RATS!

Sisters

Bianca

Oreo

Here are new newest editions to the Jones Menagerie. Rats. How could I? Well, there has been a lonely spot in our hearts since the passing of M's beloved dog, Buster. When M gave me that look in the pet store, the same look he gave me when he came home that first day with Buster I couldn't say no. And besides they live in a cage, I don't have to walk them. They have the potential to be as smart as the average dog, they aren't bulimic, and they are fun to play with. They ride on your shoulder and climb all over you. They take snacks from your hands. They climb like monkeys all over their cage. They constantly clean themselves, more than any cat I have ever seen.

Their names are Ms. Bianca (from the Rescuers) and Oreo. Actually, we originally only took home one Ms. Bianca but after a day she was sullen and wouldn't eat and we just knew she missed her cage mate. So we took the family back to Pet Smart and bought the other one, this time for Pike. He named her Oreo. They are hooded rats and they have a dark brown/black head with a stripe down their back. Bianca's stripe is interrupted by more white than Oreo's and Oreo is also slightly bigger than Bianca. The other way we can tell then apart is that Oreo is more aggressive and curious while Bianca is more willing to chill on your shoulder and more likely to horde food.

M found a ferret/rat cage on sale and they love it and have their favorite spots they tend to hang out in. The kids love playing with them and watching their crazy antics.

One of my best friends in high school always told me about her pet rat growing up and I always wanted one. She told me how fun and sweet they were. When I married M I told him how much I wanted a pet rat. When my pet hamster, Warren, died he bought me a white lab rat. She was so sweet and gentle but I soon experienced being with child and I had no time and energy for a pet of any kind so she became M's and he really liked her. While she sat on his shoulder she would trim his neck hair, which is reason enough to keep something around in my book! 

So rats may be a disturbing pet option for some people but for our house it's all rats. Take a look at any article or book on them and you too will see how smart, fun, and lovable they really are.