I talk about rats too much in here.

[corknut]

I came back into my room this evening and found Lotus, one of my rats, dead in her cage. There was nothing physically wrong with her and she was only a baby, so we're guessing that she just had a defective heart (she was a white rat, and there's good evidence that they're genetically weaker than the fancies). She looked like she had just keeled over very suddenly; there wasn't any sign of pain or struggling. Right now I'm sitting here with her cagemate, Xena, and she's like. Skitterish and shaking and just generally freaked out and traumatized. I feel bad for her, bawww.

Having pets that only live for a few years at most sucks, gaiz.

Comments

[banerry.livejournal.com]

Really? I didn't know that! D: All of the ones I've had have been through pet shops (there aren't any rat breeders around here, unfortunately), and this is the first time I've had an issue. The other two that died lived for over three years each, and one of the ones I still have now is probably pushing four.

That sucks. :/ My mom used to be kind of freaked by them (or, mostly by their tails), but now she's a lot more used to them and she actually kind of likes them. XD And I agree; rats are wonderful. I always want to have a couple around.

[idgiebay]

Oh, ones from pet shops can be happy and healthy! They're just more likely to have health and behavioral problems, or so I've heard. They come from the rat equivalent of puppy mills. I actually worked at PetSmart for a year, and we took care of all of the small animals to the best of our abilities, but we had no control over where they came from. A lot of the rats there weren't socialized very well, and a few of them had breathing issues.

Haha! My mom hates their tails, too. She actually got sort of used to them, but it's my sister that really dislikes them, and since she co-owns the house with my mom, she, unfortunately, has authority over what can and can't live here. :|

They're so social, too, omg. I loved letting them sit on me or crawl in my shirt whenever I was at my computer. XD

[banerry.livejournal.com]

adsfjk now I feel bad about possibly supporting rat!puppy mills. D: I know at least some pet stores get their small animals from breeders, but I don't know about the bigger chains. Our pet store chain up here is PetCo, and so far I've gotten four rats from them, all of which have been healthy (except, I guess, for this one) and very well-socialized. But when we lived in New Jersey years ago my sister and I each got a rat from PetSmart-- mine was extremely friendly, while hers was skittish and didn't even like to be picked up or taken out of her cage. :/ So I guess it varies.

My sister doesn't mind them, at least; she's indifferent to most animals and rarely goes in my room anyway.

Saaaame. XD Lotus (the one who just died) used to sit on my shoulder and groom my hair and lick my face; it was so adorable. I have to wear old clothes when I have them out though, because oh my GOD they chew holes in everything.