My name is Elma!

Our adoption process can be found on our website here: www.mnpocketpetrescue.org/process

Estimated birth date: 01/29/2024

Personality: Brave, Chatty, Curious, Energetic, Friendly toward humans, Funny, Inquisitive, Mouthy (puts mouth on you but does not bite down, usually thinking your fingers are food), Playful, Sweet

Favorite treats: Dried meal worms, yogurt drops, cheerios, and above all else malt paste (furo-vite)

Current Diet: Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat Food, Fruit, Veggies.

Favorite toys and activities: Running on the wheel, playing in a water dish

Potty trained: Does not use a litter box but only potties in cage

NOTE: Rats, even when litter trained, use their urine to scent mark as they move around their space. This means that while they might not take a big pee when they’re free roaming, they’re still trailing tiny dribbles wherever they go to help them navigate and understand their space. Most people can’t smell these tiny amounts of urine, but some people’s noses are more sensitive than others, so make sure your space can be cleaned easily if needed!

This animal’s daily routine: She and her friend Waseca get fed twice a day, and in the evenings they get an hour of free roam time, with dinner after free roam so they go back inside of their own accord. They know that “inside time!” means it’s time to go back in their carrier so I can carry them back to their cage and feed them.

BFF: Waseca and Elma are a bonded duo and must be adopted together.

Other species this pet has been exposed to and reaction: Has been in two cat homes without direct interaction, no fear of cat smells

Has this animal been exposed to children? What was their reaction? With a prior foster, but reaction unknown

Health concerns: Permanent head tilt and imbalance from inner ear damage. Elma had a series of respiratory infections before she came to the rescue, and as a result she has a chronic sneeze and a sniffle. She makes a lot of noises that in other rats would be a sign that she needs treatment for a respiratory infection, but for her just mean that she’s a noisy breather at times. She may be prone to future infections though, so make sure to keep a good ear out in case there’s any other change in how her breathing sounds!

Behavioral concerns: She’s not in trust training, and she has no issues around trusting humans, but she can be bitey at times, for reasons I don’t yet understand.

12/3 update - "developed an interest in biting feet and has drawn blood a handful of times now. Just feet though".

Other notes: Elma is an absolute sweetheart who loves to run and play and give lots of kisses! However, she’s quite mouthy. She doesn’t bite with any real aggression, but she does bite a little harder than the usual “whoops, I thought you had food!” that you might see in a red eyed rat. Instead, she seems to think that spots where the skin is thin and where smells build up on humans ARE food. And she will bite them. Mostly this means that if you’re around her with bare feet, she WILL try to eat your toes, and she WON’T be gentle. Maybe if you have socks on too. She’s also gone for a good chomp behind my ear when she’s grooming my hair, or on the back of a knee when she’s hanging out in my lap. Because she is unpredictable, and has broken skin before, I cannot recommend her for someone inexperienced in handling rats, or someone with small children. !

We recommend this group to an experienced adopter.

Waseca and Elma came to MNPPR from another rescue.

Due to our rescue being foster-based, not all foster homes are located in Saint Paul, MN. This animal's foster parent prefers to meet at the Petsmart - 1640 New Brighton Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55413 for meet & greets, & adoptions.

Fee: Waseca & Elma have a combined adoption fee of $35

We absolutely DO NOT SHIP ANIMALS! Please do not ask.

Elma's care while in rescue has not yet been sponsored. If you would like to donate to provide veterinary care, food, bedding, and enrichment for Elma or other pocket pets in the care of MNPPR, please visit https://www.mnpocketpetrescue.org/sponsor-a-pocket-pet for more information.