Topi Rats

These are some frequently asked questions and testimonials from people and families that have adopted or would like to adopt Topi rats.

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Q: What foods are bad for rats?

A: Licorice, raw sweet potato's, Bleu cheese, raw red cabbage, raw Brussle sprouts, raw artichokes, green bananas, green potato skins & Rhubarb should not be fed to rats. Peanut butter straight from the jar can be dangerous, your rats mouth and throat can get all sticky and closed up and cause difficulty in breathing. Orange juice and other citrus can cause health problems. (Specifically kidney failure in Males only.) Carbonated drinks can cause problems, as rats can not burp or pass gas. A little drink every now and then is alright but do not let them drink a lot, as it could cause an upset stomach and/or bloating. Try not to feed your rats treats with a lot of sugar too frequently as it can cause diabetes or other health problems. Avoid caffeine, so no coffee or tea. Raw red meat is fine, cook all other meats. Do not feed the peel of any fruit or veggie. Avoid fatty (junk) foods.

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This is the "Pod."  I have added different stuff since I took these pictures (camera is a Canon getting fix right now - I send more pictures later).

There is a sleeping pod, a dinning pod, exercise pod and soon to come a digging pod.  The exercise pod is not attached, but every morning I move the boys to another cage with a wheel.  I hide food in pvc tubes, 1 1/2 pvc with one large hole drilled in one side - caps on the ends, the hole is large enough for a rat arm to reach in.  I am feeding lab blocks, I hide a rat mix, pasta, veggies in the pvc tubes.

My children renamed Sven - Heavy Cream!  He is so funny - if he has something the others want, he hides in a corner and as the others move in he pushes their heads down with his hand - very cute.  The youngest (lightest color) is now Basil, the other two are Tyme and Parsley - Tyme has the most white on his face.  Parsley has turned the coolest color - he almost looks like a tortishell colored cat.

Thank you for great ratties,
Carrie

 

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Hi Kelsey-
 
So I thought I would let you know that all my rats are doing great! They all have their own personalities 

and are so much fun! The first few days, Phoebe was really shy but she completly turned that around.  

Shes the first one out of the cage lately and never wants to go back in!  She's also very sweet doing 

everything she can possibly do to clean and groom me (including trying to scratch her way into my 

mouth!)
 

Paige was never shy since I got her.  She's the smart one that is constantly hiding her treats before she eats

 them so she can get twice as many as anyone else.  Shes also the one that is also trying to play with the 

rest of them... tackling them until they finally do!
 
Piper was fine the first couple of days, but when she was out once Kirin knocked something over scaring 

her.  So for the next week she would just not want to come out, squeaking and doing everything she could

 to stay in.  However, she did get over that and now shes the most adventerous one.. climbing everything!
 
Kirin, of course, is an absolute sweetheart.  I let her run around my room and as soon as I call her name 

she will come running out right away... a great listener.  She's also already learned a few tricks and 

definitely loves her fruit loops!  And even though, she's allowed to roam the room when its playtime, she 

loves to just lay with me and sleep on the bed while I study completly stretching herself out (theres a 

picture).
 
So I've also attached a few pictures for you!  Well, take care and thanks again!
 
Nikki

Kirin eating 4.JPG

Kirin Sleepin Stretched Out.JPG

Piper and Paige Waiting to Come Out.JPG

Piper 2.JPG

Phoebe 3.JPG

Paige.JPG

 

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The First Letter :

I was wondering if I could get on the waitlist for your Dazed and Confused litter due in late August.  I also had a question which I hope you won't mind answering since I'm having a hard time finding the information anywhere else.  Are female rats as good as males as pets?  All of the pet stores I've gone to only have males, so I was worried that females aren't as friendly or something.  Forgive my ignorance - I'm a long-time lover, first-time (hopefully) owner, and I'm still trying to gather information.

Lastly, where are you located?  I can probably come pick the rat up myself if and when the time comes.

Thank you so much!
Alana

The Reply & Answeres:

Hi Alana,
 
I absolutely do not mind answering questions, and that is a quite common one. The difference between boys and girls is best described as the difference between cats and dogs. A girl rat is more explorative, so they often get the stigma of not being as snuggly. This is not true. Say you are holding your girls on the couch, they will explore at first about an arm lengths away from you at most, and then come scurrying back to your lap. Since they are more active they are also easier to train and more apt to hang out on your shoulders for hours. They learn their names quicker, come when you call faster, and love to learn mazes and obstacle courses. But don't think that they can't be squishy. As they age they calm down, that's universal through the genders. My older girls are total cuddle bugs. They love to curl up and just get scritches behind the ears and under the chin like a cat would. Boys on the other hand are normally more laid back. They are the ones that are more widely known to be the "dogs" of the rat world. They are very loyal and love to be with their people. They can also be trained to come when called and use a litter box, but being boys it takes a little longer. But most of all it depends on the individual rat. Be they boy or girl they have their own personality.
 
