The Year of the Rat

I feel like writing about my rats.

When we were kids (not that much has changed) Dad would purchase our good behavior at mass with a dinner at our favorite Chinese dive. I remember Saturday feasts at Chung King where we poured over the Chinese zodiac place mats. You could read those red and white circular charts a thousand times and still find something new under your egg drop soup.

Jon was born in the year of the rat. The rat is the most industrious and hardest working of the signs. Rats are loyal, loving, and sometimes chatty. They exhibit high energy and ceaseless organizational talent. They are often described as charming, social, and quick witted. They find safety in numbers.

I was born in the year of the cock. Roosters are called loyal and trustworthy as well. They are also stubborn, moody, analytical and shy. We owned many roosters growing up (bad little bantams at that)- so it was easy to see why those traits were associated with that particular animal. Our roosters were the know-it-alls of the coop. They could be brash and unpredictable, but they would often form singular bonds over which they remained very protective.

I never knew why special traits belonged to the rat. Like most kids, I wondered why the rat belonged on the calendar at all. Why not some more esteemed animal? I was glad I wasn’t born in the year of the rat.

A decade or so later, I’m experiencing my very own year of the rat(s). I remember the first moment I held Pippy rat. It wasn’t like holding any other rodent (we’ve loved ferrets, hedgehogs, hamsters and guinea pigs.) It was like holding a tiny dog. Like dogs, rats are quick to bond – so quick in fact that holding one in a pet store is as good as buying her. Like a puppy, they immediately radiate a positive response to any affection.

Rats are smarties. Pippy knew her name after a few days. Ash and Pinky come when called. Recently I’ve let Ash have free range of the apartment during the evening. Mostly she follows me or Monet around, but sometimes I loose sight of her. If call her name and make kissy noises, she comes romping out.

Last night was cage cleaning night. This is an unpleasant experience for the rats. Although they loathe dirty spaces, they can’t stand to have things rearranged. As I was cleaning out the cage, Ash was scuffling about under my feet. I would throw an old toy in a trash-bag and unbeknown to me, she would scurry in, retrieve the toy and run off to hide it. When I tried to call her later, she delayed. After a few minutes, I saw her lumbering out from under the entertainment center lugging her precious things. I decided that she could decide when they were no good.

As I placed the three little rats in their freshly cleaned space, they set about organizing. In a half hour’s time, it looked like someone had taken the cage and shaken it. Things were moved from upstairs to down, food was ferreted away and even the water bottle was carefully tilted. It looked a mess, but it was meticulously arranged.

I peered into the cage and three little ratties sniffed from their hammock. Upon the sight of me, the tired little girls stretched and jumped up, never too exhausted for social interaction.

So you see, the Chinese Zodiac was right – rats are full of energy, industrious and affectionate. The same cannot be said about hamsters.

On second glance, the rat is in very good company. Besides the rooster, he resides with the ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, sheep, horse, monkey, dog and pig. Tremendous work animals or the biggest smarties. I should have known rats were special.