Random Rats

I've decided to rehome Nattie and Whitlyn. For one thing I'm far too busy to care for them like they need it. Too much crap is going on. Besides that I can't get anymore rats for awhile now not for a few years at least. That means that when one of them passes away then the other will be alone until they die as well. Which is no life for a rat. So I'm rehoming to an awesome women who will be able to care for them like they need it and will be able to give them the company of other rats.

I love you girls.

I also found Beauty dead yesterday. At the same time as findingMilly. She wasn't nearly as stiff as Milly so I guess she died afterMilly. Beauty was about 2 years old.

Beauty never really openedup to me completely but after learning more about her past life Iunderstand. She used to live in a rat rescue in New Brunswick (severalprovinces away from me). The guy had taken on way too many and couldn't afford it anymore. As I hear more about the situation I am so glad thatI did get Beauty and her friend, Bambi. Beauty was shy when it came topeople unless food was involved. She loved food almost more then sheloved her rat-sisters. She was not afraid to show her true colours ifsomebody came by with some good food. She loved banana's most. Beautywas also good friends with both Milly and Bambi. She enjoyed being withthem and was always worried when Milly went through a panic attack. Shewas so gentle too. She never hurt anybody.

I love you Beauty. Rest Peacefully.

--

I found Milly dead yesterday. I don't know why but I think it was myfault. I left my window open and it got really cold by nightfall. So Iturned on the room-sized heater. I left it on low so that it would warmup slowly but I fell asleep and didn't turn it off till morning by thenit was really hot in my room. I found her just laying on her side onthe floor of her cage. She was old though, about 2.5 years now.

Igot Milly to keep Jazz company since it isn't good for rats to livealone. They were from the same pet store but from different cages.Milly was always a sweetie. She loved to give kisses and to cuddle. Atone point she seemed altered and off but I later realized that that washow Milly was. Sweet but....crazy? off? mentally disabled? I don't knowbut she was certainly one of a kind. She was every rats friend. Sheloved every rat that she lived with completely. Milly also was certainthat she was alpha rat. The other rats sensed her...specialness anddidn't always bother her if she stole food from them or decided thatthey were dirty and needed to be groomed. So she lived her life knowingthat she was alpha rat when she wasn't. She sometimes suffered fromwhat I think were panic attacks. Once she calmed down from them she wasespecially cuddly and kissy.

I'll certainly miss Milly a great deal. She was my special Milly-Willy. <3

Last night, well actually this morning (midnight), I found Bambi dead at the bottom of the cage. She had been getting old lately and was slowing down a bit but I was hoping that she would ago another year or so. For the first time I saw what cannibalism is. The had begun to eat her. I didn't get a good look thankfully and my Dad was nice enough to....clean up for me as well. For those that don't know rodents (including hamsters) will often in their dead in the wild so that the smell doesn't attract predators. It is uncommon in domestic rats but it does sometimes happen.

I got Bambi all the way from New Brunswick (a few provinces away from me, a 20hr drive). A rescue out there had become over run with over 11 rats and there weren't enough people out there so they brought over 100 rats closer to others. They went to Ontario, Quebec and even to the US. I was told that she was maybe a year old but probably younger. The way she aged I think she was at least 1.5 yrs when I got her. Bambi was always a bossy little thing and she liked having things her way. She was one of the bigger rats so she usually got her way. Bambi was a sweetie though. She gave kisses and liked to snuggle, especially if it meant that she would get some food. She was good with other rats though. She accepted Milly and her craziness and no matter what was going through another rats mind she was ready to handle and if needed hold them down for a good groom until they calmed down. When Jazz passed away she was there for Milly and even helped Milly through her panic attacks when I couldn't get to her in time.

I will miss Bambi greatly as she was a special character to my life, one that I shall soon not forget. Rest In Peace Bambi, gone but never forgotten. <3

I've made that FN into a nice little retirement cage. I've lowered the levels of the shleves, made beds comfier and lowered hammocks and other hanging toys. All the bRats are 2 years old or nearing the age of two, I've been thinking about doing this but I was going to wait a while. But Beauty changed my mind. She has the starting signs of HED(hind end degenration). It's heart breaking. She can still walk mostly fine but every now and then she drags one of her back legs. Nattie and Whitlyn are a little mixed up with this easy going cage but they'll have plenty of time to play around outside of the cage.

