Hi there!
I've been the Rat mommy to five little darlings so far in my life, over the span of around 6 years. I've always been stickler for "don't have pets unless you can afford to take care of them" so I've never had more than two at a time, and always got them the best in vet care.
My first two rats Mako and Marsy were adopted from a friend when they were already full grown. Said friend was unable to give them the attention they deserved, and so you could pretty much not handle them. They had not had a lot of human contact besides in passing. They were a black hooded, and a tan hooded, and Marsy was a pet-store rescue who was missing half of her tail. They lived to be pretty old as rats go before succumbing to illness and eventually being put to sleep.
My second ratties were a pair of baby sisters I adopted from a girl who didn't want her brother to use them as feeders. They looked nothing alike at all...which was odd. One was a long slender Capped black and white, and the other was a short fat brown Berkshire. Due to poor breeding by said girl, they both died very young [before they made it to a year. Their names were Edna Mae and Claire.
My 5th, and current, ratty is named Oscar. He is my first male and he is a large black hooded. This is a rolly polly very happy man whose favorite treats are vegan dog treats and organic honey bunny cereal. He loves to climb on me and be pet. His cutest habit is cleaning people constantly. So far he has been, by far, the healthiest of my ratties.
RIP death causes and illnesses I've had to treat previously:
Marsy: had three tumors removed before the eventual lymph cancer took her life.
Mako: Died of an inner mouth abcess. It wasn't caught quick enough, and even after vet cleaning/surgery, it was not enough to save the [3 year old] girly.
Claire: Died of severe pneumonia. Antibiotics didn't help in any form, neither did the nebulizing booth. We fought the good fight for a month before she ceased being able to breath. [she never made it to a year]
Edna Mae: This was by far the most shocking and tragic. One night I walked into my bedroom to find that she'd had a stroke before the age of one. She had many many vet trips and steroids and regained her footing and eating on her own, but a week later had a second stroke and was completely paralyzed, having to be put down.
I'm glad to see a rat friendly community here.
I do not support rats being used as feeders for snakes or any other animal.
Mars and Mako in their old age together.
Edna Mae stretching out real big as a baby
Oscar being adorable on his latest house box
Claire playing Peek-a-boo in my hair
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