I bet it's a typo.  They mean 4 months, not 4 years

looking at the pics, those rats certainly don't LOOK 4.......

I think it is your duty to go and adopt Calvin, Hobbs and Niffler - now that you have made us all fall in love with them

Definitely not four years old - knowing what a three year old rat (minus four days and counting) looks like

Aileen
and Lilith "Old Lady" Ratson

Wow i want some of what their having i hope i look that young when i'm old I think some ones got that wrong :huh:

I hope my rats live that long!!

I've had a rat live to be over 4. and was quite healthy. He didnt "look" his age either before he passed, We had him since he had his baby fuzz, so we knew in fact he WAS that old.

I wouldnt assume it to be a typo personally since they dont look as young as 4 months.
(but what I stated above could also apply, only backwards.)

But who would take their four year old rats to the shelter? If they are that old,  you should take them so they could finish up their golden years with you.

my petco girl, whiskers lived to be a couple months short of 4years...and she looked super healthy and active, even with a golfball sized tumor....

Okay, here's the update:

I went to the Humane Society on Saturday to check these geriatric rats out!

Instead of Calvin and Hobbs, I saw 4-year old Snickers and Butterfinger!  :huh:  I think they were the same rats as seen on the internet because that's exactly who they looked like!

The info sheet on them said they were in a classroom and the owner (I am assuming was a teacher) had them for 2 years -- maybe he/she got them when they were 2?  They are very TAME because they were in a classroom environment and had free range during the day and were put in their cage at night!  I'm picturing these rats running around the classroom during the day...

They were fed Kaytee Rat Food and the albino has an eye infection on her left eye because she was allergic to cedar    :huh:  The rats were kept in a 20 gallon aquarium at the HS and had shredded paper for bedding and also a water bottle and food (no wheel/toys).  Since they were very tame, I opened the lid and picked each one up!  They were total sweeties!!    I was VERY torn between taking them or not that day.  

On one hand, I had 10 rats, 6 guinea pigs and 2 rabbits that need my attention.  On the other hand, they were absolute sweethearts and finding rats THAT tame to me (my Hobbs the exception) was rare.
I did not take them but I wanted to think about it for Wednesday when they were open until 7 p.m. (after work  )  I'm leaving it to fate whether they're still there or not.  If they're still there, I'll get them; if not someone has two of the friendliest/sweetest rats out there!!!  

By the way, they could go either way on the age thing.  They SEEMED older...  

Yeah for Jean,  

I'm glad you got them. Now they will know what real luxury is.

As a teacher who has rats, it doesn't make me happy that another teacher would surrender friendly classroom rats to the humane shelter. I guess that's better than some things that could have happened to them, but I'm wondering what the story was.

I LOVE my rats!  All of them are mine, but some live a lot of the year in my classroom.  I'd NEVER part with any of them.

I'm so glad you got them.  At least they're with an experienced rat person who knows how to treat them right.

  :BlueDumboSmile:Outstanding...

I had a hampster that lived to be five (not joking!) when she lost weight for the last time before she passed away, and we called the vet he said he wouldn't see her! he'd seen her two years before at three for weight loss, and the diagnosis had been 'old age'!!!