The sun is blaring, the sky is blue and the clouds are fluffy. Sounds liek fun to me but nooooo Mommy won't take us outside. Somethign about the outragous heat that coems alogn with the sunny day. Quoting my Mom: "Thank god for the A/C". What's A/C?  Ugh well maybe later. Mommy decorated oru cage very nice the otehr day. The hammocks aren't as pretty as usual making shredding them up less fun but they are just as comfortable. She has liek a trash bad stuffed full ofr ags and she said she got 'em cheap. That means more money can go towards treats and toys! Oh I didn't introduce myself, it's me, Milly! I sound pretty civil for rat huh? That's the scary part says my Mommy but I'm using this to hide the fact that I'm taking over the internet one whisker at a time. You see Mommy only thinks I'm a little crazy, in reality I'm so much smarter-- Oh shiny thing! No must focus! Wait fun time today yay! The voices in my head have told me to stop talking so here's Whitlyn.Shiiiinnnyyyy.

Okz ppls Millwy is weally crazee but don'ts worry she has hers smart mommentz sumtimes....rarely but still. I have been studin' this internets and the onlii thing dat it's useful 4 besides shopping is to rally odder rats to help us takes over da wowld. Ok? So rats get together we's is meetin' up sometime soon. So chekc in for my next post. Whitlyn out.

I'd let the other rats say something but I'm afraid my evil rats might infect the internet further...GGMR is striking and I'm fighting hard. There are these cute girls at Pet Valu. Three dumbo PEWs and 1 lightly blue/dove capped red eyed dumbo girl with 'em too. *is love* They are all so cute. One is braver then the rest, the grey capped girl is in 2nd for boss, there is a runty girl who thinks shes tuff and knows she's cute and the last girl is really shy. <3 I wasn't able to attend Rat fest but it sounds like it was fun besides the heat. Next time hopefully.

~Holly, Milly, Nattie, Bambi, Beauty and Whitlyn.

I almost got a boy rattie. There was a snake breeder that got overwhelmed. Some people from the Rat Shack helped them out and took all the rats. Pretty much every female was pregnant. They ended up with 50 some-odd rats. Now they are down to four boys. Four neutered boys. Neutered. As in can live with my girls without rat explosion. I tried to convince my parents to let me get one little guy, Tolberone.

But it was a no go with my parents. These people did so much for these rats while dealing with a job search, wisdom teeth being pulled and taking care of their own rats. And I can't take one rat off of their hands. One rat. I had always wanted a squish of my own. *sigh* This is him:

Anyways all the girls are doing well despite Maggie passing away. I found a great way to save on hammocks and not feel bad when they rip them to shreds and then marinate them in urine. *gag* In industrial stores you can get 10lb, 20lb and even bigger bags of cut up clothes. They make great hammocks and some pieces are so big that you can trim them and make them into nicer hammocks. All for about $20! Great find if you ask me.

~Holly, Milly, Nattie, Bambi, Beauty and Whitlyn

I am so devastated. It came as such a surprise, no warning, nosymptoms, no odd behaviour. I was so tired last night I was just goingto go straight to bed but then I saw everybody asking for their veggiesso I lugged myself downstairs to get some. I saved the rat's for lastbecause sometimes I have to supervise in case anyone decides to stealsomeone else's food. I counted off giving five rats theirtreats and then had to go looking for Maggie to give her the babycarrot. I found her in the bottom level hiding. She didn't turn aroundwhen I pet her so I picked her up and she just immediately cuddled upin my hands. Maggie was always sweet, kissy and friendly but she wasn'tmuch of a cuddler, at least not in my hands. It took all of threeseconds to realize that she wasn't all right. I just went and sat on mybed. She slept in my hands for a bit and then I guess I nodded offbecause suddenly I woke up and looked down and she wasn't in my handsanymore. I looked around me and she was laying next to me. So I laid onmy side and pet her all night. She never really changed. She justbreathed and slept. When she woke up she would start to clean her facethen she would fall back asleep. I let the other rat's say good bye toher at one point. I don't think she was in pain, at least she hid itwell if she was. She was still alive by morning so I planned to make avet appointment to put her to sleep and see what might be wrong, sheseemed too far gone for anything to help save her. But about half anhour ago she gave one last shuddering breath and died. I am thankfulthat I could be there with her while she took her last breaths.

