesticated rats, unlike wild rats, and are very clean and well behaved if treated with love and compassion. Apollo and Hermes are constantly cleaning themselves and each other; strangely, they smell better than most cats or dogs I’ve had! When they are not grooming themselves, they are building their nests, eating, and sleeping. They love to play and are very personable, making consistent contact with the owner vital to their development. Despite their very similar coloration and size, their unique personalities make them very easily distinguishable from one another.

Arrival:

December 21st, 2020, at the height of the pandemic and many of our psychological declines, I decided to adopt Hermes and Apollo. The months prior, I read quite a bit about rats being excellent pets to get, and living in such a small apartment left most other animals out of the question. Several weeks before picking them up, I had bought a large ferret cage that I had rigged with chicken wire on the outside to make sure they couldn’t get out (rats can squeeze through small spaces). The bottom of the cage was lined with towels and newspaper to make it easier to clean up each week and to protect their feet. I purchased a large food bowl and several ball-bearing water bottles. Now that all preparations were complete, it was time to find my new friends and bring them home.

It took quite a bit of searching to find two rats here in Denver. Several of the breeders that I contacted had no interest in adopting rats to someone with no experience. After some tirelessly searching, I ended up finding a lady on craigslist in Denver who happened to have two male rats up for adoption. After locating this woman, my mother went and picked up the rats and drove them out to my apartment in Denver. Arriving at my apartment, my mother and her partner came had my eight-month-old and eight-week-old male rats. Apollo, the older one, had been raised by this woman and was very personable from the very start. The younger one was a rescue, and to this day, he is still very skittish and nervous around people, even me. Their coloration is beautiful white fur with red eyes and pink feet & ears. Of course, the whole rat experience doesn’t come without their notorious hairless tails, which in part give them their bad names. In all honestly, their tails are not hairless and are not that gross!

“Non-Traditional” WHO CARES:

During this time, we were, like I said before, at the peak of the pandemic. Many animals were difficult to find at the time since the claims through media outlets for COVID being spread through contact with them, especially rats having a history of spreading disease (again, domesticated animals are not disease-ridden like wild animals); Luckily, I found these two. Since this was the height of the pandemic, people now had many difficulties regarding isolation, mental health, and a myriad of other issues. Of course, we didn’t have much choice but to stay indoors, especially in an urban environment like the one I reside in. I lived the first part of the pandemic alone, for the most part finding comfort in booze and books. Eventually, this trend of behaviors hadn’t produced the same satisfaction as before, requiring something new a fulfilling. My mental and physical health had declined, where companionship of some sort seemed the only cure for this ailment.

An assumption is often made that “real companionship” is contained in a particular package. Whether it’s a cat or rats, whatever makes you feel some sense of connection to another life, the package itself is irrelevant. On that note, I find all animals fascinating in their own right, each containing different ways to express their intelligence. Since having these little guys, they have put a smile on my face every day regardless of their “traditional” nature as what a “real pet” is supposed to be. I never quite understood the desire to label things as traditional or not.

Since having my buddies, I’ve stopped drinking regularly and have regained some momentum in my life. I couldn’t have gotten to the position I’m in now without my little buddies by my side. Every time I come home, they get super excited like a dog would make me all the happier. With their cage right next to my desk, I can watch them while I’m working. There is never a dull moment with these two, whether it’s them wrestling or cuddling up against each other when they sleep. Most nights, I let them run around my bed or other areas of my apartment. Allowing them to explore has made some noticeable differences in their mood and personalities, which animals have.

Should I get one (or two)?

Now, I’m considering adopting a few more rats, perhaps ones that are a bit older — the more, the merrier, I say. Suppose anyone is wondering what the second part of this story is about. In that case, it is the support and recommendation for getting a rat and pertinent information if you are curious. Again, I want to reiterate that these are live animals who can develop complex and unique personalities. They require room for exploration, good food, love, and care. Treat every plant you grow and every animal you adopt with the same love and respect as anything else. I wouldn’t recommend pet rats for young children unless they are taught how to thoroughly take care of them under the supervision of a parent. That’s not to say they couldn’t handle one or take care of one, but they need to make sure they stay clean and healthy.

Regarding health, there are prevalent issues such a respiratory and other issues such as bone and joint problems. Again, keeping the cage clean will help mitigate respiratory issues, and keeping them a good weight will ensure they don’t develop joint issues. Especially the older they get, the more these issues become prevalent like any animal. Hermes got a bit chunky (he sleeps too much and walks too little). His weight got a bit out of hand, in part my fault. He doesn’t like being picked up, so I didn’t pick him up a lot at first, trying to respect his boundaries. Prey animals who were abused like him at a young age could develop emotional/social issues later on. Unfortunately, if you have a similar problem with your friends, they will have to get used to you, and eventually, they will get over their fear for the most part. Trust needs to be built, and it takes work.

Another critical point is that you need to get two rats of the same sex. From my understanding, rats cannot be nurtured, so unless you want to litter, rats of the opposite sex are not recommended. With that, rats can get very lonely, and without another buddy, their health can become adversely affected.

In this second section of the story, I would like to highlight the many applicable psychological faculties parallel to ours. Interestingly caring for rats can be complex but ultimately rewarding. Many think you can adopt a few rats and throw them in a cage, but they require attention, just like any living thing. There are many reasons psychologists like using rats for studies besides rats being “expendable” (a term I hate). These observations over the past few months have made certain clear elements of my own life that are desirable and necessary. The requirement for companionship, good diet and exercise, space to explore, daily interaction, and a good home are all things we both need. Over the times I’ve been friends with these guys, they have taught me just as much about myself as I have learned about them & rats in general.

You may be able to find a breeder and would have more luck with general livelihood, meaning health and longevity, than pet store rats — not to say pet store rats don’t need a home too. Like I said prior, I had issues with breeder trusting me, so your best bet may be a pet store or craigslist as I did — or local animal shelters.

Additionally, rats’ diets are very consistent with humans, meaning they are omnivores. Not including several particular vegetables and fruits (and no fast food), feeding them and getting the necessary nutrients is relatively manageable.

Links:

I will provide the link for a series of videos that I watched before getting my rats. Of course, if you don’t like this particular series, you can search for other ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty8O1cDetdM&list=PLTUDLteiqtckWWVsu5paHFSndy2h0dFED

https://rattrix.weebly.com/what-foods-are-safe-for-rats.html