It's a big day for my classes tomorrow...

[MaryL]

....Because we're getting a class pet!! And...I can't believe I'm doing this...it's a RAT! 8o 8o 8o Supposedly they make wonderful class pets...far better than hamsters/gerbils/guinea pigs. We'll see. One of my students has a parent who works at a pet store. A new litter of rats was born 6 weeks ago, and she's offered us "pick of the litter" (how in the world you distinguish that...I'm not sure?!). She's providing the cage/aquarium...toys...dishes...some bedding...etc. The kids in my classes are so excited! Dh can't even believe I've agreed to this...since we don't have any pets (never have) in our home. Our dks are thrilled...and I'm enlisting them to help me make sure "Mr. Rat" (or whatever we name him) is set each evening before we leave school. Has anyone had any experience with a pet rat???? Good stories only, please! ;) ;) ;) ;)

[apple_core_04]

No, but my friend's had a mouse...cute little thing, she used to carry him around in her pocket. I used to want one until my brother got a hampster and I hated it b/c it bit me. I hope your experience goes good with "Mr Rat".
Joni

[KarlaB]

How exciting for your class!! 8o

A friend just got 2 baby rats a month or so ago. I'll ask her if she has any info to pass on to you. Good luck tomorrow!!! :)

[Diane]

There is a little girl who lives across the street from my mom who has a pet rat. I've seen her outside with it... she's puts it in a little harness and leash and takes it for a walk up/down the street. (SO cute...) It seems friendly... but I've never actually gone over to look at it or touch/see it. I've owned mice/hamsters before... but never a rat.

Diane P.

[KarlaB]

One thing I do remember my friend saying is that the key is to handle them a lot so they are more tame from the beginning. Also, the pet store recommends rats over hamsters and gerbils. :)

[MaryL]

Our rat is just the cutest thing in the world! :) Black with white markings...cute little white hands/feets. Awwwww....so cute to LOOK at! It took me until 1:30 this afternoon to get up the nerve to actually reach into the cage and pick her up! It wasn't bad at all...she's only 6 weeks old, so very wiggly and small. The kids went crazy over her. Should've heard the names they came up with... :lol: ...we decided on Sassy. I'll let you know how it goes. Day one wasn't so bad! ;)

That's sooo cute, Diane, about your friend who took her "rat" for walks on a harness. Hard to imagine doing that with my rat...she's so tiny still!!!!! :lol: She'll get to be about 7" I've heard. 8o

I've heard the same thing, Karla, about holding them often. That's why I knew I had to get over the "rodent" issue today...and start getting to know her! :lol::rolleyes: Any tips your friend has would be appreciated. This is going to be a dumb question...but do you clean the poops out of the cage each day??? Every other day??? And...how??? I'm a novice at this rat/hamster/gerbil stuff!

[KarlaB]

Glad today went well!! :yippee:

I talked to my friend and she said:
~ She cleans her cage 2+ times a week or it gets smelly. She said she just takes the rats out, dumps out their bedding and then puts fresh stuff in. Once in a while she also cleans it more thoroughly.
~ She said they need lots of variety in their diet. In addition to normal rat food she has given hers dog biscuits, dog food, cat food, popcorn, carrots, Romaine lettuce, apples, etc. She said she was told that you can also give them 'gourmet' bird food that has dried fruits and veggies in it - they supposedly love it?
~ As they get bigger they outgrow the glass aquarium type living and need a big wire cage.
~ They can be litter trained!! 8o
~ They like wooden chew toys.
~ They like to have an area to 'hide out'.
~ They like to have something soft (like a washcloth or towel scrap) to curl up in.
~ For bedding she was told to use "CareFresh" bedding or Aspen bedding. She said the usual types of Cedar and Pine bedding shouldn't be used.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions let me know and I can ask her. :)

[MaryL]

Thanks Karla!!!! :) :) :)

[kacee]

One of the teachers at dd's school has a pet rat. He is huge. She takes him out the cage and carries him around on her shoulders.


Dd saw her today with it in another room. Dd was grossed out though as the rat was leaving a present on her shoulder. Auuuugghhhhh!! I asked dd if she told the teacher what it was doing. She said no way!!!

I don't know if I could have a rat for a pet. We did the hamster thing till he had a sudden death. (His neck got caught in his wheel. DD found him. That was the end of my hamster days!!!)


Keep us updated on Sassy!!!

[JAK]

I hope that SAssy works out for the class.

Funny story about a rat... when I was in 4 th grade my friend's rat had babies and I REALLY wanted one and my mom said no. Well. I got one anyway and put it in a card board box (with the lid on) in my room. It actually stayed in there for several days. One morning my mom found rat poop in the house and asked me where it can from. I fested up and told her that I got the rat. I went to show her where it was in the box and it had chewed a hole in the box and was gone. We never did find it and my mom was REALLY mad at me for quite some time! 8o

[KarlaB]

Jen - OMG!! LMAO!!!! :lol: