Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Personable Fancy Rats Make Fine Companions
How about a pet rat as the best pet in the world?
And not just any "garden variety pet store white rat," said Frank Yeager of Morgan Hill.
Frank and his wife have four "adorable female pet fancy rats: two older rats, Margie and Lily,
and two younger rats, Gracie and Rose. We got them from a breeder in Davis who specializes in healthy,
well socialized fancy rats of many different interesting types."
Grace, for instance, is a mocha variberk "with Dumbo ears and a white headspot, all of which
means she's adorable," Frank said.
The Yeagers' pet fancy rats have a four-story cage and dine on gourmet food. The couple lets them
play in three different rooms with a changable jungle gym of boxes, ladders and paper.
"We spoil them rotten and they love it."
For anyone who shudders at the thought of even seeing a rat or mouse, the idea ofhaving one as a pet
is probably too scary to imagine. But see if you feel any differently after reading Frank's story about
Margie, Lily, Gracie and Rose.
"Whenever we tell somebody about our 'girls,' we get one of two reactions: 'eeww' or 'oh, we had pet
rats once; they're great!'" Frank said. "Rats, like wolves and bats, have an undeserved bad reputation.
"Fancy rats have been bred for many, many generations to be great pets, and they really are. They
love people, enjoy being held, and like to groom each other and their people. They clean themselves,
just like cats and eat in the same way as squirrels.
"Since rats are nocturnal, they're happy to play with you in the morning, sleep while you're at work,
and play with you again at night. They're very social animals - the more rats the merrier, as far as
they're concerned.
"You haven't lived until you've see a big rat pile where they all cuddle up together in a small space
to sleep.
"Rats are so smart that you constantly have to stay one step ahead of them. They wantto chew and explore
and climb on everything. It's your job to let them do that while helping them and the house safe. It can
be a real challenge.
"We've had eight rats so far, but they can still surprise us. Like when Buffy decided to tightrope walk
across the curtain rod. Or when Katie hid in a basket in the closet for a whole day (we thought we'd lost
her somehow). Or when Rose decided to climb our fiscus plant.
"Our girls all have distinct personalities. Margie is the boss of the group and loves to be held and petted
while walking around in our backyard bird garden.
"Lily is very laid back and loves to eat. Rosie is mischievious and would like to be boss. Gracie
always wants to spend as much time out of the cage as possible - sleep, who needs it?
"They really are great pets. Unfortunately, they live short lives - two to three years. But we're lucky
and happy that they share those little lives with us."
For more information on pet rats, Frank suggests you try the Web site for Debbie "The Rat Lady" Ducommun at
www.ratfanclub.org. You can find out how to join the Rat Fan Club, founded by Debbie, and pick up great
information and tips on caring for your pet rats.
The club's monthly newsletter, "The Rat Report," had this tidbit:
"Rats are especially suited as companions because they're social animals (unlike hamsters) and love to
interact with people," according to an article in the newsletter called "Rats! The PErfect Pet?"
My rodents, Billy I and Billy II, made a great escape - apparently out the small space where my mother's
dryer exhaust hose was connected to the wall.
That ended the rodent chapter in my pet history, so I never had a pet rat. But after reading Frank's
charming story about them, they do sound like perfect pets.
Linda Goldston
lgoldston@mercurynews.com
fax 408-271-3786
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