How do you go about getting rats from me?
Detailed descriptions of what happens at each stage below.
1. Contact me via the contact form, or via message on the Methyl Rattery Facebook page (click or see 'Links' page)
2. Vetting by me, feedback will be given whether successful or not.
3. Waiting list
4. Allocation of rats by me
5. Take rats home
6. Lifetime support
1. Contact me via the contact form, or via message on the Methyl Rattery Facebook page (click or see 'Links' page)
2. Vetting by me, feedback will be given whether successful or not.
3. Waiting list
4. Allocation of rats by me
5. Take rats home
6. Lifetime support
How do I vet people?
I use a rehoming questionnaire to vet my pet homes. The questionnaire is available either on the site or by request from me, and contains questions on housing, bedding, accessories, diet, veterinary care, and your interest in rats. This questionnaire is NOT a test, but it does give me a good understanding of what information you may be lacking and allows me to tailor my feedback. I give feedback to absolutely everyone that completes my questionnaire, but that doesn't mean I can do it straight away. Please understand that sometimes I feel someone is not suitable for my rats, but I will always explain why.
How does the waiting list work?
I get so many enquiries every week that either do not return or return incomplete questionnaires that I now do not record any names or dates until questionnaires have been approved. My waiting list is prioritised by approval date. When I have litters and have decided who I am going to keep, I will offer the remaining babies to people in order of the waiting list, but keeping in mind the preferences everyone has expressed in order to try and please as many people as I can.
Allocating rats
On my questionnaire I ask for any preferences in terms of variety, and if there are any varieties you would like to avoid completely. This does not mean that you are guaranteed to get that variety of rat. I breed to make my own healthy, well tempered rats and keep those lines going, as a hobby. I do not necessarily know who I am going to keep until the kittens are ready to leave for their new homes, and as such can't reserve for everybody before then. There will always be some that I know are not staying from very early on, I may reserve them for people on my waiting list.
Kittens will be allocated to best suit everyone having kittens from that litter. This means that if there are 4 kittens, two of them with pink eyes, and I have two homes for pairs both wanting to avoid rex fur, I will likely allocate one rex furred baby to each home, so that both people get part of what they want. I am not going to pick favourites and ignore the preferences of one person to please another.
If you are not happy with the kittens allocated to you (it isn't always cut and dry, sometimes I offer a few and sometimes I have no waiting list and you get free reign, it is circumstantial) then you are welcome to wait until the next litter to see if the right kittens come along, I am not going to remove you.
Kittens will be allocated to best suit everyone having kittens from that litter. This means that if there are 4 kittens, two of them with pink eyes, and I have two homes for pairs both wanting to avoid rex fur, I will likely allocate one rex furred baby to each home, so that both people get part of what they want. I am not going to pick favourites and ignore the preferences of one person to please another.
If you are not happy with the kittens allocated to you (it isn't always cut and dry, sometimes I offer a few and sometimes I have no waiting list and you get free reign, it is circumstantial) then you are welcome to wait until the next litter to see if the right kittens come along, I am not going to remove you.
Taking your babies home
Kittens leave me in same sex pairs, trios or more, at 8 weeks old and not before. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT HOME SINGLE KITTENS, OR UNDERAGE KITTENS. Kittens get split in to genders at 5-6 weeks old, this for males means that they lose their mum. Not only that, but they lose their sisters, and move in to a new cage full of new toys and furniture, and that is scary for them. Girls also lose their brothers, have to change cages and furniture too so they all stay here until a minimum of 8 weeks. I can not see how it is fair for them to have to get used to new people, and new smells and sounds in an alien environment on top of all that initial change. My babies are given time to develop in to proper little rats, helping them to develop confidence before leaving for their families.
Some litters may be big and because of that, the kittens may be small. In cases like these, I may keep kittens with me a little longer until I am happy with their size.
I am not a shop. I have a job, a son, three dogs and a life, and I can't always arrange to be in the house when someone wants me to be. Between us, we can work out a time that suits us both for you to come and collect your rats. You will need to bring your own carrier to collect them in, and they will leave with a small bag of the food they have been eating while they were with me. Breeding and showing is a hobby I very much enjoy, but due to my many commitments it is important that you try to be here for the times we arrange.
Some litters may be big and because of that, the kittens may be small. In cases like these, I may keep kittens with me a little longer until I am happy with their size.
I am not a shop. I have a job, a son, three dogs and a life, and I can't always arrange to be in the house when someone wants me to be. Between us, we can work out a time that suits us both for you to come and collect your rats. You will need to bring your own carrier to collect them in, and they will leave with a small bag of the food they have been eating while they were with me. Breeding and showing is a hobby I very much enjoy, but due to my many commitments it is important that you try to be here for the times we arrange.
Lifetime support
When kittens leave me I will always do what I can to support you. I am always answering emails asking for advice, and I don't mind that at all. In exchange for this support all I ask is that I am kept up to date with any issues or illnesses which may occur in your rats.
I will always take back rats that I have homed out, my main priority is that they are okay and I would much rather they come back here should you ever need to rehome them.
I will always take back rats that I have homed out, my main priority is that they are okay and I would much rather they come back here should you ever need to rehome them.