Tootsie

By Sadie Gilbert, Wildlife & Exotics Coordinator

Domestic rats live roughly 2–3 years. Like most pets, they’re a part of our lives, but to them, we’re their whole world. Tootsie is a fancy rat our shelter took in recently. She’s in her old lady era at 1.5 years old, but you’d never guess it!

Prior to coming to Houston Humane Society, Tootsie only knew the inside of a 10-gallon aquarium, where she lived by herself with a small wire platform on top. Her enclosure was barren aside from aspen bedding, a house, and a couple of bowls. We’re still getting to know her, but we can already see that for a tiny little lady, she has a big personality! She’s super tidy and is beginning to pick up litterbox training like an absolute champ. She also loves to stash snacks around her enclosure and particularly enjoys breakfast in bed (who doesn’t, though?).  She also enjoys the occasional pea-flake, or vitamin C cookie as a treat, and will hold snacks with her little hands while she takes teeny tiny bites. She’s a very curious little girl, and loves supervising whatever activity you’re participating in. Cleaning? Tootsie would like to help. Passing out treats? She’s the honorary snack supervisor. Putting together enrichment? Tootsie wants to help inspect. 

Tootsie is available for adoption and looking for a home that will give her the absolute best retirement possible! She has plenty of love left to give, and we’d love to see her spend this next chapter being spoiled, comfortable, and living the retired life!

Sadie Gilbert is a Wildlife & Exotics Coordinator with five years of experience in animal care. She holds a degree in Animal Science from Tarleton State University and has had a passion for critters of all sizes since childhood. At home, she has a rabbit and two dogs who are all spoiled rotten!