[bewitched]

I've had ratties ever since college. They are one of my favorite little animals (MUCH better for kids than gerbils or hamsters). Right now we have 4 ratties: 1 blue hooded, 1 buff hooded and 2 hairless. The buff (Timon...his brother Pumba died about 1 1/2 years ago) is about 3, the others range from 1-2 years old).

These rats don't get as much individual attention as past ratties have, but all of them are very sweet and friendly. If you interact with them enough, you can teach them tricks just like little dogs. I had one in college that would come when you called him, sit up...all sort of cute things.

Interestingly, the cats have never seemed to have much interest in them. the rats aren't afraid of the cats and will actually approach them (under supervision, of course)...we think the cats think that the rats are some kind of sociopathic freaks who might go crazy all over them (I mean, aren't they supposed to run in fear, or something?!?!)

Oh, and they looooooooove almost any human food, especially McDonald's cheeseburgers.