Asked on the General Forum by leopardlover6986 on 7/5/02, 11:34 am
To Silver...
I just thought I'd start some talk, from a rat owner to another. I have 3, 2 together and one separate. I know this goes against a lot of the other experts' opinions, but I have noticed that the one kept alone is the nicest of the bunch. The other two are way more skittish, and one is extremely aggressive. A lot of my friends keep rats alone, and I see no problem with it at all. The rats are well and happy and are taken out a lot. So isn't my rat that is living alone. I tried introducing her to the other, but one of the others kept attacking her. So I decided to keep her on her own. She is in a metal cage and she runs around my room most of the day and at night. I just thought I'd say, from my experience, that I think it's fine if your rat doesn't have a companion. You are it's companion. I know this may be wrong, but I feel rats that have a lot of other rats, get attached to them and bond with the other rats and get jumpy with humans. This is true in my case because I've given all my rats the same amount of attention, etc. And it's happened. Also, my "solitary" rat, Baby, is very happy all the time. When she's in her cage, all she does is sleep, even at night.. and the only time she's up is when I take her out of her cage... Just supporting you.
: )
Answered by Silver on 7/5/02, 12:25 pm
RE: To Silver...back to leopardlover6986
You are sweet! :) May I call you Marisa? I'm finding every time I reply to you I have to find your nik so I can get the number. I'm fine fumbling around if you're not comfort able with that. You may call me Mandarin, though I guess Silver's not all that hard to spell :)
Thankyou for your support. I've always found the same situation that you explained. If I were breeding, then having the rats together would be necessary, and oke dokey. But I got my rat for companionship, and friendship, not just to look at. I agree with you that if they have other rats to bond with that the relationship with you won't be quite as close, I don't think its wrong to believe that at all. What would be the point of having the rat if it doesn't want to be with you?
My last rat and I, Ratley (I took so long being indecisive with her name that I picked the obvious) used to play tag around the computer room where I kept her cage. I left her cage open at all times, and the room closed (cats). She slept in her cage most of the day, like your Baby, and when I came in she'd be ontop that cage so fast she nearly toppled to the floor (giggling), it was pretty funny. Then we'd take turns chasing eachother around the room. I miss her. I miss her shuffling and nibbling noises in the background while I write. Mercury (the silver male I have now), is enormously affectionate, and knows who 'mommy' is, but he's a bit of a wussy the poor dear. He'd rather climb around my bed tunneling in my pillows than anything. But then he doesn't have a room to himself, so that makes an obvious difference. Right now he shares a bedroom with me, my cat Scion, and my puppydog Keelan (itty bitty 4.6lbs). Mercury and Keelan are head over heels for eachother, and Scion is too self absorbed to give a darn about him anyways, so it works out well:) Anyways...I do appreciate your support, and I'm glad that someone else shares in the same experience as I have. Five years ago I never would have thought I could have a fulfilling relationship with a rat. Now I can't live without them! :) I hope I can be of equal support to you some time soon too:)
Ratty headbobs,
Mandarin
Answered by leopardlover6986 on 7/5/02, 12:30 pm
RE: RE: To Silver...back to leopardlover6986
Hehe! Of course you can call me Marisa! I like that name, Mandarin.. I love it.
I'm sorry, I'm off to work right now (running late, actually). I will be on later tonight (I'm always on!) Thank you so much for your kind words. You are awesome. I will talk to you when I get home tonight. leopardlover6986@yahoo.com
Please, email me!
