My Testimonial Page

Hi Kat,

I bought hammocks from you in Feb. & never got back to you to tell you how great they are!!! By far, the most durable ones I've found. Thanks so much for such a great product! Rats have been chewing and it's finally time to buy more. These are adorable...are these the toughest ones you have? If not, could you please direct me to the right ones. Also, the last ones I got had an opening in the middle which my rats love. Do you do these anymore?

Thank you again for the best hammocks ever!

Lisa

"Kat,
It was so great meeting you and some of your other darling ratties. We made it home just fine. We had our kids in their bonding pouches with us for most of the night last night at the hotel while we were watching T.V. They are just amazing. They are getting settled into their new cage now exploring and what not. Thanks again for the great socialization you do with your guys, they are so sweet!"
Tori

"Hi Kat,
I just wanted to let you know that we are all home and the girls are doing really well. They slept most of the way home. We have them in their new cages and they seem pretty content. Eating and doing what little rittens should be doing! Brian and I are letting them relax and get used to their new surroundings and we are planning on getting them out of the cages a bit later tonight.

It was nice meeting you and seeing Sterling..(what a doll he is, WOW!) and seeing all of your babies! It was a pleasure. We will be back up for more babies eventually, and I will be in touch and send you some pictures, soon, too! Don't worry, these girls are going to be totally adored! They are just beautiful!

You have a nice night and TTYS!
HUGZ:)"
Nancy

"HI again, Kat..
Yes, the girls are making Brian and I smile. I had Meeko and Lucy in their pouch for a good 2 hours and they were all snuggled up and cozy. They were so laid back and completely comfortable with me. No fear, it was so obvious they felt warm and safe! Brian had Nahni and Koko out at the same time and Nahni was pretty much like my girls, just wanting to snuggle and sleep, but Koko was more of the adventurous one, checking things out around her.

I think it is going to be really fun, Brian and I sharing our evenings together with the girls. I see many wonderful days to come with our kids! You looked so close to tears when we left. I know how you felt. I know how I felt when I had to give up my guinea pig's babies, and years ago my cat's litter of kittens. It is hard, they are so cute, you want to keep them and you get attached even though you know you just can't keep them all.

I give you our word that these girls will be very loved, and well taken care of! I will have Brian take some pix of them soon and I will send them to you, promise!

BIG hugz:)"
Nancy

"Hi Kat, well the girlies are home and seem to be doing well. They were pretty quiet last night - I think it being their first night without their mom or you, put them in a bit of a melancholy mood. This morning they were out and about, running their wheel, eating and drinking well, and generally exploring their domains. Nanc is quite smitten - she had Lucy and Meeko in her pouch on her lap for a couple of hours last night...they seemed quite contented and so did she. Thanks so much for brightening our lives with these four darlings. Brian"

"Hi Kat,
I am getting closer and closer to the girls. They love me, of this I am positive. Lucy has really taken a shine to me. She is like a little dog, she licks me every chance she gets. My fingers, lips, anything. She loves to lick my mouth, and will get inside of my mouth and clean my teeth. I had a cockatiel that also did that, LOL. Brian watches me and smiles. He understands completely. Brian is doing great with his girls, too. We take them out at least twice a day, usually in the afternoon and again in the evening. I spent an hour and a half watching the soaps with mine today, and when Brian came home and saw me, he got his babies. Mine will be watching A I with us tonight, LOL!

I wanted to tell you that I looked over Light's new pix. Beauties, no doubt. Phantom, now that is the perfect name for that little rattie. Those babies are so cute and pretty! Brian and I will be reserving more babies in a couple years from you..no doubt about that. Such perfect tempermants, who can ask for more?

"Dear Kat,
I just received the hammocks and latches. They are awesome! The design is wonderful and the material both soft and durable. I am impressed by the workmanship."

"I have your site bookmarked and will use it for my rats hammock needs as they arise. Thank you for your wonderful hammocks and latches, take care and be well."

Meg

"I love the new hammock! It was love at first sight for Miss Pipkin! I showed her the opening in the side and she crawled right in. She spent hours in there last night trying it out. Teyla was more apprehensive and wouldn't go inside. She played around on top for a while, then left it to do other things. However, both ratties were snuggled inside the hammock together this morning. So cute! I'm really glad I found my way to your site and decided to inquire.

Thank you so much!"
- Holly.

"Hi Kat, I am wondering if anyone has reseved the two remaining girls from Abby's litter? I am thinking if not, I may get them for ME..Brian would have his pair and I could have my own. If someone else has reseved them, then I may just get on the waiting list for another litter and make the drive back. Let me know...I have rattie-greed, they are so gorgeous! Everyone of them!"

