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Adopting a lone castrated rat?

24 replies

harper30 · 09/10/2019 22:19

Right I'm sure I'm being daft, but our local pets at home have an adoption section and there is a lone male rat in there who has quite a lot of baggage (apart from the aforementioned balls being removed, he doesn't have those in his baggage 😂)
He was obviously raised in the pet shop with siblings but was antisocial and likely to bite staff if handled, and they finally worked out why... he had a lump on his stomach which turned out to be an undescended testicle, presumable painful to be touched and hence his antisocial behaviour. They had both testicles removed surgically and he's all healed etc but has lived alone and will only be sold alone due to his history and his other littermates being long gone. He's been available for a couple of months and the staff I spoke to at length said he's had little interest due to all of the above.
I really really want to adopt him, I'm sure he'll just take lots of time and patience to get socialised and happy at home with me and am willing for it to go very slowly.

But do people think this is probably a non starter and I shouldn't do it?
Thanks for any advice

OP posts:
Nousernameforme · 09/10/2019 22:25

I would think that even if you couldnt tame him he would have a happier life with a proper home rather than being stuck in a pet shop for the rest of his life.

harper30 · 09/10/2019 22:28

Ah yes I hadn't thought of that, no one else might want him Sad I'm working on the assumption that if I don't have him someone else will, but actually if he's already been ready to adopt for two months with no takers he might not eh?

OP posts:
Teacakeandalatte · 09/10/2019 22:32

As he has been fixed could he be introduced to a female companion rat? I am not an expert on rats but I think he might be able to accept a female?

InglouriousBasterd · 09/10/2019 22:32

Sad Do it... you’ll never stop thinking about him if you don’t...

Flurgle · 09/10/2019 22:33

Oh take him Sad
He might socialise well now he’s not in pain if you take intros very slowly. Castrated boys often get on well with girls.

harper30 · 09/10/2019 22:35

Oh yay!!!! I'm so glad you've all said go for it, I really can't stop thinking about him 😂 and yes we could maybe try a female couldn't we?
Brill I'll go and reserve him/tell them tomorrow morning!!! His name is Balthazar 💕 tempted to change it to Varys though due to the eunuch thing

OP posts:
Flurgle · 09/10/2019 22:37

Having had several rats over the years I reckon it’s well worth a try with a girlie or two. Even if he remains alone he will have you.
We will of course be needing pics.

whereareallmyhairbands · 09/10/2019 22:37

I had a lone rat and he became very dependant on me, (which I loved)
He would run to me when called, curl up in my jumper hood, never bit me, nothing but love.

harper30 · 09/10/2019 22:44

It's years since I had rats, can you guys recommend best ideas for bedding and making the cage comfy etc?
I think I'll ask if I can take/buy the wooden house he currently sleeps in at the pet shop for familiarity and comfort and maybe some of the toys from his enclosure there?
Are shavings the best way to go or are there other things to use to make the cage more appealing?
I'm going for this bad ass one...
want to give him plenty of space and if we do later introduce a female they'll have bags of room

Adopting a lone castrated rat?
OP posts:
harper30 · 09/10/2019 22:45

I'm just worried that bare cage/wires to walk on all day will be miserable, ideas for liners? Or maybe replacing the levels with wooden ones instead of all being metal?

OP posts:
ButterfliesandMoths · 09/10/2019 22:59

I'm not a rat expert so I have no advice about them. I just wanted to say that he'd probably be a lot happier living with you than being stuck in pet shop. Good luck with him & post some pictures when you get him.

Flurgle · 09/10/2019 23:02

Boys tend to climb less than girls- rabbit cages are good for boys. Lots of hammocks to nibble and snooze in.
Not shavings- cardboard bedding is good. Rats get respiratory issues easily.

You don’t want the floor to be wire or he will get
sore feet -
Ask anything- I love ratties!

harper30 · 09/10/2019 23:08

Lovely ok will get hammocks and cardboard bedding 👍
I'll replace the wire levels with wooden ones so his feet don't hurt
I will absolutely upload pics!!! I couldn't get one in the pet shop, he did venture out briefly but by the time I wanted to take snaps he turned his back

Adopting a lone castrated rat?
Adopting a lone castrated rat?
OP posts:
Flurgle · 09/10/2019 23:10

Oh he will be so happy!

Wintersnowdrop · 09/10/2019 23:11

Aw lovely thread, I hope it goes well.

Flurgle · 09/10/2019 23:11

The wire shelves will be fine btw as long as the floor is flat. He will probably enjoy peeing from a great height Grin

TheSilveryPussycat · 09/10/2019 23:32

So glad you're going to give him a new home. Looking forward to seeing a picture of him.

newnameforthisonetonight · 09/10/2019 23:42

Oh I'm so excited for him! He's going to have a much better time living with you! Rats don't live all that long and he's been there quite a while. Once he settles in he'll be made up with his new family.

GinaCarbonara · 10/10/2019 00:12

Oh what a lovely thread! Hurrah for rats!

harper30 · 10/10/2019 07:04

Has anyone tried fleece lining for rat cages? Not the bottom level as he'll need that for the toilet but the shelves etc, anyone think fleece or fabric lining and covers for those metal bar platforms might work well?
I'm down a Pinterest black hole at the moment

OP posts:
harper30 · 10/10/2019 14:52

Well.
Got to pets at home just after they opened at 9, skipped over to Balthazar's enclosure... the woman is cleaning it out. SOMEONE CAME AND ADOPTED HIM AT 6PM LAST NIGHT. I was there at like 4.45pm and they shut at 6, and he had been there up for adoption for TWO MONTHS, and somehow I missed out on him.
However, they said he went to a very nice family who weren't scared of the fact he's antisocial so I'm happy he's got a home, fucking gutted it's not with me though. Glad I didn't order the cage yet 😂😂😂
Thanks all for your help anyway!!

OP posts:
Windydaysuponus · 10/10/2019 14:57

Hope they were being honest op. I was told by a staff member that unsold rabbits meet a nasty end in the back yard...
Grim but he had no reason to lie.
I did ring rspca at the time. .
I reported a shop years ago for having both sexes of Guinea pigs in together and watching the females gang raped. Was horrific. They are separated now as a regulation I was told. (?).

DogAndCatPerson · 10/10/2019 15:03

I have that cage for rats. I took the shelves out because the wires arent great on their feet and they do climb like billy-o (they are boys, I don’t think sex matters, rats climb full stop). Mine have fabric hammocks and plastic tubes at all levels for them to play and sleep on with water and food at both top and bottom. Just be aware that you’ll probably need a cage lock on the doors as they work out how to pop the doors open and you’ll wake up to find your little friend on the carpet or the sideboard rather than in his cage Hmm

DogAndCatPerson · 10/10/2019 15:06

Im sorry you missed out on him but no doubt there’ll be more rats in adoption corner soon Sad, in case you’ve got the rat bug.

We tried fleece lining in the bars but they just got covered in wee really quickly, they had to be changed & washed every couple of days. Pain the arse. So we got rid of it and they climb around all over the place. Oh, we have cargo nets in the cage too, so they climb around on those too.

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