nomming

Raleigh vs Dust Mit

When we got Walter and Raleigh, Mel (Debonayr Rats) gave us a duster mitten that she'd been intending to turn into a pouch for the rats to climb in and some clips to attach it to the cage. Well I decided that since today was a day off I'd make the pouch. So I trimmed off the top (so that it was it's widest and stitched it over. Then hung it up in the cage.

Alas Raleigh had a different idea:

Chillin' in the hammock

Raleigh VS Crepe Paper Ball

Raleigh was looking a bit bored last night and while not wanting to come out again there was a lack of play stuff in the cage. So I wrapped fragment of banana chip in crepe paper to make a ball. He seemed to enjoy it and Walter even got to have a shot. It was up by the hammock this morning.

Meanwhile Mortimer is...

The Great Escape

Not that you can tell from the sweet innocent 'sleeping' impression Walter is doing but last night we had our first 'escape'. While hanging out on the couch Walter legged it over the top, onto the chairs stored behind and then onto the floor and under the couches. Where he sat and cleaned himself while we turned off electrics and tried to tempt him out. He's so much more inquisitive than Mortimer is now, we'd forgotten just how speedy they are at that age. Well lesson learned!

Hiding in the tube

Walter's Ledge Life

Rat Pile

Tom spotted two noses poking out of the tube.

On closer inspection we found a rat pile - Walter's on top.

What's Mortimer up to?

Nomming on some dry pasta!

Hammock Hugs

Above and below - Walter on left, Raleigh on right

Raleigh keeps watch

Walter and Raleigh

New Boys

Today was an exciting day - new rats! We got them from Debonayr-Rattery and they are two mismarked Roans perhaps not perfect by show standards they are perectly adorable!

These pics were taken when the boys were eight weeks old (they were born on the 4th of May). We picked them up tonight and thanks to Mel's handling they are very social.

I've taken a few pics of their first venture out in the new homestead but these show off the markings which means I can ID them! Walter is on left and Raleigh is on the right.

So Walter this close up is of Walter.

Tom spent the evening commenting that the boys not use the ramp or explore the upper reaches of their cage. Mortimer spent it being unimpressed and wondering what all the fuss was about.

Mortimer gets hugs

Rat + Milky Bone = Mini dog impression!

Mortimer vs a Pedigree Milk Bone

Des Res

In anticipation of 2 new arrivals in the next week we've bought a brand new rat cage. It's the Jenny KD and is an upgraded version of the one we've already got. It's much the same size but can be completely dismantled and flat-packed (great for ratty holidays); has 2 huge central doors (great for reaching in and scooping up ratties); all the bars are horizontal (great for climbing); and even better all the bars are plastic coated (great for cleaning!).

I built it this morning before I went to work and this afternoon I've moved Mortimer into it. He probably thinks he's been sucked into a parallel universe where things are almost, but not quite, the same.

The old cage will be cleaned up and temporarily used to house the new boys (or permanently used if they can't get on with Morty). Hopefully it'll then be bunged in the attic and only brought down for use as a hospital cage when needed.

Hair styling

Mortimer seems to be missing Wheeler grooming him - his fur isn't looking quite a groomed. So we've splashed out on a "Mini Slicker Brush" it seems to have gone down very he just sits very still and enjoys a brush.

Flat Rat Toodles

Saltines

Well I didn't really believe it but last night I decided to go out and buy some saltine crackers which allegedly have amazing "stool hardening" properties according to some rat forums. The closest thing you can easily buy in this country are "Doriano" crackers in Tesco.

They are pretty salty so it took off as much of the salt as possible before giving Mortimer a bit to scoff on. Scoff on it he did and lo and behold this morning it looks like we're back to normal poos. A miracle!

Anyway, enough blogging on the bathroom habits of geriatric ratties :D

Can't see me...

Mortimer is back to dicky tummy issues. Today has been rather dramatic. Anyway it meant his house needed washing and there was no spare beer box to pop in. So I offered him the bent twigs. He can fit under but seems to have opted for just sticking his head under in a 'if I can't see you, you can't see me move'.

The second choice is a seat at the door - though I think the paper 'nest' is simply he's not bothered to move the paper somewhere better.

Mortimer cuddles in for sleepy toodle

Wherever I store my toys that's my home

Mortimer misses Wheeler

Mortimer is missing Wheeler. To the extent he's got a loose bowels. We thought it was from eating too much rich food since he was nibbling the goodies we put in the cage to tempt Wheeler with. However it's not cleared up so now we've been to the vets and got a pro-biotic but it's still not great. Now we are trying All-bran (well generic co-op version) and the pro-biotic and that seems to be making a difference.

On the plus side least he seems to feel keeping the place tidy is still important!

Wheeler - October 2008 to May 2010

Wheeler came home but died at about 11pm. He was buried at Kateri's parents house the next day (with neatly folded kitchen roll!)

Poorly Wheeler

Wheeler isn't well. It's been an on/off fortnight with him and he's getting an x-ray today to see if we can work out the problem.


One of the biggest issues has been getting him to take his antibiotics and painkiller. Yesterday we ended up forcing him to eat it by squirting it into his mouth with the syringe. Needless to say he hated that!

We have tried various options to hide the drugs -

Ribena - concentrated or diluted he wasn't impressed
Maple Syrup - ignored
Hazelnut and Toffee yogurt - loathed (though Tom also tried this one and hated it)
Breakfast Granola - worked with the painkiller
Muller Rice (Strawberry) - worked with antibiotic (NB: other flavours are available but he wasn't going for it at all)
Baby Food (fruit based) - sometimes worked

Things we discovered were that leaving treats in cage means Mortimer eats them (or stashes them), a dish of yogurt or similar results in grumpy rat sitting in it rather than eating it and sometimes savory works better than sweet (Naturals Vegetable Edges seem to have gone down better than other options).

Last night he wasn't eating much or drinking much and was generally looking sorry for himself so we don't know if he'll make it through the gas for the x-ray.

***Results from the x-ray were not good. He has bone cancer in his left rear leg and although we don't know if it has spread it might have.

Log Cabin Fun