The Boys

They are beautiful and adorable, Caine. Thank you for sharing them. They always make me smile.

Thanks, Hekuni Cat. :)

The Darlings! : )

lucky boys : )

love that top one

Hi, Twiglet. They are, they're my darlings. Just the sweetest boys ever. Chas is the cuddle bug, Alfie is reserved on that front. Rick is only home three days a week and it's so funny to see Chas Sunday night when he gets home - Chas adores Rick and gets all excited, sniffs him up and down, sits on his shoulder, chews on his hair and so on. Chas *has* to sit on Rick's knee when we eat, so he can have supper with him. It's silly. Alfie loves nothing as much as getting loose in the house, he has the best time chasing all the cats and trying to get them to stay still long enough for a really good snuffle. He also loves going up and down the stairs and he looks so cute when he does. Alfie always answers when I call him, such a reliable little boy.

Anon, yes, they are, but so are we. :)

Aaw, thank you, Viv!

In the second picture, the rat on the left brings to mind stereotypical cartoon depictions of nefarious rats ...

Llewelly, that's Chas. I don't know that I'd go so far as to call him nefarious, but he is the, um, mischievous one of the two.

So, I take it Matoska utterly lacks a prey drive, then? Or is he just bright enough to realize that his housemates are off the menu? Goodness. His muzzle is bigger then both Boys combined!

Silar, oh no, far from it. He's not remotely bright, he's one of the stupidest animals I've ever come across, but one of the only things he takes seriously is food, and if he growls or snaps at the rats, his food gets taken away. *That* he manages to remember. Outside, it's a constant fight to keep him off the squirrels, rabbits and birds.

And yes, he's freaking *huge*.

Oh, so he's Bandit then, only frelling huge. Gotcha. :D xxx

Hahahaha, yep. :D xx

they look so happy and healthy - and I love your new banner thinggie

Thanks, Dhamaka. The boys are happily stealing mac & cheese from my plate right now. :)

man honestly they're lovely but I'd be so worried about having them around all them predator animals... Still, lots of fun! I'd quite like to get a rat or a bird or something but I can't help feel that Elvis would just murder any animal like that.

Omg. That's sooo cute!
How did you introduce all your pets to each other?
Xx

Thanks, Rich. One of our cats is named Elvis. Rats really can hold their own, cats don't like rats who turn around and chase them, it upsets them. Some rats are very outgoing, others are shy. They make brilliant pets and lots of people keep them and cats. If you have time to waste one day, look at all the videos on youtube of pet rats and cats. :D Of course, you can keep a rat and never expose it to your cat, too.

maddyisanowl, thanks! Chas & Alfie aren't our first rats. Our first one was a rescue, and he made sure to bite every single cat in the house. He didn't fuss with the dogs so much. The cats learned to respect rats and dogs really don't want a lot to do with them, they try to keep their faces away, as rats like up close snuffling and like to groom them (rat grooming involves chewing, uncomfortable on the eyelids!). Even so, the rats and dogs do play a little together and often nap together.

The cuteness! *squee* I love the first pic, especially the terrifying size of the dog and the implied safety of the rats! :D

Just the idea of the dogs and the rats napping together made me squee out loud. In a coffee shop. Oops. Love the pics of your boys!

Ah, thanks AngelKaida!

Miss, hee hee, thank you!

Aww, it's good to see they're still doing fine and being adorable.

Thanks, Dania. They have the best time, they get to run around the whole house every day now and they are just the best little critters one could ask for, sweet all the way through.

love that top one.

Thanks, FF!