March 14: Rattie

[neverspent]

Some people will be disgusted by this, but I have a rodent friend living in the shed outside my apartment balcony. Every once in awhile, I see her peeking out in the evening light, or the cat makes a ruckus by the window and I know she must be moving around out there. I think she's cute. It's nice, of course, that she's not inside my apartment, and I realize how many problems the wild species has caused for humans throughout our history, not to mention that some people have an irrational dislike for rats' hairless tails, but they're smart and they're survivors and I have to respect them. Plus, if you've ever had a domestic rat as a pet... well, my heart gets melty.

Comments

[shinsetsu]

Oh! I LOVE ratties. They are super smart and sensitive and affectionate. I used to keep them. I had a mouse once or twice, but they are more like hamsters--off into their own little world. A rat wants to be in your world.

I would be setting up a feeding station for that wee rat you have in the shed, and naming him and talking to him. That way he could have an easier life and not have to eat things he shouldn't. I'd probably even get him a chew block. :) That would be the happiest wild rat ever!

I have a blog I read that is made by a friend, and it's got lots of stories and pictures on it. The woman and her husband foster rats in their home. She hasn't updated it recently because she's been so busy, but te archives are great.

http://www.ratinabox.com/blog/

Thanks for this entry. I hope your rattie does well. I guess like you say, the wild rats can carry harmful diseases (isn't it the mice who have the Hanta virus?) It says they rarely ever get rabies.