One thing I do ask is that if you do adopt from me you get a pair of rats. This is important because rats are very social and rely on each other for grooming and security. And having two does not mean that they will bond to you any less. You really won't see a difference in caring for two rats as apposed to a single rat. If the adoption price is a concern we can work out something so you can get your two babies without and hassles.
 
I live in Grand Lake, which is west of denver by 2 hours, over Berthoud Pass, and 30 minutes north of Winter Park if you know where that is. It's normally easier for me to meet the people adopting half way, or deliver for the price of gas. Again, we can work something out, I'm very flexible and willing to go the distance to see these guys in wonderful homes.
 
I have a couple questions for you if you don't mind. Do you mind red/ruby eyes? Would you prefer dumbo or top ears? What kind of cage will you be housing them in? What sort of food with they get?  How much time a day can you spend with them? Do you have any other pets? Any kids? And lastly, do you have a vet that will work with rats or do you need a few referrals?
 
Thank you for wanting to be on the waitlist. I hope my questions do not deter you, but it's just basic stuff any good rat breeder should be asking you.
 
Thanks again,
-Kelsey
Topi Rats
www.topirats.com

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The Question: How do Topi rats acclimate to their new homes and how quickly?

Adopter Comments (just got the babies home) : "The two rats are all snug in an old cloth daiper for the night. They are very cute
and have adapted well. The white one is Angel and the darker one is
Peekaboo. I've never seen such sweet rats! "     -Adam

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The Testimonial :

Hi Kelsey, this is Amber.  I adopted 2 cute little girl dumbo
>>>>>>>>>>>ratties from you a couple of months ago and they are wonderful.  I read that you are
>>>>>>>>>>>building custom wire cages and wanted to get a quote from you
>>>>>>>>>>>before I went to Petsmart.  Maxi and Mirabelle are definatly
>>>>>>>>>>>outgrowing their cage.  I wanted to get them something that was
>>>>>>>>>>>maybe 2 or 3 stories.  Maybe as long as a 10 gallon glass tank
>>>>>>>>>>>but a little wider and tall. I also wanted to know if you could
>>>>>>>>>>>tell me where I can buy them hammocks?  If you could let me know
>>>>>>>>>>>a price idea I would be able to pick it up on the night of the
>>>>>>>>>>>22nd.  Buy the way, my friend Kara said she loves her new baby
>>>>>>>>>>>boys she just adopted from you.  You should also be hearing from
>>>>>>>>>>>my friend Christine about the 2 picasso babies they got.  What
>>>>>>>>>>>other babies do you have right now?  Thank you!!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>-Amber

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Hi Kelsey,

Just wanted to drop you a quick line and let you know how great these boys are. I've never seen rats that love to give kisses as much as these guys do. They also got right in and joined the group after quarentine with no problems. Thank you so much!

Terren

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Hey Kelsey,

My daughter loves her two birthday boys! She came running down to the kitchen this morning with this "Oh my goodness Daddy!!!" look on her face this morning. I had snuck in early this morning before she woke up and put the cage with the babies and the hammocks you made for them in her room on her dresser across from the bed so when she woke up they were the first thing she saw. Well, let's just say she was overly excited they were here. I was then drug by my pinky up to her room where we spent the better half of the morning playing and sharing our breakfast with the boys. Don't worry, fruit only :)

She named them Bounce and Jingle because of all the hopping around the do when you pet them. I'm really looking forward to watching them grow with Sarah.

Thanks for everything,

Dave (the Dad) & Sarah

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I LOVE MY BABIES!!!!

-Trinity

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Hey Kelsey,

We just got home and put the girls in their new cage. The whole ride home all they did was lick my hand. I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the whole family. These guys have really been a joy, and thank you so much for driving 6 hours to bring them to us. It's not often you see that kind of dedication. And I never thought in a million years that the man I have been married to for 23 years would be asleep on the couch with a rat snuggled between his shoulder and his face. It's all most too much cuteness to handle :)

Thanks again for being so wonderful!

Lisa & Family

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