Ratablog

A few pictures

With new rats come new pictures.

It didn't take Zoe long to realize the duties of a Ratinabox rat:

Of the girls, she seems the most dignified. She's the matriarch.

Rabskuttle would be sleeping if I'd stop flashing the flashy thing in his eyes.

His whiskers really are that curly. It's part of his character.

Metro and Calle, still friends.

Calle's still got a great smile, and Metro still thinks he's the alpha. Calle has some scabs on his shoulder, from overgrooming.

Metro, sadly, almost certainly will not be with us much longer. He's got a tumor that is bigger than he his; every morning when I wake up and see he's still alive, I realize I'm seeing a small miracle. Not only does he have a lump the size of the Bronx on his left side, his hind legs are paralyzed, he's losing weight, and he's retaining fluids.

And right now, I heard some squeeking coming from his cage. It was Calle, complaining about being groomed by Metro.

Daisy

We'd like to say hello to Matt, Lesley, and Daisy from Lancaster, UK.

This is Daisy...isn't she a sweetie?

As always, we're very glad to hear from other people (and rats) who enjoy our blog, and we looooove cute rat pictures!

New introductions

Oliver

A girl pile

More pictures in the gallery...

Arthur

As the weather has been getting cooler, I've been concerned about Arthur staying warm enough. So I made him a little sweater. It was very manly; it had a blue stripe.

Arthur.
Does.
Not.
Like.
Sweaters.

Just Jack

Pictures of the boys

I don't often get them to sit still long enough for pictures, but we got a few tonight (it took seventy, yes, seventy, shots to get these!)

Jack

George

Jim

Jack is a shy boy, but today I got more in-focus pictures than usual.

Ok, Jack isn't quite in focus, but it is very hard to get all three boys together.

It's easier to get the other four boys together...just come in smelling like other rats.

Olie 20 September 2002 - 2 November 2004

Abita came home early today, and found Olie had died in his sleep. He was curled up with Leather, in the little house in the cage.

I mentioned a few months ago we though he had hemmorhoids. When I noticed a smell of infection and some pus coming from his anus about two weeks ago, a trip to Dr G returned a diagnosis of cancer (either colon or rectal). I decided not to do any surgery because of his advanced age; Dr G also recommended against it. He had been a seemingly happy and active rat all through his illness, and to be honest I thought one of the other rats would pass on before he.

Leather to the left, and Olie to the right. Picture taken on the 24th of October.

Again, Leather to the left and Olie to the right. Schwartz is the pillow (picture taken two days ago).

At this time last year we had seven rats that had all been born within a month of each other. Right now, four of those rats are still with us. One of them has a very large tumor, two of the others are obese, and only Leather has no obvious health problems. We knew we would probably lose those seven in rapid succesion...but realizing that doesn't make it any easier.