Nancy

"I just wanted to let you know that we received the hammock and carrying case and I can’t tell you how much they LOVE the hammock!! Rocky was sleeping inside it this morning and stuck his nose out to say hi before curling right back up! They are very happy and I really appreciate it."

I love the hammock and so do my little friends. I have been telling all my other friends with small pets about your items and how cheap they are, so expect some more orders.

Thanks for responding so quick,"

A.Saffert,
Collegeville, MN

"hi kat!
It was very nice meeting with you yesterday! Ive been playing with Rusty nonstop, so i will tell you a bit about him :)

He is actually very calm. Once i got him home, and I went to say hi to jethro, I noticed how quickly Jethro moves compared to him. jethro is much more active and skittish. Rusty moves very slowly and deliberately and never shows fear of humans. He really really does like to perch on my shoulder :) Jay liked him immediately - actually as soon as i walked in the door with Rusty's crate, jay snatched him out and fawned over him (he looooves the red fur color, because Jay is a redhead :) ) and he put him on his shoulder and said "He'll be MY rat!" (!!!)

He rested in the hood of Jays sweatshirt but doesnt hide! He lays there with his head out, watching everything, and doesnt shy away when someone walks up to pet him. he REALLY enjoys being stroked on the head, and always closes his eyes and moves his mouth when Im petting him :)

I really like him, he is a great rat. i think you picked out a perfect one for me. Thanks a lot Kat!!"

"Pumpkin is in his new home, getting used to his new surroundings, but still inside his own cage and separated from Puddles. Puddles became incredibly excited by the smell of another rattie, and has been more bold and frisky since the arrival of his new brother and roommate. Right away, Pumpkin's personality is showing as so different from Puddles. He is sleeping on top of the bedding, and is taking food from us and eating it without signs of much fear. They are the perfect match of personalities. I'll let you know how the friendship develops when we do introduce them.

We'll definitely keep in touch. Kayla and I loved seeing you again, and we are so happy to have the boys. Thanks again for everything!"


Love,
Sheila and Kayla
Pumpkin and Puddles

"Thought I'd send you a quick note and a couple of pictures of our sweet little ratties. We just love them.
thank you,"

Pam L.

"Hi Kat~

It was nice to meet you too. We got home about an hour ago and the girls slept almost the whole way home. I put them in their quarantine cage and it is in a different area of our home, away from the other ratties. Can't wait until I can get them together in a few weeks.
Thank you again!! I'll be in touch!"

Amy

"Hi Kat,

Just wanted to give you a quick update....The girls are doing GREAT! They are well adjusted and happy. Chewing non-stop! Strawberry and Cheese are chatter boxes! Constantly talking to us and each other. They love Mileea and are always up to greet her in the morning. We love them! Hope all is well with you!"

~Meredith~

"Hi Kat!!!

I wanted to touch base with you and let you know the Ratties are doing wonderfully. Izzo and Zeke really seem to love their new home. They are so loving and sweet. The first night I let them relax and get used to their home and then the next night, I let em rome around on my bed which they just loved they were playing in the blankets for hours. I am still teaching them to jump in my hand when I open up the cage, I think they think it a game to run from mom. :) HA HA. I do have pics but haven't been able to download them as of yet. My mom and dad are the ones with the computer so I don't have access everyday. I will keep you posted. Thanks again for everything."

Dana B.

"Kathryn-
Made it back! Everything is going great. They *love* their new cage. They genuinely seemed to have a blast exploring it when I first put them in... running to all the levels, finding everything, sampling everything. The only thing that concerned me was that they immediately seemed to decide their litter -- "s'wheat scoop" brand cat litter, which is supposed to be rat-safe -- was some kind of food. I'm not sure if that's the norm or not.

After having a little time in his new home exploring and finding hidden treats, Mr. Nibbles immediately warmed up to me. I greeted him at the cage top which he likes to climb right out of and he immediately began kissing my mouth and grooming my goatee. Then he joined me at the computer for a bit and set about grooming my hand and nestling in my shirt. He's very friendly now that he's home.

Muffy right now is back in the cage still, discovering the water bottles finally.

Anyhow, I'll keep in touch. Thanks Kathryn! I'm already in love w/ my boys!"

Bryan

"I love my ratys soooooo much, their doing great. Thank you so much for such cool and fun and cute rats!"

from, mileea

"Dear Kathryn, This morning we finally found Pet Smart in Traverse City. We bought a three level cage for Penelope which she liked right away-climbing up all the levels and finding her way into the little bed we placed in the middle where we hid some treats to surprise her. We also got a wheel that she knew how to run without much training! She is very smart and curious! She seems very happy cuddled under Zoe's coat jacket or in a blanket fold. Her nose knows everything! Thank you for letting us come to visit you in your marvelous Rat Dippity Rattery! It was fascinating learning so much about breeding and the care of these wonderful animals. You taught us so much! Zoe is busy learning all about Penelope and having fun in the process. Thanks for everything!"

Jaema and Zoe

"Your customer service was superb. Your rattery was very well kept and impressive. My wife and I are very pleased with our new ratties. It's obvious how much you love your ratties and it shows in the quality of them. Thank you and I'll keep you updated on our ratties progress." J.G. Cadillac, MI

Hey there. :)

The drive home was long, but we all made it alright. Gilbert and Barclay are settling into their new cage just fine. They've recently discovered the different levels of it, but have yet to try out the hammock. They do enjoy the igloo, though. :D Gil is quite sweet - he's a bit calmer than Barclay and enjoys sitting on my shoulder. Barclay likes to wander around a bit more and isn't as keen on sitting still. ;) They've both been great, though. I've been making sure they have some alone-time so they are able to settle in a bit better.
Mom thinks they're both quite cute, even if she isn't that fond of rodents. :)

Is there any sort of special bonding technique to help them adjust better or is it best to just try to spend time with them and let them sit with you daily? :)
Oh, and I'll be sure to keep you posted with any future events. :)
Thanks again! :D They're wonderful!
- Kristen

"...I love your rattery and I believe that you are a down to earth person who genuinely cares for rats. I really enjoyed meeting you today." Thanks for the info on mite care and for fleas..." C.B. Copemish, MI

"Hey kat, My boys are doing awesome! They love their new house. These boys are the sweetest things ever! They are licky and squishy I just love them to death. Ricky loves his girls lol he has been playing w/ them non stop since he got them. We thank you so much for our ratties and everything you've done to help us out with our new babies."

A.M. Woodhaven, MI

"Kat, you did such an amazing job with these babies. I ADORE them! They are so SO sweet and gentle..."

N.T. Ann Arbor, MI

"...Pooh and Patrick are doing excellent also. Pooh is quite attached to me and won't let anyone else get her out, she is such a sweetie! Patrick grew HUGE! I don't remember how big his dad was, but I remember Rusty and he looks a lot like him! He also is a lover. They are such good rats, you sure can tell they came from a caring and loving home!! I'm so glad we met, you have inspired me to start a rattery and make rats my life!! Thank you for your support and all the great tips! I hope we can continue to share stories and rats for years to come!!! Thank you for everything!!!"

A.G. Lansing, MI

"Wow! You've got a cool rattery! I love the set up you have with the ramps and such in the girls' room. What do you make your hammocks out of?"
A.J. Chicago, IL

"I really wished we could have stayed longer. I really loved your setup and food mix. The girls and boys rooms were awesome . I wish I had the setup you have. All your Ratties were so friendly and healthy. If I have a response to one of my ads, and they were closer to you or want something I don't have, but you do, I would be more than happy to refer you. The cages were very clean, well kept, and lots of toys to play with. Everyone had food and water. I was more than pleased with your Rattery and I really want to visit again.

S.A. Clarkston, MI

"I think you had a lovely home and a GREAT rat set-up, not only hammocks in EVERY cage but wheels, toys and hiding spots, your girls room with it's multi-level, plenty of fun free-roam area was fantastic!!! Well anyways, it was nice meeting you, and I was very impressed with your setup and love the girls I got from you!! "

C.N., Chicago, IL

"Thanks so much for having me out to see your wonderful ratties. I truly enjoyed myself. I was very excited to meet all the sweeties on your website and to learn all about them. You have some gorgeous rats, especially that big blue boy and Rustoleum (what a squishy guy!).

I really like the way you have them all set up. It looks like they are spoiled rotten! I'm definitely going to have to get some of those great hammocks you make. That design is a really good idea. I never thought to use those kind of cages before, but I'm going to have to try them out. They definitely rival the Martins R-695 for size and it's even better that they are lighter and have a pull-out tray.

Everyone has so much room to play. I'm glad to see that you have wheels, and so many toys for your ratties to play with. I think you have done a wonderful job keeping your ratties and I can tell that they are well loved. Keep up the good work and thanks again for having me out to see your fur kids!"

R.M., Lansing, MI

"I thought everything was perfect! It was obvious to me that you truly love your ratties, and that is so wonderful. I got my first rat when I was a teenager and he was the best pet I've ever had.

Everything seemed very clean. Your ratties definitely seem happy and healthy. I was really impressed with the size and set up of your cages. I love the hammock idea--in fact I had been wondering if ratties would like hammocks after seeing them used for ferrets. I think your food blend is perfect--far more interesting and healthy than the commercially prepared and overpriced stuff that is offered in pet stores.

I think you have a great setup since you can devote entire rooms to your ratties. The other thing that makes it above average is the way you truly love your ratties. A lot of people exploit pets to make money and you certainly don't do that.

