July 31, 2025

Today I spent a while playing with my female rats in my room. I really enjoy my rats’ company. They’re cute and affectionate, and they make me laugh because they can be pretty silly. They get excited easily when I play with them, and it’s very entertaining.

I’m going through a lot in my personal life right now that is causing me a lot of stress, and while I don’t want to go into detail, I’ll say that it has triggered insomnia, and I’ve been trying really hard to focus on the positives in life right now to manage. I’m working to resolve the issues, but it’s just one of those situations where it’s ongoing. Being with the rats can be really therapeutic when I’m having a rough day.

I have 10 juvenile to adult females in the main cage right now. So I take 10 rats and put them on my bed with me, and I like down to play with them and cuddle. Sometimes I turn on the tv. Others I play with my phone, though, the rats don’t really allow for me to be very productive. Many times, I try to take photos or videos. I post my photos and videos on various platforms, like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Mastodon, Bluesky, and Lemon8.

I recently had my Facebook account deleted, and I’m trying to build my rattery business on those other platforms to create a large following.

I enjoy social media quite a bit, especially where it comes to sharing about the rats and my breeding program. I also connect with people who want to adopt from me. I also enjoy trying to post educational material to inform people about rats in general, and how to take the best care of them.

I used to learn a lot from people on Facebook groups, but now that it’s no longer an option, I’ll have to find new ways to continue ongoing learning.

I have a really wonderful mentor, and I know she will help and support me, and provide guidance. She’s been a real beacon for me in my journey, and I value her knowledge and her friendship deeply.

I also have a partner who is my best friend. She runs a rattery as well, and has done so much self guided learning that it just blows me away. She’s really brilliant and kind, and she’s another lighthouse in my life.

I’d be very lost in all this without my good friends.

I’m going to deeply miss all the other connections I’d made on Facebook in the rat world.

I’d created a couple groups for breeders, and pet owners, and I would regularly take part in discussion with other breeders in the messenger chats. It made my journey so enjoyable to talk with other breeders and be able to share with each other. The support of others in the breeding community is really valuable and helpful, and facilitates a lot of learning and growth in the breeding hobby.

I’m sad that my Facebook access was revoked, and I miss the social connections I had there, but I’m working on making things work without it, and I’m sure I’ll bounce back.

Until then, I’ll just keep on playing with and enjoying my rats whenever I’m sad. They soothe my heart.

I really and truly adore my pet rats, and I can’t imagine my life without them.