Cute Cute Video. Thanks Dru!

That little white baby is giving itself a good little grooming.

I want this!

Gold Year of the Rat Coin by orientalweights

Buy new: $14.99

In Stock

Everything Else:

Ok, i have no kids. I often play with a neighbors 2 year old daughter and they want me to introduce her to rats which is great. We haven't picked a day for me to go over there and bring a couple rats with me, probably next month some time. And this game is a little out of her range, she's a bit young for it. But, i want these cards anyway for my ratabilia collection. I don't care what the game is about, i just want these cards LOL.

I often scan Amazon.com and eBay for rat stuff and here is one of my finds. Soon as i can learn how to put cash onto my paypal account so i can use my paypal debt card I'm going to order these. Which leads me to an off topic question, does anyone know how to get cash onto a paypal account? I always have to send cash to a friend and she puts it on my paypal account but there has got to be an easier way. I don't have a bank account, i REFUSE to have a bank account anymore because they are always stealing my money somehow. So i stick to cash now, with cash no one can charge me outrageous overdraft charges. Ok, i am digressing and ranting a little bit.. sorry.. but yea... how can i get cash onto a paypal account??

Now back to the topic at hand. Take a Looksie...

---

Price: $7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Friday, March 28? Order it in the next 2 hours and 55 minutes, and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details

25 used & new available from $5.96

Here is the direct link:

http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-204-Rat-a-Tat-Cat/dp/
B00000GBQJ/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1206646022&sr=8-16

---

Oh this is just so adorable.

Just thought this was a pretty rattie painting.

I've seen this before but only as a photo, I've never seen a video of it. So i had to blog it here. Pretty cute. Long as the animals aren't scared i don't see a problem with it.

Tooooo Cute

Someone was visiting my blog and really liked it and left a comment and told me about their critter blog, so i had to pass it on to you because it's really cute.

The blog is called "Furry Critters" and here is the link: http://furrycritters-johnlon.blogspot.com/
Please take a look. I'll also be adding this blog to my blog links.

This is soooo cute and I'm craving an ice cold coke now. It's my fav drink!



Rapt Soda

Thanks Nim for sending this to me :)

Just found this while Stumbling thought I'd share i here. Might order one myself sometime.


Curiosity Rattery's Guide to Rats
Genre: Pet Care
Paperback: 112 pages




Description: This book is a hard copy of my sites. It contains care info, genetics, fun facts, and more.

Synopsis:

The rat information from my sites compiled into a handy paperback. All this is on my sites, but this is a version you can use as an offline reference. (I have always wanted to write a book, and now I have!)---Table of Contents: Why Rats?--Rats in Brief--The History of Pet Rats--Are Rats for You?--Choosing Your Rats--The New Rat--Rat Care--Is It True?--Health--Rat Psychology--The Lone Rat--Note to Children--Odor Control--Breeding--Genetics--Rat Types--Glossary--Other Resources Product Details:

· Paperback: 112 pages
· Binding: Perfect
· Publisher: Vickie Boutwell (February 2004)
· Product Number: 9768932

*Rattie Ratz is not affiliated with this blog. I just want to spread the word about their rattie event



* PERMISSION TO CROSS POST **

The Wonderful World of Rats is a free family fun fest dedicated to promoting domestic pet rats as quality companion animals taking place at the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo, CA on Sunday, March 30th from 11am-4pm. There will be hourly door prizes, vendors, games, crafts, educational seminars, raffle, photo contest and LOTS of fun!!

RAFFLE:

Rattie Ratz Rescue is holding a raffle at The Wonderful World of Rats and you do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $1 each and all proceeds go to the care of all our rescue rats. Rattie Ratz is seeking much needed financial assistance to pay for medical expenses, spay/neutering, general maintenance and more. Only 5 more days to buy a raffle ticket!!

Info can be found at:

http://www.thewonderfulworldofrats.org/raffle.html

PHOTO CONTEST:

Unfortunately we can't all bring our pet rats to the fest, but we are all proud of our pets!

Attendees at the event will have the chance to vote for their favorite rat photo. Near the end of the event, a first, second, and third place winner will be established based on votes placed throughout the day. There is no limit on the number of entries an individual can submit and the winners need NOT be present to win!!

