Today I gave a rat a bath

[EmilieMadison]

Something I never thought I'd do or say. But it happened. 
DD's little rat Annie's tail was looking really dirty (rats clean their bodies meticulously but their tales are hard for them to keep clean), and I'd heard that you can bathe rats. So I filled up up the sink, got a towel, baby shampoo and a tooth brush (for the tail).

Now, if there is any example that rats are intelligent and understanding and very good pets, it's when you dunk one in water and then scrub it's tail. Annie was like "WTF!" but when I talked to her and soothed and held her in a towel, she settled down and let me dunk her over and over and scrub in between soakings. She didnt love it and wanted to hide in my hair (yes, I had a wet rat trying to climb into my hair) but she was calm most of the time and licked my finger when I rubbed her chin. 

So now, she's sparkling and fluffy and very snuggly. You guys, I never expected to actually love these little rats, but omg, they're so sweet! Look what I do for them! 

[Deleted]

Is that anything like "If you give a mouse a cookie"? So if you give a rat a bath he will feel good, if he feels good he will want to go out to dinner. If he likes his dinner he will want to go out after... if he gets dirty out after then he will want to take a bath...

[EmilieMadison]

It was very hard to get a picture because she kept licking me! I swear, rats are like very tiny dogs!
 

[azurely]

Aw you are a good mom!

[EmilieMadison]

Mar 30, 2013 15:29:43 GMT -5 frkls said:

i feel like i can sit here and think about how much i would love to get a couple rats for the boys, then i would actually bring them in to the house and spend the rest of the day standing on a chair and screaming.

You wouldn't. I swear, they're the BEST pets! And seriously, they're sooo sweet and not at all gross and...ratty, like I'd imagined! 

[iamgrace]

Awww. This made me miss my rat.

[EmilieMadison]

Mar 30, 2013 15:36:02 GMT -5 frkls said:

Mar 30, 2013 15:33:38 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

You wouldn't. I swear, they're the BEST pets! And seriously, they're sooo sweet and not at all gross and...ratty, like I'd imagined! 

where do they live?  tank? cage? walk around like dogs?  

Cage. Ours is really big and has three levels and hammocks and fun play stuff. But for two rats (you need to get them in pairs or they get depressed and bored!) they can be happy in something not that huge. And, we let them out every day in DD's room. We also have cats, so we have to keep her door closed for playtime. But they run around her room, climbing in her dollhouse, chasing each other, running back to us every few minutes to sit on our laps and get their snuggles, then off to explore and play. They are also learning tricks, like fetch!

[ralphlauren]

That is really cute

[emsumm]

EmilieMadison, those pics are adorable.

[dirtyred]

When I gave my rat a bath, he bit me.  Obviously your rat is better behaved.

[shananagins]

So cute! I had rats when I was in school. They are absolutely the best non cat/ dog pets. Way better than hamsters or guinea pigs.

[snakeoiltanker]

Awe, this post makes me miss my pet rats. Mine loved bathes. I'd fill the bath with a few inches of water and some upside down bowls ( like little islands for them to rest on). They would have so much fun swimming.

[agnes]

My oldest nephew had a rat for a couple years. Her name was Ratatouille. He took her every where he could. She was adorable and sweet.

Now, the mice my brother had growing up....those were fuckers. They always bit me.

[Deleted]

How long do they live?

I'm intrigued.

[peachdragon]

My husband always says no when I ask if we can get a rat. Ahhhhhh!!!!

[Deleted]

We have a pet mouse right now and DS wants to upgrade to a rat when the time comes. I'm all for it but SO says no way. We'll probably just get a hamster or gerbil next time, I guess.

[Deleted]

you are a far better woman than i.

[EmilieMadison]

Mar 30, 2013 19:43:29 GMT -5 @wonderred said:

We have a pet mouse right now and DS wants to upgrade to a rat when the time comes. I'm all for it but SO says no way. We'll probably just get a hamster or gerbil next time, I guess.

Awww! Why?? That's so sad! Mice and gerbils and hamsters are so lame haha! I mean, they're cute and all, but man do they make lousy pets! They dont like to be held, they dont like to interact with people, and they just run in a wheel and they're likely to bite. 
Rats are easily litter trained! They like to be held, cuddled, tickled, chased and played with. They are as smart as the average dog and can lean tricks! They love their humans and seek their attention and affection. Personality wise, the really are like miniature dogs. BEST PETS!

[mamasaurus]

No PIP?

I guess we will settle for adorable pictures of a dry rat.

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2013 19:59:28 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Mar 30, 2013 19:43:29 GMT -5 @wonderred said:

We have a pet mouse right now and DS wants to upgrade to a rat when the time comes. I'm all for it but SO says no way. We'll probably just get a hamster or gerbil next time, I guess.

Awww! Why?? That's so sad! Mice and gerbils and hamsters are so lame haha! I mean, they're cute and all, but man do they make lousy pets! They dont like to be held, they dont like to interact with people, and they just run in a wheel and they're likely to bite. 
Rats are easily litter trained! They like to be held, cuddled, tickled, chased and played with. They are as smart as the average dog and can lean tricks! They love their humans and seek their attention and affection. Personality wise, the really are like miniature dogs. BEST PETS!

I think he just can't get past the creepy rat stereotype.  I held one last time we were at PetCo buying mouse food and he couldn't even watch me do it.   I'll be working on him when the time comes, though.