About Us

Ravenwood Rattery is a small business started and owned by 23-year-old queer partners Shepherd and Rune Ravenwood. We have a shared passion to provide quality rats to the rat lovers of the Pacific Northwest region. We are dedicated to ethically breeding and raising well-loved, healthy, happy rats, and strive to continually grow and improve.

Shepherd was born in Virginia and moved to Washington when he turned 18. They are currently a veterinary assistant and surgical nurse with additional certifications such as Feline Friendly, Feline/Canine Nutritional Counseling, and have committed to over 30 hours of CE to further their education. He is currently enrolled in a program to get his Veterinary Technician license. His long-term career goals include becoming an exotic veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator and one day owning his own practice. Their interests outside of animals and medicine include psychology, art, and gaming.

Rune was born in Minnesota and moved to Washington when she was 19. She is currently assistant manager at a locally owned pet food and supply store. Her biggest interest is gaming, including card games, TTRPGs, and online gaming. They also enjoy painting miniatures, writing, cooking, and baking.

Physical Health

One of our goals is to produce the healthiest possible rats. We breed only adult rats who are in good health, with no history of skin issues, chronic upper respiratory infections, circulation abnormalities, or other genetic issues.

All of our rats have top-notch medical care, and are monitored closely at home for signs of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, inappetence, lethargy, etc. They get regular veterinary exams and are quarantined and medicated appropriately at any sign of illness.

We have had several long-term (and not bred) residents who had various disabilities and special needs, such as a deformed hind leg, skin cancer, and asthma, so we have plenty of experience with a multitude of rat medical conditions and treatments.

Early Neurological Stimulation

Each of our litters goes through Early Neurological Stimulation. This is a series of exercises done from day 3-16 involving tactile stimulation (tickling the toes), thermal stimulation, and several positioning changes (supine, perpendicular, and downward). This process is recommended for canine puppies by the American Kennel Association, and has proven to increase development speed, cardiovascular performance, and greater resistance to stress and disease.

Puppy Socialization Starts with the Breeder: Early Neurological Stimulation – American Kennel Club

Mental Health

We strive to keep every rat happy and enriched, so our rats get daily interaction and stimulation! Some of their favorite activities are frozen pea fishing, free-roaming, sensory bin time, and snuggling. They also get to solve treat puzzles from time to time, and have lots of different toys, colours, and textures in their cages.

Our mischiefs get monitored closely for signs of stress and anxiety, which includes weight loss and self-harming behaviors like barbering and nail chewing.

Diets

Our rats eat Mazuri Rat kibble, with our babies and juveniles eating the Young Rat variety, and our adults getting the Adult Rat variety.

Both of our mischiefs' diets also are supplemented daily with a homecooked meal that is balanced with vegetables and leafy greens, fruits, and grains. Some of their favorite snacks are broccoli, carrots, celery, peas, corn, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, peanuts, lentils, shrimp, eggs, peppers, crackers, tortilla, yogurt, cottage cheese, mealworms, beans, cereal, rice, applesauce, and noodles. Honestly, they like most food, and so far, have only disliked radishes, banana, yellow squash, and crickets.

They also are supplemented with timothy hay (sometimes containing mint or cranberries) in their bedding to forage for and they get different chewable toys in their enclosures.

Protocols and Standards

We hold ourselves to a high standard to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of each and every one of our animals. Below are some examples of the protocols we follow.

Horizontal surfaces in the cages are wiped down daily to avoid buildup of feces and urine.

2. All bedding is changed out in each cage every 3-5 days. We use a combination of Aspen shavings and recycled paper litter.

3. Pregnant mothers are separated into a pregnancy suite several days before birth to avoid complications and allow time to settle and nest.

4. Females are given 3+ months after weaning a litter bare minimum before mating again, if they are even bred multiple times.

5. Each rat is checked over physically every day to ensure no new wounds or symptoms have developed.

6. Male and female rats are housed in separate cages a full room apart and do no interact unless specifically chosen to breed.

7. Juvenile rats are sold no earlier than 6 weeks old.

8. Sick rats are quarantined and medicated (under veterinarian direction) to avoid cross-contamination.

Our rattery is currently home to 6 female rats (1yr-2.5yr) and 6 male rats (1yr-2.5yr).

Our babies are sold with a $35 adoption fee to be paid at time of pick-up, and must be sold in pairs, unless you already have an established mischief.

*We do not have a current litter available but may have some adoptable adult rats upon inquiry.*

If you are interested in purchasing a rat through our rattery, please submit the application form below, or reach out via email.

Application Form Link: Click here to be redirected to a Google Form

Email: ravenwoodrattery@gmail.com

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