I never chose Maggie. Maggie chose me. I was in Super Pets buying food.That was it. In fact that very morning I had made a personal decisionthat two rats was plenty and that there was no need to keep wanting anymore. But I looked at the rats, just to see. And she came running up tothe glass and stood on her two hind legs and just stared at me. Iwalked away and looked at other animals and when I came back she cameshooting out of her nest and waited by the front of the tank again. Soafter convincing(begging) my Mom to let me get her I proudly told anemployee that I wanted 'that rat!, yes the one with the red eyes'. Atthe counter my Mom suggested that I get the soon-to-be-named-Maggie afriend, so I went back and picked out the soon-to-be-named-Nattie. Ican only guess that they were sisters but often times the pet storemixes litters together. They soon moved in with my other two rats.Maggie was a kissy rat from day one. When I lifted her out of thecarrier into her temporary cage she was giving me kisses. She wassocialized too and was friendly as ever. I have never met such a sweet,caring, friendly, wholesome, sugar-souled creature. Maggie could not bemean. She was friends with the sometimes moody Jazz. She could put upwith Milly's crazy antics. She kept her sister out of trouble sometimes(other times she followed along). Big, bossy Bambi was instantly a bestfriend. Shy, scared Beauty was to be sat with and consoled (a 20 hourdrive is scary). And even smartie-pants Whitlyn could be won over byMaggie. I often told people who thought that Maggie's eyes were scarythat I thought it was odd considering she was the nicest of the bunch.She even went to the mall with my one time, hiding out in my sweatersleeve while I ran in to get something quickly.

Maggiewas amazing and I am glad that no horrible disease took her slowly. Iam glad that I got one more night with her. I am glad that everyday fora year and half that I got Maggie-kisses. I am glad that I could holdup her soft rex fur to my face only to hear her bruxx away. She will bemissed by all, Nattie and me especially.

So long Maggie may your sugar-soul join Jazz up at Rainbow Bridge. Wait for me girl.

I have been neglecting this website *bad me*. (The website not my rats) I mean the last time I posted here was in April. Since Jazz passed away so did my dog of almost seven years, Blue. Since then we did get another dog named Sam but enough about that this is a rat blog.

As for rats news lots has happened. Later after Jazz passed away I found out that the rats had lice. Probably passed along in a bad bag of bedding or possibly by my neighbour's hamsters. I rescued the little guys when her son was nelgecting them. I asked around on rat websites about what to treat my rats with and Revolution seemed to be the best option. So I asked around for prices for treating twelve rodents. It would have cost me over $300 just for a thing of cat Revolution. Under the advice of a local rat lover I ordered from an Australian shipper and was able to get the Revolution without a vet presecription all for $35. The rodents are now lice free, thankfully.

Next Maggie got an abscess. I think it was from an old lice bite or something but the poor thing looked miserable. In past experience rodents with abscess do best with either an epsom salt bath or an epsom salt paste put on the wound for 15-20 minutes. I used the paste on Maggie and in one week she was all healed up and rid of the disgusting thing. Yay epsom salt!

Then the rat decided that they wanted to explore outside of the FN. All the rats but Whitlyn escaped from the cage. I caught them all in 10 minutes but for a few days they had to live in extra hamster cages until I coudl get the mesh up and ready. They had lots of play time until the mesh was up though. The FN is now known as the Fortress by my family. :P 

That's pretty much it. Nattie and Whitlyn have become goods friends too which is good for them but I must be wary as a smart rat(Whitlyn) and a naughty rat (Nattie) can only mean trouble. 

Also GGMR has decided to plague me again, especially for some little ratties. I have the space, room, money and food available I just need to convince my parents. Lately I have been looking through shelter websites, PetFinder and kijiji. I am so weak. There are so many rats needing homes but right now I think I can only manage one or two more.

Oh and I am supposed to be getting some more Harlan Teklad food from 'Mumsyrat'. Such a good price it is.  *nods* I may even try and go to Rat Fest with Sam(the puppy) but it will take some convincing.

~Holly, Milly, Maggie, Nattie, Bambi, Beauty and Whitlyn

Well I did end up getting Cookie. I did re-name her. Her name is Whitlyn. She is cute. She loves attention. She loves to give kisses. AND She has moved into the FN with the other girls. She is getting along with them so well, she loves big rat piles. I am so happy that she is in my home now.

Jazz is doing pretty well, she is still my favourite (shh don't tell the others). Her tumour has grown again. It is about the size of a toonie now. I hope it stops growing. She is too old in my opinion to have a surgery(sp?). She might survive it but her life quality after would be crap. I suppose that when she has lost the will to lug that thing around I will do what is best....

But lets think happy thought. If anyone atcually reads this blog, *which I doubt* please send Jazz good vibes and keep her in your prayers.

~Holly, Jazz, Milly, Maggie, Nattie, Bambi, Beauty and Whitlyn.