"Squish" may be cute, but..

[Feithline]

Isn't "squish" another term for over-weight? I don't want people yelling at me for this, but all the extra weight on rats can't be any better than the extra weight on us! Every time I see a picture of a squish, the first thing I think is that -- it can't be good for them. Granted, they live short lives and deserve all the happiness and spoiling we can give them, but isn't healthy better? I can't help but think about those tiny bones holding up that relative weight and my overactive imagination can just see those bones snapping -- even though I know it wouldn't ever happen.

What's your take on the "squish"?

(Please, no flaming of anyone's opinion, and I apologize -wholeheartedly- if I have offended anyone)

[zetaklk2k]

I am not offended but to tell the truth, I think a fat rat is one of the CUTEST kind. To each his or her own, right?

[Dani]

Rats that are overweight (just like people, dogs and other animals)  are more prone to heart, kidney and joint problems.

 I love squishy rats... as you may know Nemo is a squish but he's also a big boy.. he is bigger than any of my other 11 boys.  His head is bigger, he's longer and just looks big.  Yes he may be slightly on the plump side,  but it's not enough to worry me too incredibly much but enough to make me watch his weight and limit his treats.
You can have squishy big rats without them being fat.

[starsevol]

Some people think that a little extra weight is better because when a rattie ages they loose so much weight and a bit of squish helps them. My 2 older boys come from the same litter,and are fed identically....harlan blocks with a small piece of banana or broccoli in the morning, the occaisonal dog buscuit to help them file down their teeth and the once in a while yogie treat. Beau is a much smaller boy than his brother Cosmo...Beau is wiry and has no extra meat on his bones but Cosmo is a certified squish.

[FoxMcDale]

I don't over feed my boys, but they do kinda run around too much to actually attain "squish" although Tea is huge, but anything that moves that fast, and climbs that high, can't be that fat.

[RachelW]

I agree Feithline.

Squish may look cute but if your rat is squishy because he/she is overweight then that's a bad thing, no matter how much you love it. It's just not fair.

[luvmyrats]

My last two girls ate the exact same food, in the same amounts.  One weighed 13 oz. the other weighed 1 lb. 11 oz....figure that out.  Is it just metabolism? Grant it Sneezy was a big mush, but her bone structure was bigger than Haley's too.  You can't always blame squishy rats on overfeeding. 

[brandy]

Some squishy rats are overweight, but I don't think they all are.  Just like humans, rats have different body shapes - some are long and lean, while others are more "squat."  I've had a couple rats who definitely weren't overweight, but they carried what weight they did have in the tummy area, making them squishier than other rats.  My two newest girls are great examples of this - Twizzler is long and skinny, while Snickers is shorter and wider, and thus "squishier."

[swub]

Some squishy rats are overweight, but I don't think they all are.  Just like humans, rats have different body shapes - some are long and lean, while others are more "squat."  I've had a couple rats who definitely weren't overweight, but they carried what weight they did have in the tummy area, making them squishier than other rats.  My two newest girls are great examples of this - Twizzler is long and skinny, while Snickers is shorter and wider, and thus "squishier."

I agree!

Each to their own but whatever weight/shap rats are their health should be the first priority.

[tabbyrat]

Another take on  big "Squish"   

To me, a big "Squish" is a rat that relaxes in your arms such that it feels like puddy.  When he or she wants to run.. s/he maybe hard as a rock... buts/he can still be a big"Squish" or even a little "Squish" when they relax in your lap, and you give them scrichens.  It is not about weight.  It is the attitude of the rat that dictates whether it is a squish    

Of course, rats when a bit of fat tend to feel squishier 

[Feithline]

Another take on  big "Squish"   

To me, a big "Squish" is a rat that relaxes in your arms such that it feels like puddy.  When he or she wants to run.. s/he maybe hard as a rock... buts/he can still be a big"Squish" or even a little "Squish" when they relax in your lap, and you give them scrichens.  It is not about weight.  It is the attitude of the rat that dictates whether it is a squish    

Of course, rats when a bit of fat tend to feel squishier 

I like that definition 

[Evil Gummy]

I like that defenition too.

Osiris, one of my rats, is my cuddly little boy. He goes into puddle mode so easy, he's amazing. Rubbing his little face into your hands and making his cheeks get all fat...

But, he's only about six months old, and just close to a pound (maybe a smidge over now). He is by far my most "squishie" rat. And he's the one in my avatar, see those squishy cheeks?

But my BIGGEST rat, Nicodemus, is the same age as Osiris and close to two pounds now. But he is just built big, his structure is huge. Big thick head, thick tail, long body..He's very sturdy, not very squishy at all, and deffinetly no where near as cuddly as Osiris. (But none of my rats are.)

He's the one I watch out for food wise, he's alpha, gigantic and a food hog, so in the next years to come he could easily get over weight.

[menagerie]

Twizzler is long and skinny, while Snickers is shorter and wider, and thus "squishier."

Looks like they are just living up to their names, Twizzlers are naturally longer and skinnier than Snickers.

[brandy]

Twizzler is long and skinny, while Snickers is shorter and wider, and thus "squishier."

Looks like they are just living up to their names, Twizzlers are naturally longer and skinnier than Snickers.

I actually just settled on the names, even though I've had them for over 2 months - it takes me FOREVER to name pets! When I finally have kids, I'll definitely have to pick the names *before* they're born.  Maybe that's one of the reasons I thought the names fit them.