Issac and the Rat Pack

A - Asia: Originated from Asia but spread throughout the world

B - Bruxing: The name for when rats grind their teeth together when they are happy

C - Companionship: Rats are extremely social animals, and get depressed when left alone for too long

D - Dumbo: A variety of rat that has huge adorable ears

E - Excellent: Contrary to popular belief, rats make great pets

F - Fawn: A rat with a coat that has a rich, golden orange color

G - Grooming: They are extremely clean animals, and spend 80% of their waking time cleaning themselves

H - Hooded: A rat coat that starts as a solid color on the head and ends as a stripe down the back

I - Irish: A solid colored rat with a white triangle on the chest and white on the front two paws

J - Jawbone: A rats jawbone isn't fused like a humans

K - Kisses: Rats love to give their humans kisses, just like dogs

L - Litter: Rats can have a litter size anywhere between 3-24 pups

M - Myco: Short for Mycoplasmosis pulmonis, a respiratory disease all rats are born with, but doesn't usually become apparent except in stressed or ill rats

N - Naked: Newborns are born without any hair, and it doesn't usually develop until about a week old

O - Omnivores: Just like humans, they eat both fruits, vegetables and meat

P - Porphyrin - Red discharge created from a gland behind the eyes that becomes noticeable under stress or illness

Q - Quick: Rats are able to run as fast as 8 mph

R - Rattus norvegicus: The scientific name for the common pet rat

S - Smart: They can learn their names, and tricks just like dogs

T - Tails: Help them balance, regulate body temperature and communicate

U - Ultraviolet: Rats are thought to be able to see ultraviolet light, possibly to view urine markings

V - Vomit: Rats have no vomit reflex and they can't burp either

W - Wake: Rats "cat nap", are awake about half of a 24 hour period and are most active in the early mornings and late evenings

X - "X"trordinary: They are extraordinary animals (sorry guys, if its a bit corny, couldn't think of a better one for this letter)

Y - Yogurt: Pet rats lovve yogurt as a treat

Z - Zodiac: Rats are the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac and represent honesty, intelligence, creativity, ambition and generosity

I've always wondered why rats look kind of cross-eyed like in this picture of Atlas. Until a few days ago, I didn't know why. But I saw on a video someone had posted on Facebook about how different animals see (see video at 1:30). Apparently, rats can actually move their eyes completely independent of one another. Weird to think about, because it would be like watching a double screened television with different angles of the same object or area. Or like playing two people playing against each other in a Mario Cart.

Every now and again, I'll bring my friends into the office. Usually after lunch, if its been a slow day and we aren't too busy. Being right before Thanksgiving, work has been pretty light this week, so I decided to bring the girls in.

They ride in a small pet carrier, in the front seat of my car (buckled in). And it is also their safe haven/napping place on my desk at work. Rats don't see very well, they are actually extremely near sighted, and only see a few inches in front of them...so I don't have to worry about them jumping off my desk and on to the floor.

The first time I brought Issac in to work when he was still small, I got mixed reactions from my co-workers. It was either "Ewww" or "Awww", and his long, bare tail grossed some people out. But since then, many people who were scared or not sure of the rats now want to say hi to them when they come visit the office. Thats not to say that there still aren't three or four people who aren't still grossed out by them. Oh well.

Both the girls and the boys love to follow me to work. They get to meet people, eat goodies they normally wouldn't get, and do whatever they want all day. This includes things they shouldn't be doing, however...like stealing tea packets, bottle caps, tissues, and trying to eat the bag of granola off my desk.

But by the end of the day, I think just like me, that they are glad to be home again.

My name is Issac, I was given my name by my original humans before I got adopted. I am the most roll polly, relaxed rat, and I think that I am a dog. I come when I am called and lick my human's hands to greet her. I love to cuddle with my human, and to get scratched on my cheek or right behind my ears. My favorite food is yogurt. I am the dad of three.