Age on Arrival: 5 months (Cloudee), 7 months (Sparkles), 1 year (Ratrick) Sex: Female x 2 (Cloudee and Sparkles), NEUTERED Male x 1 (Ratrick) Fostered in: Peterborough Here since: March 18/2022 From: Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), hoarding situation
Update, January 1/2023 This trio have a sad story. You can read it on our website. Thankfully, they have each other and now know what it’s like to be loved and spoiled.
They’ve been with us since March, with no interest.
Cloudee is the youngest of the three: a silly, social girl who loves to rummage through your hair and is happy to hang out on your shoulder.
Ratrick Stewart is a timid, neutered boy. He’s also a snuggle bug who has the potential to become very close with his new human.
Sparkles is more of a rat-rat than a human-rat, understandably. She’s also a mom-type to her rat-family. She’s coming around to patient humans, but will be happy living as a rat-rat.
It’s important to know that all of these rats have a bite history (including 2 since the past notes in bio - included below), and specific behavioural needs, updates and details of which will be discussed with any applicant. These three need an experienced family who will take the time to earn trust, while respecting and catering to their range of personalities.
PRIOR NOTES Sparkles, Cloudee, and Ratrick are learning to trust humans. They’ve had a rough start in life - coming from a home with over 300 free-roaming rats, along with a series of moves, surgery, and loss. Sparkles and Ratrick are agouti, and Cloudee is white. Sparkles and Cloudee are unaltered females, and Ratrick Stewart is a neutered male. They’ve had to move between foster homes already, and are now being fostered in Peterborough.
These sweeties came to us through an Animal Welfare case. We were expecting 3 males, but received 2 females and 1 male. They were all huddled together in the carrier when they came into our care, but the females were seperated from Ratrick quickly, and we soon attempted to introduce Ratrick to a new group of male buddies. This unfortunately didn't go well, and it became clear he was suffering from hormonal aggression. He was neutered and has since been reunited with his former girlfriends, and they are inseparable!
Sparkles was pregnant on arrival, and gave birth shortly after, to 8 babies who didn’t make it. Throughout this time, Cloudee stuck by her side, and the two are inseparable. They also love their blue dome which will go with them on adoption day. Sparkles bit her Foster Mom once, shortly after giving birth, but hasn’t bitten since. Ratrick bit his Foster Mom earlier on, though she thinks this was intended for the male rat nearby.
It is likely his neutering will help him feel less stressed. It's important to know bites are a possibility, but that bites occurred on only a few isolated occasions, during times of high-stress, and prior to trusting relationships being formed. Given their histories, they would only be suitable for people who have experience with socializing rats. Here’s an update from one of their Foster parents: “Cloudee has started to sit at the side of the cage most of the time, where I can see her. She stays for a bit before hiding. And she sniffs the area like crazy. I think it's a huge improvement TBH.”
Ratrick has proven to be a very sociable, snuggly rat who bonds closely with his person. Here’s what one of his Foster parents said about him: “The poor guy has been through alot, so he's put up barriers by staying hidden. Once he realizes he's safe and not going anywhere, he's down right amazing and shows his love and excitement to see you. His favourite time was in his cozy on a lap being pet." They would all benefit from these calm, chill sort of encounters during their free-roam time.
As can be seen in the photos of Ratrick - he craves love and is a true snuggle candidate for someone who can offer him that same trust and chance. The girls are also making slow and steady improvements and seem open to interacting with humans. They’re shy and need a family who can be patient and devote a lot of time to them. Cloudee is showing curiosity, coming out of hiding, intrigued by people now that some quiet time has gone by, and “doesn’t even think to bite” according to one of her Foster parents. She’s a very caring rat who always looks out for Sparkles. Sparkles is clearly attached to her friends and returns all the affection. The three of them love to snuggle up good in a “rat pile” to sleep!
These three would do best with an experienced human who can help them feel safe, confident, and at ease. They need to be adopted together and with someone who can see just how wonderful they are. Their Foster Mom is talking to them, petting them, and offering tasty food daily. She has already begun to show these beauties that life with humans can be incredible. This trio has been through hell and back. They deserve a peaceful, forever home with someone who can show them just what it means to be a "heart rat." Please reach out if you can give them this!
If you think you could be their new person, please fill out an Adoption Application on our website: www.rainbowratrefuge.org
If you’d like to contribute to their care, you can: - E-transfer: [email protected] - PayPal: @RainbowRatRefuge - Check out our website for more ideas