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Hantavirus is currently being talked about more in public health news, and if you're a rat owner, it's easy to see those headlines and immediately spiral a bit. Take a breath: this is one of those situations where a little education and basic caution go a long way, not panic. Statistically, everyday respiratory viruses like COVID-19 or flu are far more common risks than hantavirus exposure from properly kept pet rats. This blog breaks down what hantavirus is, how it spreads,

I don’t want to keep operating Forest City Rats at the same scale or level of public visibility that it has grown into over the last couple of years. This isn’t a dramatic announcement, and Forest City Rats is not disappearing. I still love working with my rats, raising thoughtful litters, and connecting the right animals with the right homes. What is changing is the amount of public visibility and constant online activity surrounding it. Going forward, I plan to substantiall

Friendly Reminder: Respecting Boundaries Means Respecting “No Contact”. Being blocked by someone is a boundary. It’s not a puzzle to solve, and it’s not an invitation to try again from a different angle. If someone has chosen to block you, that is a clear signal that they do not want further communication. Using an alternate account, a different platform, or any indirect method to re-establish contact doesn’t change that. It only crosses the boundary that was already set. As

Stop telling me how gross you think rats are. You wouldn’t walk into a dog breeder’s home and say, “I hate dogs, they’re disgusting,” so don’t do it here either. You also wouldn’t go into a bakery and announce you think bread is “gross,” or tell a tattoo artist you hate tattoos while they’re working. You don’t go into someone’s space, especially someone’s business, and insult the very thing they care about. It’s basic respect: if you don’t like something, you don’t need to ma

Money can feel like a tricky topic when it comes to animals. There’s a common assumption that earning a profit automatically means being greedy or unethical, but that’s an oversimplification. At the same time, the opposite idea, that not making a profit somehow proves ethical breeding, is just as flawed. You may have seen breeders emphasize that they don’t make money, often framed as: “I do this for the love of the animals, not for profit.” And while the intention behind th

I didn’t plan to keep writing about this, but the situation didn’t really end when I issued a refund. It just made something clearer. There’s a difference between misunderstanding and a pattern. And once you see the pattern, it becomes very hard to ignore. Imagine my surprise to see the same breeder (please read Part 1 if you haven't) using yet another Kijiji profile to sell rats they breed. They are now also looking to rehome their dog because they're not home enough and ar

Rats are one of the most misunderstood companion animals. Despite being intelligent, social, and affectionate, they are often judged based on myths, fear, and outdated assumptions. This post breaks down some of the most common misconceptions and what the reality actually looks like. “Rats are dirty animals.” This is one of the most persistent myths about rats. Domesticated rats are actually very clean animals. They groom themselves regularly throughout the day and often groom

Dumped Domestic Rabbits I didn’t expect to walk away from helping a rabbit rescue feeling this frustrated. I live nearby, and when I saw a Facebook post about abandoned domestic rabbits, I didn’t hesitate. It was around 9 PM, the start of a thunderstorm, and I geared up and started walking their way with food just to see if I could spot them. Brian said absolutely not, we are not going outside looking for rabbits in the dark/storm. But when we arrived, and he saw the little s

Considering getting pet rats? Not sure if you're ready? Not sure if they're right for you? Here are some questions to consider! Household / Environment Do you have a safe, quiet space for a cage that won’t be exposed to direct sun, drafts, or smoke? Is anyone in your home allergic to small animals or concerned about rodents? Are all household members aware and on board with having rats? Do you have a plan for noise, smell, and daily interaction needs? Is your living situation

I’ve taken time to reflect on how Forest City Rats operates and where adjustments are needed to keep things running smoothly. I’m someone who is always growing and evolving, and if you were to ask my former boss (hi Dave!), they’d tell you that efficiency has always been a core part of how I work. I’ve watched too many ratteries start up and eventually close, often due to burnout, unsustainable expectations, or a program launched without proper planning, consideration, or edu

I want to share an important update regarding my delivery services. Starting April 1, 2026, Forest City Rats will no longer be offering delivery. My initial goal was to discontinue out-of-town delivery in 2027; however, the continued rise in fuel costs has required me to implement this change earlier than planned, while also discontinuing both local and out-of-town deliveries. I did not make this decision lightly. I originally kept my delivery area intentionally wide becaus

Something that shouldn't exist, and shouldn't be a trend, but here we are. Every year, I brace myself for this, but this year, it feels like it started early. Easter hasn’t even happened yet, and my Kijiji and Facebook feeds are already filling up with rabbit listings. “Free to good home.” “Can’t keep anymore.” “Looking to rehome ASAP.” "Moving and can't take with me." "Adorable rabbits in time for Easter!" I’ll be adding screenshots here because, honestly, you have to see it

If you follow Forest City Rats, you may have noticed that I’ve started being more open about my experiences, both the positive and the challenging ones. That transparency is intentional. Over time, I’ve also reached a point where I feel confident enough to speak openly when something genuinely questionable or shady happens. Maybe it’s turning 30, maybe it’s the growth of the rattery, or maybe it’s simply the experience that comes from being in this space for a while. But a bi

Note: It's not actually that fun. Lately, I’ve been more open about sharing experiences where people have burned me in the hobby. Not to shame anyone, but to give folks a clearer picture of what I mean when I talk about the importance of honesty and transparent communication, and why I don't mess around. One situation from a little over a year ago stands out, and I think it’s worth sharing because it highlights how small miscommunications, or withheld information, can create

Rats are kid-friendly, but they should not be kid-owned Here’s the truth nobody tells you: 100% of the care and responsibility for a rat, or any animal, falls on the parent. No exceptions. Feeding, cleaning, vet care, enrichment, finances… all of it is on you. Kids are unpredictable. They lose interest, forget chores, and get distracted. When that happens, the responsibility doesn’t vanish; it lands squarely on the adult. I see this constantly in my own experience. In my hous

I Can’t Make the Choice for You I get messages like this all the time : "I’ve been thinking about getting rats for a while, do you think they’re right for me?" "Should I get male or female rats?" "How many should I get?" And honestly… I can’t make that choice for you. Here’s the thing: if you ask a seller whether you should buy their product, of course they’re going to say yes! We love rats, we think they’re amazing pets, and we want everyone to experience that. But that doe

Heartbreak: Lessons From a Difficult Rat Placement At the end of 2025, I experienced something I’ve never encountered in over 100 rat placements: the sudden loss of two young, healthy female rats shortly after they left my care. Three female rats were placed in their new home on November 5 at 12 full weeks and 1 day old. They were healthy, social, and used to being handled; there are photos and videos showing how friendly they were on my Instagram page. Before sharing more, I

Gatekeeping in the rat breeding community is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately... especially the culture of secrecy around lines, pairings, and “protecting genetics.” I understand the history and the reasons people give, but I still struggle to fully understand why it’s held so tightly. At its core, I think most people outside the hobby assume breeding is just putting two rats together and waiting for babies. Anyone can technically do that. But ethical, intenti

Recently, I came across a Reddit thread where someone asked if it was normal for a breeder to require a non-refundable deposit to reserve a pet. The majority of the replies immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was a scam or a huge red flag. While scams certainly exist online, the blanket statement that any breeder requiring a deposit is suspicious simply isn’t accurate. Deposits are actually very common practice among responsible breeders across many types of animals.

One thing that has always been a bit crazy to me is how casually some people decide to breed rats. Pair two rats together and suddenly you could have 15+ pups in a single litter. That’s a huge number of animals to be responsible for overnight. Yet many people seem to do this impulsively without any real preparation or plan in place for what happens if those pups don’t all find homes. Every breeder should be prepared to house, care for, and financially support every single rat