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Adoption Quesions

Adoption Process

You have now done your research, and are looking to adopt one of our babies! Please read our contact below, and if you agree to these terms and conditions, you can go ahead and fill out our pre-adoption questions. Once you have completed this form, you will automatically be added to A Rat's Tails waitlist. If you have any issues with the form, please send us a message. Now all you need to do is keep an eye out on our Current Nursery page, or our Facebook page to see when we have available litters. If you have seen on our Facebook page that we have some little ones looking forever homes, feel free to fill out the waitlist and send us a message or email. We currently have quite a lengthy waitlist but plan to have regular litters throughout the year.

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Please attempt to answer all of the pre-adoption questions. Don't worry if you are unsure on some of the questions - You are more than welcome to message us questions about rat care before AND after you have filled out the waitlist. We are happy to answer all these questions without judgement. If you would like to do some reading research instead, feel free to jump on over to our Information Page.

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When the litter is approximately 6-8 weeks old, and has been sexed, I will contact everyone who has been added to the waitlist to see who all is interested and would like to have some new rats. Don't worry if you get an email and aren't ready yet to take on some rats - There will have an email next time a litter is available. If we have many people interested in adopting the litter, a shortlist will be created according to available rats, their genders, and adopters preferences. I do try as much as possible to give people the colours/genders they want, however this is not possible. I give breeders the first choice of babies (to help better and maintain the marking lines in New Zealand), then past adopters, and then the people who have been on the waitlist the longest.

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Do not worry if you change your mind about taking on some rats before you pick them up - Deposits are never taken, and we are always more than happy to find a home elsewhere. There is no pressure at all - Only adopt when you are fully ready! Just communicate this to me so we can find the pups a different forever home ASAP.

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When the babies are about 8 weeks old, they will be ready to go to their forever homes. We have them adopted the earliest at this age due to the fact that we want to make sure the rats are well socialised, have good temperaments and no underlying health problems. If you are wanting to adopt, however need a couple more weeks, we are happy to keep them (within reason) until you are ready to pick them up. We also do offer for the pups to be sent out of Auckland on the PetBus, and you can read more about this process here.

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All pups MUST go in pairs or trios, except in special circumstances (such as if you have another rat of a similar age), but these must be discussed and agreed upon beforehand. If you do indeed have older rats, it is still better to get a pair so that the pups transition is easier into your current mischief.

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The adoption fee is $45 per rat. This would include a small adoption package, which would include things such as a snuggle snack, birth certificate, a small bag of food and an enrichment item. Each adoption pack will change depending on the availability at the time. We also have our premium adoption packs. These are $120 per pair and will include 1kg of our premium mix, a snuggle sack, matching hammock, snuffle ball, matching enrichment items, a packet of treats, a sachet of bonding food and birth certificates for each rat. 

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If at any point you are no longer able to keep the rats that you have adopted from us, we will take them back, no questions asked. We understand that life circumstances change. 

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A Rat's Tail Adoption Contract

  1. The adopter accepts the responsibility for caring for above rats and providing for its welfare.

  2. The adopter agrees that above rats will receive prompt medical care if and when it is needed.

  3. The adopter agrees to provide companionship for above rats with at least one rat companion of the same sex (or desexed).

  4. The adopter agrees to provide the above rats with daily exercise in a safe environment.

  5. The adopter agrees to keep the above rats in a safe and comfortable enclosure that is regularly cleaned.

  6. The adopter agrees to feed above rats a well-balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, and provide clean water.

  7. The adopter agrees to not allow interaction with other species of animal, whether pet or wild, and shall agree to put steps in place if needed to avoid this from happening. 

  8. The adopter agrees that, if they are no longer able to care for their pets, the above rats will not be sold or given to any pet shop, animal shelter, rescue, or re-homed in any way without first contacting the breeder.

  9. The adopter agrees never to mentally or physically abuse the above rats.

  10. The adopter agrees to keep the breeder updated on major health or temperament issues related to the above rats, including dates of death.

  11. The breeder guarantees that the rats being sold, is/are in good health. The Breeder cannot guarantee the rats continued good health upon leaving the premises of the Rattery. The adopter has examined the rats they are adopting and agrees that the rats appear to be healthy.

  12. If the above rats is being adopted as a pet only (non-breeding), the adopter will not purposefully allow it to breed.

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