The Ratlet Race – Part I of the Ratlet Trilogy - August 21, 2020
(Note: The creatures described below are pet rats or “ratlets.” They are about the size of hamsters and they are sweet and clean. They are no more like “sewer rats” than housecats are like Siberian tigers.)
Good heavens above! You know. The day you plan and the day you have, but things work out, sort of.
So, I had reserved TWO female ratlets from an accidental breeder in Hamilton. (Laur says, “Are there no rats in St. Catharines?” And the short answer is, “No. Not ones that can be easily handled.” And this is a must due, to Jasper and Emma.)
We thought that picking out two ratlets might be a fun adventure for our grandson Jasper so we got permission to bring him with us. Laur stopped to gas up the car, and this is when I got a phone call from the accidental breeder telling me she only had ONE left now… You cannot adopt rats as singletons. Jasper by this time is all excited about bringing home two ratties. I said to Laur, “Let’s go to Hamilton anyway. I’ll contact other ratlet providers.”
We got to Hamilton and no one had responded. So we took Jasper to Gage Park while we had a reset. Laur entertained him on the climbing equipment and swing, and ensured social distancing and safety. I chased down ratlet sellers on our cell phone. No one was responding or they were telling me they would not be home until the evening or their rats were skittish. We needed an “instant” ratlet pair that loved people or at least was used to them.
Forty-five minutes later – on Laur’s advice – I called my initial person. She still had the one female rat. And one was better than none at this point. Off to Burlington where we got “Court” who was not very courtly. She needed a good bath. We called her Court from the song “Court and Spark” by Joni Mitchell. (Nineteen seventy-four. That dates us.)
The very second after I’d given the gal a donation, I got a text. Another provider had TWO female rats – the second one was half price because she insists they go in pairs. Thankfully, she was willing to adopt one and was wiling to forgo the vetting process. She breeds Dumbo rats – a specialty rat.
Off we raced. Jasper was holding Court in her carrier and loving her. But also wanting to rotate her around and around. Not quite the gentle transition I had imagined.
We got our second rat. We called her “Spark” though she was not exactly Sparkly. Partly because she was traveling in an empty granola box with air holes. We didn’t think it was a very good idea to put Spark in the same container as Court, and have Jasper play see-saw with two rats who didn’t know each other .
When we got home, I put both in an elaborate hamster castle as their starter cage – a story in itself – and the two became instant best friends. And fell asleep. I love obsessing over them. You know – what is the best food, best water container, best cage, best toys…
It is in my nature to obsess – I’m OCD. Better I obsess about “dime a dozen” ratlets than Covid 19 and other world news. Laur is accepting of all of this. But not exactly thrilled. He is worried that my love of pet rescue in Sudbury is going to turn into a real rat’s nest. But I have pointed out three things to him:
1. Court and Spark are not rescues. They are adoptions.
2. With our new critter cage – another story – there is only room for four ratlets - tops.
3. Any ratlet that lives here has to be super friendly. It can’t be feral, or my kids won’t want our grands to come over.
Though I’d be perfectly OK if one of our four arrived pregnant. Back in Sudbury, Carolyn and I used to breed ratlets. There is nothing quite as sweet as watching these little “erasers” grow into little beings with their own distinct personalities. And finding good homes for them with one of “my tribes” – folks who love ratlets.
OK, there may be one thing sweeter. Even more enthusiasm from my hubs. (And he’s been very good about all of this as you’ll read in Parts Two and Three of the Ratlet Trilogy.)
I’ve got plans for some aMAZEing experiences for our grands…
Good heavens above! You know. The day you plan and the day you have, but things work out, sort of.
So, I had reserved TWO female ratlets from an accidental breeder in Hamilton. (Laur says, “Are there no rats in St. Catharines?” And the short answer is, “No. Not ones that can be easily handled.” And this is a must due, to Jasper and Emma.)
We thought that picking out two ratlets might be a fun adventure for our grandson Jasper so we got permission to bring him with us. Laur stopped to gas up the car, and this is when I got a phone call from the accidental breeder telling me she only had ONE left now… You cannot adopt rats as singletons. Jasper by this time is all excited about bringing home two ratties. I said to Laur, “Let’s go to Hamilton anyway. I’ll contact other ratlet providers.”
We got to Hamilton and no one had responded. So we took Jasper to Gage Park while we had a reset. Laur entertained him on the climbing equipment and swing, and ensured social distancing and safety. I chased down ratlet sellers on our cell phone. No one was responding or they were telling me they would not be home until the evening or their rats were skittish. We needed an “instant” ratlet pair that loved people or at least was used to them.
Forty-five minutes later – on Laur’s advice – I called my initial person. She still had the one female rat. And one was better than none at this point. Off to Burlington where we got “Court” who was not very courtly. She needed a good bath. We called her Court from the song “Court and Spark” by Joni Mitchell. (Nineteen seventy-four. That dates us.)
The very second after I’d given the gal a donation, I got a text. Another provider had TWO female rats – the second one was half price because she insists they go in pairs. Thankfully, she was willing to adopt one and was wiling to forgo the vetting process. She breeds Dumbo rats – a specialty rat.
Off we raced. Jasper was holding Court in her carrier and loving her. But also wanting to rotate her around and around. Not quite the gentle transition I had imagined.
We got our second rat. We called her “Spark” though she was not exactly Sparkly. Partly because she was traveling in an empty granola box with air holes. We didn’t think it was a very good idea to put Spark in the same container as Court, and have Jasper play see-saw with two rats who didn’t know each other .
When we got home, I put both in an elaborate hamster castle as their starter cage – a story in itself – and the two became instant best friends. And fell asleep. I love obsessing over them. You know – what is the best food, best water container, best cage, best toys…
It is in my nature to obsess – I’m OCD. Better I obsess about “dime a dozen” ratlets than Covid 19 and other world news. Laur is accepting of all of this. But not exactly thrilled. He is worried that my love of pet rescue in Sudbury is going to turn into a real rat’s nest. But I have pointed out three things to him:
1. Court and Spark are not rescues. They are adoptions.
2. With our new critter cage – another story – there is only room for four ratlets - tops.
3. Any ratlet that lives here has to be super friendly. It can’t be feral, or my kids won’t want our grands to come over.
Though I’d be perfectly OK if one of our four arrived pregnant. Back in Sudbury, Carolyn and I used to breed ratlets. There is nothing quite as sweet as watching these little “erasers” grow into little beings with their own distinct personalities. And finding good homes for them with one of “my tribes” – folks who love ratlets.
OK, there may be one thing sweeter. Even more enthusiasm from my hubs. (And he’s been very good about all of this as you’ll read in Parts Two and Three of the Ratlet Trilogy.)
I’ve got plans for some aMAZEing experiences for our grands…