Welcome to Isamu Rats
The original Isamu as a 9 week old baby
Isamu is a rattery dedicated to the keeping and breeding of lovely healthy long lived pet rats. It is based in Ulverston (South Cumbria) and breeds as part of the Tabi Initiative, aiming to extend the average lifespan our rats live to within the 'tabi' line rats. These are rats the are by nature very inquisitive, in your face and human focused and a complete inspiration. Isamu breeds for rats with this temperament as well as good health in agouti and black, both top eared and dumbo. There is also a chance of American mink and other colours appearing in the line.
Isamu was inspired by a rat that also bore that name. He was one of my first 'tabi line' rat and completely won my heart with his sheer zest for life, character and star quality. Before Isamu i was happy being a pet owner, once i'd met him i knew what it felt like to want to pass that on to the next generation. Isamu also is a Japanese name meaning 'courage' or 'bravery' which is a trait I value in my rats. It also is a Japanese word meaning 'to be in high spirits' which each an every rat has brought to me in there turn.
Isamu Rats is run by Jemma Fettes, I have kept rats since I was 5 years old. Over those years my rats have been with me through childhood, teenage years, university and more recently now in my adult life. I have always kept small groups at once, loving the relationship and time i can give to one or two groups at a time. These groups have come from pet shops (before i knew of any other options), rescues and more recently breeders. I have kept both does and more recently bucks and have been blessed with many special characters
Isamu was inspired by a rat that also bore that name. He was one of my first 'tabi line' rat and completely won my heart with his sheer zest for life, character and star quality. Before Isamu i was happy being a pet owner, once i'd met him i knew what it felt like to want to pass that on to the next generation. Isamu also is a Japanese name meaning 'courage' or 'bravery' which is a trait I value in my rats. It also is a Japanese word meaning 'to be in high spirits' which each an every rat has brought to me in there turn.
Isamu Rats is run by Jemma Fettes, I have kept rats since I was 5 years old. Over those years my rats have been with me through childhood, teenage years, university and more recently now in my adult life. I have always kept small groups at once, loving the relationship and time i can give to one or two groups at a time. These groups have come from pet shops (before i knew of any other options), rescues and more recently breeders. I have kept both does and more recently bucks and have been blessed with many special characters
The Tabi Initiative
I am lucky enough to be part of a team of people who are concentrating on extending longevity of the tabi line rats. For those of you unfamiliar with the line, they have grown out of Shunamite rats and become synonymous with exceptional temperament and sound health as well as a good average age. The Tabi Initiative brings together 4 ratteries who are committed to working together to improve the longevity of this group of rats, the theory being that together we can achieve far more than on our own. The Tabi Initiative brings Shunamite, Eximius Honeyduke, Lovecraft and Isamu together and I am truly proud and grateful to Alison Campbell, Lloyd Adlington, Lisa Maurin and Stacey Cochraine for their help and support with this project.
Our primary goal as part of the Tabi Initiative is:
To improve the average lifespan of tabi line rats whilst maintaining temperament and health.
We aim to do this using a combination of tools and techniques including;
Our primary goal as part of the Tabi Initiative is:
To improve the average lifespan of tabi line rats whilst maintaining temperament and health.
We aim to do this using a combination of tools and techniques including;
- Line breeding and selective inbreeding
- Backwards selection
- Selecting of slower growing rats who mature later in life.
- Keeping good records on all our rats
- Choosing fit, healthy, typey rats as our breeding rats, though colour and variety may be sacrificed
- Good nutrition and care for our rats and kittens
- A stimulating environment and life