*** A ribbon will be awarded to each winner and Rattie Ratz will donate a prize customized with their winning image ***

How to enter:
Photos can be brought to the event (please bring a standard size 4x6 photo) Don't bring your only copy of the photo. Photos may not be returned and we cannot be held responsible for keeping pictures in mint condition.

You can submit your photo online at any time before Friday, March 28th to rattieratz@gmail.com. All entries will be printed on 4x6 photo paper and will look better with higher resolution images. Please bear this in mind when submitting your entry.

You can send in your entry using the regular mail. (It must arrive by Friday, March 28th)

Please send your entry to:
WWOR Photo Contest
c/o Diane Nesom
5411 Drysdale Drive
San Jose, CA 95124

No matter which way you choose to enter, be sure to include your name, your rat's name, and your email address or phone number with your photo.

Please help us get the word out by cross posting this message to as many applicable groups as you can!

Thank you for your support. Hope to see you there!

The Friends of Rattie Ratz

These are lovely

I apologize for the pop ups that show up when you view this page. They are coming from one of the Widgets i installed on my page. I am trying to figure out which Widget it was. I think it was the Mini-Blogs i put on my page so i took that one off to see if it helps.

I have a pop up blocker on my Fierfox browser so i can't see the pop ups when i view my blogs when not in edit mode. But someone told me one of the pop ups as VERY ADULT, i am soooooooo sorry about that. Please know i didn't put that add on myself, it came with one of the Widgets on the side bar.

I am trying to fix all this so bare with me please. Don't it discourage you from viewing my blog.

Thank you
-Rebecca

Here is a rat video i found on Naional Geographic. It's about Rat reproduction. It's not about our Domestic friends, but the wildies.

*Note: I wasn't able to watch the entire video for it skipped a few times, if there is anything that would be considered inappropriate to us rat lovers, please let me know and I'll take off the video ASAP

Here is the link to the video:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/mammals-animals/
rodents-and-rabbits/boa_ambushesrat.html

(let me know if the link doesn't work)

*Edit: Looks like you'll have to cut and paste the link into your browser

Another good article:

Retired professor captures a 'Living Fossel' -- Loation Rock Rat once believed to have gone extinct.

ScienceDaily (Jun. 14, 2006) — The first images of a live specimen of a small, furry animal once believed to have gone extinct more than 11 million years ago have been captured during a Southeast Asian expedition led by a retired Florida State University researcher.

The remarkable video and photos shot by David Redfield, a professor emeritus of FSU's science education faculty, and Thai wildlife biologist Uthai Treesucon are being hailed as historic images documenting a true "living fossil," the Laotian rock rat.

The Laotian rock rat is so called for its only known habitat -- limestone outcroppings in Central Laos -- and the appearance of the animal's head and face, which sport long whiskers and beady eyes like those of a rat. (To view photographs and video of the Laotian rock rat, visit www.rinr.fsu.edu/rockrat.)

Redfield's video shows a docile, squirrel-sized animal covered with dark, dense fur and bearing a long tail that's not as bushy as that of a typical squirrel. Perhaps the most striking observation is how the animal walks -- like a duck. Clearly not adapted to climbing trees, the rock rat exhibits a duck-like waddle with its hind feet splayed out at an angle to its body. An avid but otherwise amateur wildlife observer, Redfield has traveled the world since retiring in 1988 from a career in teaching and research at FSU. A passion for bird watching in the 1990s segued into an interest in seeing some of the world's rare mammals in their native habitats. When he learned about the discovery of the Laotian rock rat last year -- and that no one had seen a live specimen -- Redfield set out on a personal quest to accomplish the feat.

"We were extremely fortunate in so many ways to be able to do this," Redfield said of the discovery. "It's easily one of the most gratifying experiences of my life, and I hope these pictures will help in some way to prevent the loss of this marvelous animal."

