I've gone with a two way split. Pirate, Jasper and Merlin are together in the rabbit cage attic extension on top of the big cage and the other seven boys are in the bottom (the original Superpet ferret cage). The three top boys don't have much space to spare, but they don't do much except sleep and eat, and the arrangement lets me lift their section down so they can come straight out of their front door at playtime. With their section down, the rest of the cage is also short enough to wheel out into the hall when it's the other boys' turn for playtime.
I chose to put those three curmudgeons together as Pirate has never had any issues with Jaz and Merlin, and they were the least happy with the incoming babies. Fox is with the youngsters because he thinks he's one of them and joins them in their rat heaps, and Zorro stayed with them because Pirate and Jasper both have a tendency to pick on him.
We hopefully have the final solution now, as we've gone through a whole day with no bog-brushing anywhere!
We've lost a rat in each of the last three months, two of them losing the use of their back legs before they went. Now Merlin is wheezy and is losing his back legs. It's so unfair! He's only 19 months old!
On the up side, I've found someone who can make casts of my model ratties for me, I've set up a bank account to deal with it, and I've set up a page to advertise them. I just need to find out what the tax man needs to know about it all.
Not a good day. First of all Henry got a nasty gash above his eye, around a centimetre long with his skull shining through. I don't know who did it but I suspect Fox. I whipped him up to the vet, who said he would be OK for the night and they would stitch him up in the morning. Great! I'm starting back to work at the college tomorrow after the summer hols, and I'm going to be late on the first day.
Then I got home, ate what was left of tea, and discovered Merlin having a seizure of some sort. He had his mouth clamped on the bars, so I prised him off and brought him out to cuddle. His breathing sounded awful and he didn't seem able to move. I sat cuddling and stroking him for an hour or so until he had another fit and died. Poor little lad, he was only 19 months old. The children were heartbroken.
The proof from my first resin rat has arrived. It looks as if they will need to be painted or varnished, the finish isn't that good on the unpainted rat.
Henry is fine. His cut has been stitched and glued, but he's having a good go at scratching the glue off. Cost me a fortune though. Grump, grump.
Jasper has gained this new nickname because his urine marking is becoming a constant snail trail. He's still a sweet, cuddly old lad though. Just a bit messy.
Everyone seems happy right now. Jasper and Pirate are quite content lazing in their small cage. They do freerange sleeping most evenings - door open, fast asleep inside. Zorro and Fox have accepted the babies, although Fox has a bite on his back from someone. Don't know who did it! Storm is a sturdy little chap, growing like a weed, Wolfie and Henry are steadily getting bigger, Ron is still small and timid but enjoys life. Vlad, well! Vlad is a hyperactive little terror with mischief in his eyes. He brings to mind the image of a small skinny punk with attitude, who you can't help but like.
Well, we now have 10 ratties again. A little pink eyed white boy came to stay with us yesterday. He's a pet shop rat who was discovered by a local rat enthusiast who has an all girl crew. He was alone as his brothers had all been sold, and we thought he would be better off here that going stir crazy in the shop. He now has a name; Gandalf the White.
I'm really pleased with Pirate. He seems so happy living with Jasper. There's been no stress between them at all, and Pirate is being a real cuddle rat. He's not getting stroppy with hands in his cage and he's letting me cuddle him and fuss him just like the others let me. Maybe all he needed was the right companion.
Gandalf is a very sweet little boy. He's still a little jumpy, but he's been sitting in my arms bruxing and nibble grooming my fingers. I don't think I'll regret taking him.
Gandalf has been meeting the other boys on our laps since he arrived last week. He spent almost an hour on the table with them last night with no trouble, and again all morning today while I cleaned the cages. I decided to try putting him into the cage with the others. He's now been in there for about 3 hours with Ronnie, Wolfie and Henry, but the other four boys are still fast asleep in their cardboard box on the table. Sigh.
Well, it didn't work. I've divided off part of the cage now so that he can see and smell the others, but they can't reach each other. I suppose I was rushing things a little.
Annette
Last modified: Friday, 04-Mar-2005 23:56:41 GMT
