Newest family member! (my partner thinks I have a problem)

[KrissyLeigh]

This is Desdemona, the newest family member! I always look at rats in the petstore as I walk to the reptile section and this little lady caught my eye... She was pre-owned, surrendered to the petstore, and I had a coupon so she was free! I used to have hamsters when I was little, but always wanted a rat!

I waited by the window to intercept my partner and tell my side of the story before he saw her, because he doesn't like rats... which turned out to be a great idea, because by the end of my story he was worried I had come home with a reticulated python or something - so he was relieved it was just a little rat, hahahaha!!! She will grow on him.

She keeps sneezing, quite a bit... hopefully she will be ok though!

 

[Eavlynn]

Desdemona is so cute! I tried to talk my boyfriend into letting me get a pet rat, but he said it was a bad idea since we have cats and snakes. Post lots of photos and updates so I can live vicariously through you! oh my goodness, that face <3

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Cori]

Desdemona is so cute! I tried to talk my boyfriend into letting me get a pet rat, but he said it was a bad idea since we have cats and snakes. Post lots of photos and updates so I can live vicariously through you! oh my goodness, that face <3

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Forgiveness is easier to ask for than permission [emoji6]

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[Eavlynn]

Forgiveness is easier to ask for than permission [emoji6]

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Haha usually. But with the number of animals we currently have in our care, I understand why he says no. It's probably for the best.

I look forward to seeing more of your baby though!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

I had, at one time probably about 20 rats. 10 males, 10 females (they were separated so never had babies lol). I was a part of a rat rescue though so ended up with quite a few.
Stopped getting them after the last one died of 'old age' since they don't live that long because I didn't want to have to keep explaining to my young children why it was happening.
Just too heart-breaking personally.

 

[KrissyLeigh]

OK y'all, you asked for photos!!! And I want to take the opportunity to brag, hahaha.

These are Desdemona's new digs! Got the cage on sale new for $50 and tricked it out. I tried to buy as little rat-specific stuff as possible because pet stores charge so much. Almost all the toys are cat toys from the dollar store, and I made the hammock from a bandana and carribeaner clips for $3.

I didn't like that everything was a grate, so I cut up some flexible cutting board mats I had on hand and zip tied them onto the grates so her precious toes don't get caught, and the ladders are bird ladders I found for $2 each. She seems to like everything!!! In the photo with my hand she is licking me. She likes to give rat kisses.

 

[Eavlynn]

Oh my, she's so spoiled! I love it and it looks like she does, too.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[KrissyLeigh]

Some pics of Desi being social - she isn't brave enough to leave me, so they are all selfies, hahaha. The one pic with her on my shoulder and a crazy expression on my face is because she was licking me and it tickled

 

[Eavlynn]

Oh my goodness, she's so sweet I held some little juvenile rats the other day when I went to pick up some crickets. So precious!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Mom2Dovakiin]

I miss having rats in the house....

 

[KrissyLeigh]

I got her a friend today... in quarantine right now. Hopefully it will go well, if anything happened to Desdemona I would be heartbroken. But I'm reading up on rat intros, watching youtubes of it, etc. Probably still gonna be a nervous wreck when they start living together though.

 

[KrissyLeigh]

More rat pictures (can't help myself!). The light brown rat, which I got as a friend for Desdemona, is not very friendly.... but she has never been socialized and her first impression of me was shoving 4 syringes of medication down her throat for 10 days, so it's taking her a while to accept me. She loves her little rat friend though! BFFL!

She REALLY wants to befriend the tortoises:

Pocket full of rat!

BFFLs

We know how to do mornings:

And expectant babies waiting for food (this was before I cohabitated them)

 

[Canicke]

I've never been a rat fan, but these are just toooooo CUTE !!