Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / July 2004

Hmm, well I'm not a child, nor a mum.... Oh :-(

It does make me wonder when I go to this and other rat forums and find out
it is mostly women who love rats. Not that I'm complaining, (who knows, the
future Mrs Geezer might very well be out there, heh heh), but I thought for
sure pet rats would be a guy thing. Surprise surprise.

I was unaware of the depression link though. I don't think I'm depressed,
though I probably should be, heh heh. And it's a valid warning regarding the
depressing effects of the inevidable passing on of all rats. I haven't lost
one yet, but even though it will be no big deal to anyone who asks, in
reality I'll probably sob and blubber like a two-year-old when my first one
goes. Sounds like a morbid thing to say, but I intend to have a private
pet-cemetary somewhere out in the woods, and the bigger the better. Every
rodent I bury there will represent an intelligent lifeform  I saved from a
less savory fate and one that had lotsa fun in the home I gave it, until
he/she made room for another. That's how I plan to look at it
anyaways...Sometimes the most obviously beautiful things are hidden under
the ugly paint-jobs our minds apply to them.

As for training them, good luck. Your relationship with your girls will
improve greatly after they've gotten you reasonably well-trained. .You'll
see. Hint: If part of your taining involves them being held in your hands,
that's not going to happen, at least not with girls - you shouldn't force
them to stay in your hand, only pick them up when you're going to put them
somewhere, not to keep them in your hands...all that squirming is because
they hate it. ;o) They learn your hands are more than a prison soon enough,
and will hop on more often that not when you hold out your hand...but
usually so they can run up to your shoulder.

Geezer