Why You Can't Come Inside

The FAQ section on the website gives the short and sweet, but I wanted to expand a bit more here.

Q: Can I come visit the rattery?

A: We operate a closed rattery to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals and pets in our household.

Rats must be selected in advance, as we do not offer meet-and-greet- appointments.

Q: Can I pick out my rats in person?

A: All rat(s) must be selected and paid for in advance through our website.

Actual footage of some people on my website.

Forest City Rats is a home-based rattery. I breed and care for rats with love and attention, but my home is not a public-facing business or a commercial setting. Buyers are also complete strangers to me, and allowing unknown people into my home simply isn’t appropriate.

My partner and I also have dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, and other animals in the household. Opening our home to visitors would require extensive measures to prevent allergies, manage interactions, and secure every pet before showing anyone the rats. It’s simply not feasible to walk every single prospective rat owner through our entire living space safely and comfortably.

I also work from home and schedule rat pickups around my job and daily routine. Because of this, I’m not able to offer in-home visits or tours of the rattery. Instead, I arrange pickups at a designated time, at the door, ensuring the handoff is smooth, safe, and respectful of both my time and my household.

For example, I once had a buyer ask to spend an extended period of time at our house upon pickup. The request was uncomfortable and unfair to me. I was working at the time, and since I work in veterinary medicine with sensitive client information, allowing a stranger inside simply wasn’t an option. Was I to go lock myself in my office to ensure my clients' privacy while leaving a complete stranger in my living room with my other pets? Call off work for the remainder of the afternoon?

Another time, someone tried to purchase additional rats at the door. Their children were running around, causing chaos, and my cat ended up escaping during the interaction. This incident further reinforced why all sales are now conducted through the website for smooth, controlled handoffs.

Rats are delicate creatures, and their health can be easily compromised by germs, diseases, or stress. Limiting access to the rattery protects their well-being. Even minor exposure to unfamiliar people or other animals can introduce illnesses or parasites that are dangerous to small mammals.

Limiting access to my home is about safety, health, and respect for our rats, our household, and the adopters themselves. While I love sharing our rats with the world, I will continue to do so on my own terms, prioritizing the comfort of our home environment.