A friend is after 1 or 2 rats but would like them to be used to human contact - would consider some that need rehoming or would buy some. Anyone recemend anywhere in Sheffield? The RSPCA have a couple in but is that a good place to get a tame rat from?

Gleadless pet store is great, the lady is a real rat lover and she breeds her own.

According to my daughter the pet shop in Hillsborough has a lot of them.

Hi

The RSPCA in Sheffield to have two rats but I suspect they need neutering. They've been through at least 2 homes sadly and the RSPCA seem to think nothing of rehoming them to inexperienced owners who are then unsurprisingly unable to cope.

I would strongly advise you to go to a reputable breeder - there are several advantages to this approach. You get a wider choice of colours, you know they've been raised with human contact, you know they've been bred from reputable stock (at least reducing the later health risks etc), you have ongoing support and should your circumstances change, any good breeder will take the rats back.

You can get a list of breeders from the National Fancy Rat Society - email is breeders@nfrs.org. I know there's a breeder in Sheffield but I don't know if she has any litters currently, there's also a breeder in Doncaster. However rat trains can frequently be arranged so don't let distance put you off contact. In addition, many breeders and rescues will rightly so not have litters available over the Christmas period deliberately to avoid them being given as presents.

There are numerous rescues around as well but I would advise a specific rat rescue, there's one in Manchester (PM me if you want the details) and also one in Sheffield (I think), as well as Lincoln and a huge one down in Surrey. I can pass these details on if required.

Your friend would need at least 2 rats as they are very sociable and it is never advised to keep a rat alone starved of ratty company, your company just isn't enough no matter how long you spend with them. Best of luck - there's loads of options out there which aren't pet shop and I'm sure you'll find your ideal companions!

I will reiterate, please please please do not support pet shop breeding! The majority start their life in Rodent Farms (picture a factory stacked floor to ceiling with small plastic containers and zero human contact) and are hopelessly inbred and malnourished by the time they hit the shop floor. All the reasons above are also good reasons to stear well clear of pet shops.

Hi
I will reiterate, please please please do not support pet shop breeding! The majority start their life in Rodent Farms (picture a factory stacked floor to ceiling with small plastic containers and zero human contact) and are hopelessly inbred and malnourished by the time they hit the shop floor. All the reasons above are also good reasons to stear well clear of pet shops.

This may generally be the case, however the owner of Gleadless pet store is not like this. She is a real rat lover, she only ever euthansazes a rat that is sick and all of her rats are given lots of humaln contact.

This may generally be the case, however the owner of Gleadless pet store is not like this. She is a real rat lover, she only ever euthansazes a rat that is sick and all of her rats are given lots of humaln contact.

I said the "majority". Personally I do not agree with the pet shop trade and I never will, regardless of whether she breeds her own own or not. The extensive support that is offered by any reputable breeder of any animal is in my view a very good reason to go down that path.

I believe there is a few at RSPCA chesterfield who have never been rehomed before and are handleable

heavenlyarts, did you manage to find a home for the cat in your signature yet? I've not seen the photo before, he looks soooooooo like my cat Kevin, bless him. x

DONT GET THE 2 FROM THE RSPCA SHEFFIELD! hte ones called rocky and everest

this isnt laura its her bf i had those 2 they are nightmares i had to send them back they are that bad they have scarred my hand you will have no fun looking after them i beleive they have bin reserved and sent back again.

do not get them get ones from a breeder its your best bet

This may generally be the case, however the owner of Gleadless pet store is not like this. She is a real rat lover, she only ever euthansazes a rat that is sick and all of her rats are given lots of humaln contact.

ican vouch for this too she always has lists and her rats are reallyhealthy and she breeds themcarefully not just for the sake of breeding

heavenlyarts, did you manage to find a home for the cat in your signature yet? I've not seen the photo before, he looks soooooooo like my cat Kevin, bless him. x

Nope still desperately trying to find him a home. WE're housing him in the cattery but need the pen for Christmas.

RSPCA Bawtry seems to have some babies in!

http://syac.homeip.net/cgi-bin/makepage.py?menu=homecode.dat&targetpage=animals//Rat/1.dat

RSPCA Bawtry seems to have some babies in!

http://syac.homeip.net/cgi-bin/makepage.py?menu=homecode.dat&targetpage=animals//Rat/1.dat

Shame they havent got any piks up. I'm guessing Rebecca and Ronald are the parents. Their such cute names XD

But seriously, dont get Rocky and Everest, I went to see them when my BF had them, and they were a mess!... its a shame really :(

Oh and the sheffield breeder has a litter in, but i think shes almost booked up, i'm on the waiting list, i dont know if I have any yet, i've got to wait and see. But it might be worth an email :)

Though most breeders have stopped breeding as its christmas, so you might have to wait till after the new year.

Ive passed on all your advice, if anyone has a rat cage for sale please pm me.

I'm the breeder in Sheffield that has been refered to!

I will almost certainly have some females for sale as most people seem to want males at the moment, I do have a questionaire I ask people to fill out and for obvious reasons the rats will not be going to their new homes until after Christmas

I can assure you my rats are friendly and enjoy being handled, when I open the cage door they all come flooding out!!

Edited to add: I do have some rats available from this litter, if anyone is interested.

[QUOTE=hels1977;4370882]as well as Lincoln and a huge one down in Surrey. I can pass these details on if required.QUOTE]



hey!! i was wondering if you could send me these details, im looking for a breeder in surrey or the surrounding area :) thank you

as well as Lincoln and a huge one down in Surrey. I can pass these details on if required.

hey!! i was wondering if you could send me these details, im looking for a breeder in surrey or the surrounding area :) thank you

Have PMed you. :D

Ah rats i adore rats, saw 2 the other week in a large commercial pet store, they were dumbo's and i was so so tempted but dont want to buy from there. i have a huge empty rat cage too. I so need a small holding. annax

Ah rats i adore rats, saw 2 the other week in a large commercial pet store, they were dumbo's and i was so so tempted but dont want to buy from there. i have a huge empty rat cage too. I so need a small holding. annax

There's always loads of does and bucks of all ages from pingy nutty babies to older sedate lazy boys looking for homes: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community/viewforum.php?f=23 Don't let location put you off - sometimes rat trains can be arrranged (in the New Year obviously). :D

My newest rescue girlie is a cheeky, chewing monster, cute though: http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/helensy/PB280598.jpg (on the left, my old lady on the right, not sure who the poor snout in the middle belongs too) :hihi:

you will find plenty rats around Mcdonalds queens rd lol