Welcome to Heart of Texas Rats. My name is Sonja and I'm a huge advocate of rats as pets. They are truly amazing creatures and my hope is that though viewing this site, others will began to see and appreciate their unique place in the pet world. 

ABOUT

Heart of Texas Rats is a small rattery located near Austin, Texas. Keeping things small and intimate assures all rats receive lots of love and social interaction from the day they're born. They are our family pets first and foremost. Our goal is to provide beautiful, healthy, well socialized family pets, so having them in our home with children and other pets is a crucial part of the program.

Here at Heart of Texas Rats, we breed Russian Blue and a Russian Blue Dilute casually known as Russian Moon. There are smooth coats, rex coats (wavy hair), bunny soft Plush coat, top ear and dumbo ear varieties. Our rats are bred to have amazingly sweet personalities and tend to be a bit larger with a thick body and wide head.

HISTORY

Heart of Texas Rats first hit the internet in November 2005 as a way for me to share my love of pet rats with my friends and family. It was mostly just a self-indulgent brag site for my own pet rats.

Things began to shift some in 2006. I was in contact with many Texas rat rescues, I had web space to spare so happily offered to help get their available rats on the web for everyone to see. 

In 2007, I was offered a wonderful opportunity to work with Bella of Bellaratta's Nest in Florida. With a few quality ratties from her lines, the support of amazing friends and the guidance of both Bella and Marie of Warm Fuzzies here in Texas, Heart of Texas Rats - the rattery - was launched.

Over the years, HoTRats has strived to help with rattie rescue when and where we can. New for 2011, 20% of our placement fees will be going to Pocket Angels Rattie Rescue in Bedford Texas. 

Movie Rats

In Dec 2010, Sid and some of the ladies here at Heart of Texas Rats were invited to take part in the making of a horror movie (in post-production, will update with info on movie release as I get it).
In January 2011, Sid & Diego took part in the making of a commercial and even though their scene was cut from the final production, we had a lot of fun learning about the film industry as we taught those around us on the set and production about the wonders of the RAT. We're looking forward to more "rattie gigs" in the near future!