December 20, 2005
All Bandit, All the Time!
Bandit is improving, save for one setback. Yesterday he lunged at Abita twice, connecting with her thumb once. Up until then, he had been doing quite well: Still very shy and skittish, but he was taking food and blueberries from our hands, with no sign of wanting to bite.
Nevertheless, we continued on with attempting forced socialization, and last night we cleaned all extra items out of one bathroom, brought his cage in, and opened it up. I had to use the welding gloves to get him out, but I managed to hold him for over twenty minutes.
And, yeah, he did some fear pooping. Soft, stinky fear poops.
Tonight, I got him out again. It was a bit easier; I used the glove to pin him but carried him out with my right hand. There was pooping, but it wasn't fear pooping. It happened at about the 13-minute mark. I think he just had to go to the bathroom.
(Pictures and original post by Abita; narration by Victor)
Posted by Abita at December 20, 2005 07:50 PMHe sure is photogenic. Do they know why he became so skittish? When I was reading the narration, I kept flashing on this image of wee Bandit in a tiny mask like Hannibal Lecter wore in the film. He's sure one lucky little guy that you two are so patient and hopeful for him. I think that's just wonderful. :)
Posted by: Eanna at December 20, 2005 10:24 PM
Thats a really cute rat!! Chris thinks his markings look like Groucho Marx, with the thick eyebrows and all...
Hope you guys are doing well--merry Christmas.
Sure hope things work out for Bandit.
Posted by: meenakshi at December 20, 2005 11:42 PMWe don't know why he was so skittish with us. Territorial perhaps? Just angry at the world? I read some other comments about ..well not nice things being said about what we might have done to him in his past, and none of that is true. He was treated nicely with us and I gave him every opportunity to come see me and be my new little buddy but he wouldn't stop biting me ...
I wish him every success, and wish that no one thought he was abused be me more than anything..Bandit was my cutie before anyone elses and I'm having a hard enough time having had to rehome him ._.;;
Abita and Victor, I hope for more updates soon..
Posted by: Holly at December 21, 2005 12:17 PMI should have mentioned already that Holly did everything she could...we met her other rats when we picked up Bandit, and they were as sweet as could be!
I think that Bandit is incredibly territorial, and who knows why...it may be that he had some trauma in the pet store before Holly and her family got him, or maybe he just has too much testosterone.
(I think him biting me on Monday may mean that he's relaxed enough now that he knows his cage is his!)
Posted by: abita at December 21, 2005 02:19 PMsuch a beautiful cheeky little face
Posted by: colleen at December 21, 2005 11:42 PMHe's a cute little cuss, that's for sure! Hopefully the neuter will chill him out.
Posted by: Lynn at December 22, 2005 03:46 PMLike I said, sometimes, I think they are just biters. I only have one thank goodness and she is soooo cute. She just springs a bite on someone every now and then. None of my others bite either. ~Poi Rat Mom
Posted by: Pip, Fig, Jorje, Aeowen, Narnia, Josie, Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect at December 24, 2005 02:48 AMGroucho Marx hehehe, so true! Personal he reminds me a little bit like Leather
Posted by: Shamisen at December 29, 2005 04:45 PM