Known as kha-nyou (pronounced "ga-noo") in Lao villages near its habitat, the animal was first described scientifically in the April 2005 issue of the journal Systematics and Biodiversity. Identified as a member of an entirely new family of mammals, the rock rat made news around the world. It gained international attention again on March 10 of this year when scientists published a paper in Science magazine re-identifying the animal as a "living fossil" whose last remaining relatives went extinct 11 million years ago.
Mary Dawson, curator emeritus of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum and primary author of the paper published in March in Science, recently reviewed Redfield's images and confirmed their authenticity. "This is a truly exciting discovery," Dawson said. "Dr. Redfield's sighting of the living animal is the first to be recorded scientifically. These are the first photographic images of the recently discovered 'living fossil' Laonastes aenigmamus."

Dawson led the team of scientists who used fossilized remains collected from sites in Pakistan, India, Thailand, China and Japan to prove that, instead of being completely new to science, the rare animal actually was the last known relative of a long-extinct family of rodents known as Diatomyidae. Dawson's paper described the rock rat as an example of the "Lazarus effect," a reference to the Biblical character Lazarus who returned from the dead. Biologists use the term to refer to those rare instances when animals long thought to be extinct turn up alive and well in some remote habitat.

"Dr. Redfield's discovery and these images are extremely important scientifically, showing as they do an animal (with) such markedly distinctive anatomical and functional attributes," Dawson said. "These are amazing pictures."

Redfield used some of his contacts in Southeast Asia -- made from numerous bird-watching field trips to the region over the years -- to help coordinate his trip to Laos this past May. Using native guides and interpreters, he succeeded in gaining the confidence of local hunters near a Central Laotian village close to the Thai border. After four failed attempts, the hunters finally captured a live rock rat. Redfield and his hosts returned the animal safely to its rocky home after photographing and videotaping it.

Redfield credits Treesucon, a renowned biologist and birder, with coordinating the logistics of the expedition that culminated in the successful capture of the animal on May 17 near the Laotian village of Doy.

Good Article:





ScienceDaily (Jan. 30, 2008) — It’s the Chinese Year of the Rat, and if there’s ever been an animal that needed a total image makeover, it’s the rat. Many people loathe rats and associate them with disease and filth – hardly a four-star recommendation for the furry creatures. But the truth is, they are highly intelligent animals, have been amazingly beneficial in medicine and can be very affectionate pets, says a Texas A&M University veterinarian and rat expert.Dr. Kristina Kalivoda, a small animal instructor in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, believes rats are among the most misunderstood of all animals and are not the horror from the sewer people tend to think they are.

“Rats are very smart and are known for their problem-solving skills,” says Kalivoda, an admitted rat fan.

“Many people believe they are nasty, filthy creatures, and that’s not true at all. In fact, rats wash themselves several times a day, about as often as most cats.”

The name itself poses a rat problem.

Rats are rodents, and rodent comes from the Latin word meaning “to gnaw.” Rats do like to chew and they are constantly searching for food. They tend to live where humans live for two reasons – food and shelter.

They have been parodied by Hollywood – who can forget James Cagney’s immortal line, “You dirty rat!” – while last year’s hit film Ratatouille showed the humorous side of the creatures, and Disney’s Mickey Mouse has been appealing for decades, as have Tom and Jerry.

Comedian David Letterman often jokes about New York City’s countless rats, bragging that “our rats can whip your honor students.”

Some rat facts include:

• Their lifespan is between 1-3 years;
• They have no gallbladder;
• Rats have a bellybutton;
• Rats can’t vomit;
• They are prolific breeders: A pair of rats can produce 15,000 descendants in their lifetime, and female rats spend almost their entire lives pregnant;
• Rat teeth are incredibly strong and can chew through walls, plumbing and even concrete.
• Rats come in different colors such as silver, blond, grey, black and albino. Some have short ears and some have floppy ears;
• The largest rat, the African rat, can be 3 feet in length – about the size of a small dog;
• Rats are expert swimmers;
• Rats can laugh and do so with a high chirping sound when amused.

“Rats are very smart and they can figure out things quickly,” Kalivoda adds. “If you put them in a maze, they can find their way out in no time at all. They are social creatures and can be very affectionate. They are also easily trained and many can do tricks.”

