June 2003

What's happening

• My boys are all fit and well, although Quicksilver continues to grow cysts on his back. The earliest ones have a blood supply now, so it's harder to empty them out.
• We have eight more boys staying with us for a couple of weeks on their holidays. They're sweet boys, but I'm not sure I'd want to have 16 ratties permanently.
• I've discovered a new pastime in making model ratties, but it's a struggle to find the time for them.
• I've been wondering whether I could manage to get all of my boys in together now they are older and calmer, but I haven't quite worked up the courage to start the intros.

Great News! (June 17th)

The ratties enjoy spending most of the day with the run of the hall, landing, kitchen and bathroom while I clean out their cage each Monday. Usually I have to separate Pirate and Quicksilver after a short while, but yesterday they seemed to sort out their issues. I think Quicksilver has reached the age where he just can't be bothered any more. I took out the division in the big cage and let them all go back in together, and so far there has been no trouble at all. So ten months after splitting them up, they're all back together.

Not So Great News

I noticed just over a week ago that Pogo was beginning to lose the use of his back legs. He's now on Metacam to see if that helps. If not then we'll try steroids. Then yesterday I realised that Gonzo was also starting to have problems. They're littermates and have spent their whole lives together, so I suppose it's fitting that they slow down together.

I've arranged the cage so that they can't fall without landing in a hammock, but they're having problems getting off the base of the cage anyway so they have a low food bowl and a low water bottle down there. They have a castle igloo which is easy to lift up to change their bed. We'll see how it goes, but I don't think they'll be with us for much longer.

Planning Ahead (June 20th)

Pogo and Gonzo are doing well with the Metacam. They are climbing up to the middle of the cage to say hello to us now. It's so good to see them feeling a little better.

We're holidaying fairly early this year, so I'm planning to find some new kittens to join the cage during August. The children have a shopping list - hoping for a top eared black rex, a dumbo siamese and a silver hoody.

Poorly Gonzie (June 25th)

Gonzo looked so poorly that I took him up to the vets this morning. We thought he was getting bloated, but it seems that the tumour he had removed a few months ago has now spread throughout his organs. That explains why he feels fat but his bones are sticking out. I expected the vet to put him to sleep, but he's still eating well so she told me to take him home and spoil him, then bring him back when he's ready to go.

He looks so frail and tired.

Goodbye Gonzie (June 26th)

Gonzie was gasping for breath this morning, so we decided it was time to let him go. We're going to miss the old cuddly boy.

Annette