State of the State: The Rattery in Englewood offers rat adoptions with care packages

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of ColoradoBiz titled “State of the State: The Rattery.”

Rats have something of a bad reputation. Detractors blame them for everything from urban blight to the bubonic plague, but there are two sides to every story.

Just ask Jax Elder, founder of The Rattery in Englewood. “They saved my life,” says Elder. “They’re called heart rats. You really connect with them, and they can read your emotions, and they’re there for you at the right time in your life when you really need that kind of support, yeah. Those rats for me just meant a lot. And yeah. So I want to give that to other people.”

After making rat toys and selling them on Etsy since 2022, Elder began breeding and adopting rats out, including with packages of toys and cages, in June 2025. “Packages start at $150, so that already makes me feel like you’re comfortable taking care of your rat for the rest of its life. You’re invested.”

Soon after launching, Elder learned that a business license was required and that selling rats from a residential location was not allowed in Englewood. A business model coalesced: The rats are free and only available for adoption with the purchase of the entire package. “In Englewood, you can have as many pet rats as you want. You just can’t sell them,” Elder notes.

The Rattery is no side hustle. “It’s definitely my main source of income,” says Elder.

Ultimately, The Rattery is seeking to support people through rats. “I just think they’re wonderful little creatures that have a lot to offer,” says Elder. “They’re technically empathic creatures, so they can feed off your energy. If you go to grab a rat and you’re pretty nervous, they’re going to feed into that nervous energy. You always want to pick up a rat when you’re feeling confident.”

Claudia Kramer, a Denver resident who works as a research assistant at CU Anschutz. She’d owned rats as a kid in the early 2000s. “I would train them, and I’d push them around in the baby stroller, and take them to show and tell,” she laughs.

Kramer paused on rat ownership in high school but wanted another one as a 27-year-old adult. Finding one was no small task. “It’s honestly kind of difficult to find a reputable rat breeder,” she says.

Then she discovered The Rattery and adopted a pair of rats in summer 2025. Kramer ended up with two females: Kiwi and Koko. “They’re really intelligent,” says Kramer. “They’re also social and friendly, and they’re also highly trainable.”

Kiwi and Koko were potty-trained at adoption, and Kramer has since taught them a few tricks. “I can let them out, and then I can call them and they’ll come. They can spin. They’re working on fetch.”

Some notably athletic rats at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, inspired a long-term target. “You can train them to play basketball,” says Kramer. “That’s my ultimate goal.”

Online: www.rattery.org