The difference between a rat and a mouse, Kalivoda explains, is size. Rats are much larger than mice, often three to four times as large, and mice don’t live as long as rats.

Despite their frisky mannerisms, many rats have internal health issues, mainly cancerous tumors. Kalivoda says rats often develop mammary tumors or other cancers, and rats also frequently suffer from respiratory illnesses.

But their benefits in medicine have been phenomenal. In research laboratories around the world, rats have contributed to more cures than any other animal, and in that regard, have no doubt saved millions of lives.

“In my opinion, rats do a get a bad rap,” Kalivoda believes.

“I can tell you firsthand that rats can make great, fun pets. A lot of people have rats as pets, and they will tell you they’re the best pets they’ve ever had.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Well, i think i am happy with this Template and color for now. Hey, and it kinda fits the Holiday (easter) doesn't it. I didn't even realize that till after i finished changing the colors.

So i think I'll keep this for a while. At least until such time i find the perfect template and look for it.

-Rebecca

Omg these are some amazing rattie photo's. And what a great photographer this person is. I take professional style photo's of my rats but they never come out quite this good. Above are 3 of the photo's but you can see more here" http://www.redbubble.com/people/ellen/art/everything/tags/rat

I'm in the process of finding a new template for Wonderful World of Rats. Remember, i was only using the Ratatouille template for WWR's debut. Yea, it was a cute template but it had a few bugs and it didn't fit the screen properly, at last not for me.

So now i am in the process of finding a new template for WWR. But, i am a tad frustrated because every time i find a template on line that i really like it doesn't work for some reason. I get errors when i try to upload it and I've tried it both ways- Uploading and cut and paste. I do know how to put templates into Blogspot but some of them just don't want to work or something is missing or wrong with the html/xml code and i don't know enough about html or xml to go inside the codes and fix it.

But, eventually i will find the right template for this blog. Over the next few days you may see the template change. Although blogspot offers previews of templates with your content before you pick it i still like to see how it will actually look... so as i said, you may see this page change a lot over the next few days.

I'm really looking for a clean and simple medium blue, light blue template for this blog... so that is what i am searching for. I did fine a few beautiful templates but they were for Wordpressarghhhh and i did try it anyway... but it didn't work.

Let me know if the black text is to hard to read on this template i have on today.

Sorry for any inconvenience.... oh and yes... the blog will still be active and i will be posting threw all this construction so continue to check back often.

Thank you
-Rebecca

Came across this tonight.. passing it on

http://lolrats.blogspot.com/

I found these 4 pieces of rat art tonight... thought I'd share. I got all 4 from Deviantart.com- Great site by he way.

I think my favorites are the second and last one. But... they are all wonderful.

I snagged this from a wonderful blog called Imagica ran by a close friend of mine Drusilla- Http://imagica.blogspot.com I've never seen a rattie with a mark like this. This baby is so adorable i just had to snag it for WWR.

I found this on the enternet just now. If anyone lives in Cuyahoga County or close to it (I have no idea where it is in Ohio, i live in California). Anyway, it looks as if someone is hosting a meeting to dispel the Myths of rats at a local library. I cant find to much more info. The only thing that the page really has on it is two cute pics and a link to registration for the meeting/event. So, i thought I'd post it here so that anyone in the area can register an attend. Below is the info. (link at bottom)

Branch: Brook Park - Large Meeting Room

Type of Event: Special

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008 2:00 PM

As we enter the Chinese Year of the Rat, join us as John Minniti shares his interest in rats, tells us why they make good pets, and shows us how to take care of them on Saturday, April 26 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.

This is a family program, open to all ages. Registration is required. If there are spaces available, you may register online, by phone, or in person beginning March 5, 2008 (registration link will not appear until 3/5/08 at 9:00 AM).

Here is the link if to the page if you'd like to register and attend: http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/EventDetail.aspx?EventInstanceID=21672

These are actually made for dogs but i think i want one for my rats. The beds are to large for a cage but for free rangers it would be great. Imagine having a bunch of sleeping rats in this in the corner of your room. I know my rats would love this!!! Here is ordering info:

http://www.pawsupply.com/petzipbeds.html
(scroll down)

Actually any of the items on that page I'd love for my rats.

