Laverne & Shirley

About Laverne & Shirley

Laverne and Shirley are female rats believed to be under one year of age.  They came to our from WI and were surrendered due to their person facing financial difficulties.   Shirley, the black and white girl, is very sweet, gentle and quite adventurous.  She loves to get out of her cage and explore.  Laverne is more reserved and scared, and she will let you know it with a bite.  She will need an experienced rat handler who is patient and willing to work with her unique personality.  She will come and take food from your hand without biting,  Out of cage play time and positive food reinforcement will help to develop her confidence.    Proof of a proper enclosure is required:  one with solid floors and shelves to prevent foot injuries, bar spacing small enough to prevent escape or heads getting caught, good ventilation to prevent respiratory issues, and enough room to climb, explore, and provide enrichment activities like digging, burrowing, and balancing.  Four cubic feet per rat is optimal.  Like other animals, rats are very intelligent and need mental stimulation. They are also social creatures so they should be adopted in pairs at a minimum.    Rats are heat sensitive, so cage placement is important:  an area in the home that does not get too hot in the warmer weather.  They do best in areas that are completely dark for at least 8 hours a day with no n