We had a great experience coming to visit you--other than the weather, and you certainly can't control that!"

C.M., Williamston, MI

"DO I THINK YOUR RATTIES WERE WELL CARED FOR AND LOVED? Are you kidding? You have so much love in that house, it is amazing. I thought I was a lover, but you are someone to admire! Your dedication and knowledge is incredible. I went out and bought the shredded corrigated cardboard this morning for the weekly cleaning. I also attempted to make my own treats. Here is my inexact recipe kinda based on yours, THEY LOVE IT!

I haven't gotten a chance to make it to the website (work) but I can't wait too. I really want to say THANK YOU for all your help and advice. I know there have been some glitches in this transport, but I am glad that I had the opprotunity to meet you."

L.M., Fenton, MI

"Wanted to let you know that the new babies are doing great. Our kids absolutely love them, but Shannon is being greedy (they think she is their Mom) and the rest of us are waiting for her to go somewhere else so we can have them for a while!!! Even the Husband, (non- rodent lover) had them sleeping with him this evening while he was watching tv. We should have snapped some pictures for you. The Siamese female is being called "Shy" for Shy Girl but this may not stick. Might just call the other one Blue or Peek-a-boo because she peeks out of your shirt when she is snuggling down. Well, anyway, thanks for everything and we are enjoying our new family members."

S.M., Olivet, MI

"...Anyway, I have bought all my rats from Kathryn and she is an amazing woman and a good breeder, very committed to the safety, temperament and health of her ratties first and foremost to beauty or specialized breeding. She even began her own association because she loves ratties that much and is committed to educating the public and getting ratties into the limelight as wonderful pets.

At first when I browsed her website, the rattery room did looked packed. But did you notice that it is a compilation of several pictures? Obviously this doesn't provide an adequate nor accurate depiction. The room itself is quite large, I've been in it. For as many ratties as she has, it is remarkably clean (even my cages aren't that clean, and I only have 9!) and scentless..."

"Keeping rats in cages meant for other animals is perfectly fine, I'm not sure why you would think this would be wrong. Lots of people prefer bird cages because the bars are tighter together than lots of cages you can find in a store, as well as having different doors, etc. People keep larger rats in ferret cages, I have even known people to use chinchilla cages. Other people adapt cabinets, old wooden cabinets and bookshelves into beautiful cages, is this wrong? I build my own out of wood and wire mesh, in some respects, I think it is better than any Martin's cage.

Regardless of how large the living conditions are, as long as rats get adequate attention and free-roam time, where they sleep, poop and eat really doesn't matter as long as it is kept clean and stocked of all the proper necessities. It doesn't take a Martin's to have good living conditions, it takes a certain amount of creativity to give your rats the best life they can have, which is something I think Kathryn has fulfilled extremely well and her rats are something spoiled to envy..."

"Your rattery was REALLY CLEAN! I just can't imagine a place where rats could be happier than at your house. Well, the way I see it, if they're happy, they're well cared for. They all looked really healthy. Heck yeah, they have enough room! I don't have any negative remarks about your rattery."

C.M., Williamston, MI

The following exurb is from one of my customers, in response to me being banned for life, from the Ratster listing, because I selected a mailing option they didn't approve of, but were offering everyone as a viable option, leading you to believe they were good choices. They were using deceptive practices as a means of "screening" applicants and I got caught up in their web of deceit.

"...She would never had even thought to ship that way however, if she had not seen it as an 'option' on your breeder listings. She had the utmost respect for your site as it is held in such regards by the rat-loving community. So she naively thought if it was listed as an option on your breeder listing then it must be a safe way to transport animals.

I do realize there are people out there who do not care what happens to their animals once they leave their custody but I assure you Kat is not like that, and never will be. She got started in the rat hobby by coming across 2 wild baby rats and nursed them back to health. She'd never even known rats were kept as pets until she started researching how to help these poor lil babies. I was lucky enough to meet one of these rats this past spring and I've been to her rattery a few times and I always see happy, affectionate, healthy, well-kept rats, one happy pet mouse, as well as her dogs & horses who are also well taken care of..."

B.L., Imlay City, MI

Here is an email I received after helping someone raise a wild baby Norwegian rat she found.

"Hi Kathryn,
This is Kikki from Sweden. I sent you an e-mail last winter about my wild baby-rat. Just wanted to tell you that he has grown up to be a wonderful rat. He is now 8 months and he is one of the most gentle bucks I have had. He lives with 5 other bucks and they all get along well. In the evenings I open the cagedoor so that they can go outside and play. He is also fine with the bucks in the other cages if they meet outside. He is absolutely not aggressive and he is very curious and agile. I have named him Vide. Swedish for osier. He looked like the small furry things they carry in the spring, when he was a baby. Thank you so much for your advice. I am so happy that I kept him!"