Thought this was a cute pic

Here is one of Drusilla's newest masterpieces. It's a drawing of a rattie named Ellie. I think it's wonderfull.... as usual. Drusilla Kehl is a wonderful artist and the best rat artist in the world.

Anjyl's Mom writes:

Below is information on dangerous plants and a list of plants that are dangerous to rats and animals

* Please disregard the "Printable Version" and "E mail to a friend (only for website this info came from)

The following plants are all dangerous to some degree. Some, like oleander and Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) can cause death almost instantly. Others may cause only a mild reaction, but it is still best to remove them from any areas where they would be in contact with your pet. This is not a complete list, so if you are in any doubt about the safety of plants that you have, please contact your veterinarian or the poison control center. The ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center hotline numbers are as follows: 1-900-443-0000 ($55.00 per case). The charge is billed directly to the caller's phone. 1-888-4ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435 ($55.00 per case). The charge is billed to caller's credit card only. Plants dangerous for small animals: Air plant Amanita Amaryllis American yew Andromeda Arum lily Autumn crocus Australian flame tree Avocado Azalea Balsam pear Baneberry Bird of paradise Bishop's weed Black laurel Black locust Bloodroot Bluebonnet Blue-green algae Boxwood Bracken fern Broad beans Broomcorn grass Buckeye Buckthorn Bulb flowers Burdock Buttercup Cacao Caladium Calla lily Camel bush Candelabra tree Cardinal Castor Bean Chalice vine Cherry tree Chinaberry tree Christmas candle Clematis Cocklebur Coffee Coffee bean Coral plant Coriander Corncockle Cotton bush Cowslip Coyotillo Crown of thorns Cutleaf Daffodil Daphne Datura Deadly amanita Death camus Delphinium Devil's ivy Dieffenbachia Dutchman's breeches Eggplant Elderberry Elephant's ear English ivy English yew Ergot Eucalyptus Euonymus False hellebore False henbane Flame tree Felt plant Firethorn Four o'clock Foxglove Ghostweed Glottidium Golden chain Ground cherry Johnson grass Heliotrope Hemlock Henbane Holly Honeysuckle Horse bean Horse chestnut Horsetail Hyacinth Hydrangea Indian licorice Indian turnip Inkberry Iris Jack-in-the-pulpit Java bean Lima bean Jasmine Jerusalem cherry Jimsonweed Juniper Kentucky coffee tree Lantana Larkspur Laurel Leucotho Lily-of-the-valley Lima bean Lobelia Locoweed Lords and ladies Lupine Malanga Mandrake Marijuana Maternity plant Mayapple Meadow saffron Mescal bean Mexican breadfruit Mexican poppy Milk vetch Milkweed Mistletoe Mock orange Monkshood Moonseed Morning glory Mountain laurel Mushrooms Narcissus Navy bean Nettles Nightshades Oak Oleander Panda plant Parsley Peires Pencil tree Periwinkle Philodendrons Pigweed Pikeweed Poinciana Poinsettia Poison ivy Poison oak Pokeweed Potato Precatory Privet Pyracantha Rain tree Ranunculus Rape Rattlebox Rattlebush Red maple Rhubarb Rhododendrons Rosary peas Sandbox tree Scarlet runner Skunk cabbage Snowdrop Snow on the mountain Sorghum grass Sorrel Spindle tree Spurges Sudan grass Sweet pea Tansy ragwort Tobacco Thornapple Vetch Virginia bower Virginia creeper Wattle White cedar Wisteria Yam bean Yews Yellow jasmine

I got this from the AFRMA (afrma.org)


Average life span 1000 days (2-3 years)
Body Length 9-11
Tail length in inches 7-9
Weight in ounces 10-19
Temperature 99.5-100.8
Respiratory rate Average 100/minute
Heart Rate Average 375/Minute
Amount food eaten 15-20 grams
Water consumption 1 Oz (although I've heard it is 2 Oz)
Fecal output 10-13 grams
urine output 11-15 mil
Adult males weight 450-650 grams
Adult female weight 350-450 grams
Ideal room temp 65-70 F
Ideal room humidity 45-65%
Cage cleaning Twice weekly (although this varies depending
on how many rats are in a cage
Keep males together Yes (however... occasionally you'll get a few males who
don't get along
Males musky odor no (But some males can have a musky odor but it is rare
Good and Water
requirments Always availabe

This rat in this set of photo's look so much like one of my first rats Olivia. Olivia is long gone. I rescued her and her sister Ripley from a nasty pet store.

