Ratablog

Latest Witter Update

Witter is still with us, contrary to my rather gloomy previous report. Abita and I had a birthday party for him the night after that post, and he ate a bit of his cake (a blueberry muffin top frosted with yogurt) and he ate even more the next night. By the weekend, he was eating just like old times.

I'm beginning to think he just wanted two birthday parties.

His birthday party on the twenty-first:

His lump--picture taken during his birthday party on the twenty-seventh:

This actually looks a little worse than it is. Dr. K shaved away hair from the lump surface, where he had been scratching it bloody, so that we could apply an ointment to the skin. Stuff that looks like dried stuff is dried ointment. There is a bare spot in the middle where some of his skin has flaked off, though. He still scratches at it frequently; I can only imagine how much it must itch to have your skin stretched unnaturally like that.

Knock me over with a feather

fRat Boys

Angelratgirl from RP (and RAATS) had the perfect name for these high-energy guys...the fRat boys.

Schwartz's new diet

I left my book on the bed with the rats while I took the dog out, and returned to find that Schwartz has misunderstood, and tried to eat the diet book.

Jack, who certainly doesn't need to be dieting, decided he wanted a taste, too.

And of course if Jack is eating something, George wants it.

A few more pictures in the extended entry....

Where's Jack's tail?

Jim and Pinky ignored the book completely. They are comfortable with their bodies. (See how Jim grew up? He's almost as big as Pinky now.)

No Rat in the Box entry is complete without a rat in a box.

The beginning of the end.

I think it may be the beginning of the end for Witter. His lump is quite large, and he's scratched the skin above it bloody a couple of times. I suspect with his skin getting stretched it was itchy, and he was only doing what comes naturally. I took him to Dr K last week, and she gave us a topical ointment to spread on it twice a day. His weight was good--about 900 grams.

OTOH, lately he hasn't eating as much. In fact, I counted the food in his bowl, and all that's moved from it is one lab block that he nibbled a bit then stashed. Eggs, treats, cheese, blueberries--all stashed away. He even stashed a yogie! As you might imagine, he's hardly pooped in the last few days, and what few poops there are, are very small.

He has eaten some cous cous, and he still takes his medicine and vitamins mixed in pina colada mix. He also drink regularly.

He's still an active, bright eyed little boy! He comes out and gives me licks and chews/tugs on my shirts, and just acts like there's nothing wrong.

We will have had him for one year as of next Monday, though right now, I'm wondering if he'll last that long. I admit it's selfish of me, and I hope he'll make it...but I'll try not to let my desire cloud my judgement should he start to suffer.

My little boy:

Happy Easter!

George wasn't sure what to do with all this.

The girls were sure...they wanted to sleep!

The rest of the pictures are in the extended entry...

Jack.

Jim.

Schwartz and Pinky.

Leather.

Pinky.

The other boys are unfortunately a little mitey right now. They did enjoy the plastic eggs (which they chew up like plastic golf balls...go figure.)

Actual rats in boxes

But weren't those April Fools guests cute?

Now back to regularly scheduled rats in boxes.

Jim has grown up, but he looks tiny in this box.

But for scale, here are some, um, more fully-grown rats.

Lots more in the extended entry...

Rats-in-a-Box of the month!

Introducing our friend Paisley's Trip and Phlox:

Isn't Trip cu...hey, waitaminnit!

And now Phlox shows off...what the...?

Phlox agai...hey! These aren't rats in a box! These are cats in a box! CATS, YOU FOOL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?!

OK, so I'm a little late. It's still April Fool's day for more than 150 minutes.

Witter update

It's been awhile since I've done one of these, so here goes: Witter is still doing well. He's fat and happy, and still lumpy.

His lump is getting bigger, and it's now noticeable--

It's on his right side. Abita's jacket was sticking up a bit, next to his head, so this shot makes it look bigger than it really is. It's still pretty big, though.

This picture shows it as it naturally is--you can see how it bulges out just behind his arm (that's not a lump above his leg, that's just how Witter is there).

He is getting spoiled, and the dog is very jealous. Here's Witter enjoying a piece of olive-oil soaked pita bread--

As I said, the dog is jealous.