Another great rat photo:

Great Photo

Rat Facts 12-17

12. The average body length of a rat is 9-11 inches, the tail is 7-9 inches. If you include
the tail, the average length is 16-20 inches.

13. Teddy Roosevelt had pet rats in the White House

14. Rats teeth are strong enough to gnaw through wood, bone, lead piping,
brick, concrete and metal.

15. Rats have been sent into space, aboard, American, Chinese and Russian spacecrafts

16. Most rats are right handed.

Kangaroo rats

Genus Dipodomys, are small rodents native to North America. The name derives from their bipedal form: they hop like tiny kangaroos.

Twenty-two species are currently recognized. Their size varies from 100 to 200 mm, with a tail of equal or slightly greater length; weight can be anywhere between 35 and 180 grams. The most distinctive feature of the kangaroo rats is their very long hind legs.

Like the jerboas of African and Asian deserts and the hopping mice of outback Australia, kangaroo rats have highly developed hind legs, live in deep burrows that shelter them from the worst of the desert heat, and rarely drink water. Instead, they have a highly water-efficient metabolism (their kidneys are at least four times more efficient at retaining water and excreting salt than those of humans) and manufacture water through a metabolic process called oxidative phosphorylation. Despite sharing so many characteristics with jerboas and hopping mice, the three groups are not closely related to one another: the similarities are the result of convergent evolution.

Kangaroo rats are found in arid and semi-arid areas of Canada, the United StatesMexico that retain some grass or other vegetation. Their diet includes seeds, leaves, stems, buds, some fruit, and insects. Most kangaroo rat species use their burrows and buried caches nearby to store food against the possibility of bad seasons. The Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat has been recorded making burrows with several storage chambers up to 25 cm in diameter each, and containing almost six kilograms of stored food. and

Unlike the jerboas and hopping mice, but like their close relatives the pocket mice, kangaroo rats have large cheek pouches that open on either side of the mouth and extend back to the shoulders. They fill the pouches with food or nesting material ready for transport back to the burrow, then empty them by turning them inside out, like pockets, with their forepaws. There is a special muscle that, once the pouch is empty and clean, pulls it back in again.

The overall color of the kangaroo rats can be anywhere between pale, sandy yellow, and dark brown, with a white underside and often with white banding across the thighs. Tails tend to be dark with white sides and a tuft of longer hairs. Facial markings vary from one species to another, but all have an oil gland between the shoulders.

One special feature of the kangaroo rat is the animal's efficient kidneys. The kangaroo rat has a longer loop of Henle in the nephrons which permit a greater magnitude of countercurrent multiplication and thus a larger medullary vertical osmotic gradient. As a result, these rodents can produce urine that is concentrated up to an osmolarity of almost 6,000 mosm/liter, which is five times more concentrated than maximally concentrated human urine at 1,200 mosm/liter. Because of this tremendous concentration ability, kangaroo rats never have to drink; the H₂O produced metabolically within their cells during oxidation of foodstuff (food plus O₂ yields CO₂ + H₂O + energy) is sufficient for their body. Kangaroo rats lose so little water that they can recover 90% of the loss by using metabolic water gaining the remaining 10% from the small amount of water in their diet. Kangaroo rats lose water mainly by evaporation during gas exchange and gain water mainly from cellular metabolism.

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Subclass:	Eutheria
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Heteromyidae
Genus:	Dipodomys

This is beautiful. I'm not sure what it is because you can't see the whole thing in the photo and there was no info with the photo other than it's a rat. Isn't it pretty!

These weren't to easy to find. Aren't these gorgeous rat photo's!!

I really need to start taking some more
professional photo's of my rats like i used to.

The last picture is awesome bu the poor
ratty looks so scared. I hope he was ok afterwards.