The Rat Room

Today was the day for Chief and Doc to be neutered. This will take away all their hormonal stress and worries. It also calms down their need to be territorial. Both boys did very well during surgery and are now recovering well at home.
We must always remember that every surgery is a risk. If the rat has any hidden ailments like heart issues, they probably won’t pull through or could become very sick for the rest of their lives. It’s a gamble you take but if you have a good experienced vet, the risk are not as high. There are rats that don’t make it out of surgery or barely make it out of recovery. I’ve had several rats go through surgery with my vet, only once did I lose one. Young Max was 4 months old. The vet figured he had a weak heart which is why he had a cardiac arrest in recovery. I never felt guilty for poor little Max. He was very aggressive and never would have been a happy boy. And with heart issues, he would have been a very sick rat throughout his life.
Make sure to weigh your pros and cons when deciding on surgery… and remember, there are worse fates than death.

Doc:

Chief:

Today was another good day. The rats were more relaxed and generally happy. Max even ventured into Gera’s cage to check things out. Things were tense but nothing else happened. Rory visits Gera’s cage every so often, he then becomes puffy and I gently move him out of the cage and he forgets why he machoed up in the first place. Gera had a great time exploring his out time play area. He’s so happy go lucky, he’s loving and sweet. He’s curious and brave and ever so gentle.
Even better was Little Doc with Rory and Max, they don’t seem to care about the little guy anymore. So this tells me that Max and Rory need to have their run ins with Gera and Meeko so that they can then accept each other. With time, this will happen, I can see Meeko getting braver. He’s also loving the girls so much, especially Chu.
Two more days before the big chop chop… getting nervous as always, but they need the neuters.

The girls checking out the cage. Gera saying: welcome honeys.

Yesterday I was questioning myself about the intros. Why do I do this?
Today I got my answer. I opened up the cages and Meeko immediately started to popcorn. He was bouncing all over the place. Soon after, Gera was bouncing around with him and that’s with having Little Doc sitting next to them. Even with his bully attitude, it wouldn’t stop the fun. When doing intros the main thing to watch for is aggression. Aggression makes the other rats scared, skittish and stressed. So if you want to know how things are going, always look for the omegas, are they happy? Are they playing and paying no mind to the bullies? If so…then you know everything is going to work out just fine. During the hour, I had rats out in the open, running, playing and exploring. There was the odd scuffle but nothing majour. At one point Gera got upset because the master stasher Molly was diligently working at emptying out Gera’s dish. Molly would pop into the cage, pick up a block and carry it over to her cage and stash. Finally, I would stop Molly on the steps, grab the block and hand it back to Gera who was on her heels. He would promptly return it to his stash. It was such a great out time, even Rory was doing his version of the popcorn, the head binky… the happy Rory dance.
This is it… this is why I do this.
Have I mentioned how much I love rats?

Happy baby Meeko, it’s all about him.

Today went a little better. But mainly because everyone knew to stay away from Rory and Max. Max made it clear that he doesn’t really want new friends but he’ll tolerate you if you keep your distance. Rory on the other hand did go into a frenzy trying to flip the little Doc, I was rooting for him but he eventually grew too tired so I removed him and calmed him down. I told him it will be easier once Doc is neutered. Rory knows what needs to be done and will find the right technique to flip the arrogant boy but it will take time. So I told him, I’ve got nothing but time my sweet Rory. We can do intros for weeks or months if you like, there’s no need to move them into your home, not before you are ready. The girls would love to have the new boys move in tomorrow but I’ve got to think about my manrats. This will work out even better especially when I add the Chief next week.

The beautiful but troubled Chief.

As I suspected, day 2 was worse. Why? because this is a time when they start to recognize each other and no longer tolerate their behaviours or simply their presence. Rory was having a heck of a time, same as Max. Max was not approachable and I think the new guys knew this. Poor Meeko, still quite young and unaware of the proper rat etiquette didn’t know Max was not in a mood for a chat. Meeko stayed one second too long next to him before Max went after him. Luckily, Meeko is a mexican jumping bean and he avoided any gashes, all the while screaming like a banshee, so much for keeping a calm energy, I think I was frazzled from the start. Meanwhile Rory was heading the Spanish Inquisition with his two top girls behind him. He was on a mission to seek and flip. Poor Gera stayed out of his way at all cost. This all started within the first 5 minutes of the out time. I didn’t know how I was going to last the full hour like this. Little Doc was in scenting frenzy. If it has atoms, he rubbed it. He and Bianca certainly made quite the pair. She hot on his heels begging him to mount her. I kept reminding her that she was spayed but she paid no mind to me. Finally it was too much for Rory. He retreated and went for a very small nap. After his nap, he was happy as pie, running all over the place and checking things out. I was amazed at his transformation. Even though Doc entered his kingdom, he didn’t let in to him, he simply followed him around. Finally an hour came around. I was fed up with Doc and told him that I’m going to chew off his gonads with my teeth if he kept up his childish bullying. Yes, of course I was kidding but he doesn’t have to know that. Friday can’t come fast enough. That’s also when Chief gets done and his intro into this dysfunctional family will start. I can’t wait…NOT.
I’m so hoping tomorrow will be better. Yes, I did the full hour. I don’t know how I survived it.

Meeko and Max, seconds before Max jumped him.

Rory and Doc…May I be of assistance?

Doc and Bianca… Rory the voyeur.

A pooped out Rory.

After a week of neutral ground intros, the rats are usually ready for familiar ground intros. That’s if all went well previously.
So today was familiar ground. I needed to calm myself first as it’s always nerve wracking. So many things can go so wrong and real fast that a calm energy is really what you need and what you want your rats to feel and get from this intro. I have 3 little souls I need to look out for. Young Meeko, being pretty much hairless could get hurt very fast. he’s young and scared. Young macho Doc who is unaware of the damage big bucks can do to little arrogant weasels. (no offence weasels) And finally Rory. He pretty much worries too much and feels he needs to control a situation when he really doesn’t. Thank god Chu was on Rory duty again today.
Now, I don’t recommend any cages during familiar ground intros. A cage is a source of hostility, stress and frustration. It is claimable territory which already belongs to someone. But in my case, I’m very attuned to my rats and their body language and I am fast at stopping anything before it starts. Best thing though, after a week of neutral ground is a week of familiar ground without the cage.
Today, I opened both cages, Rory’s cage and Gera’s cage. I armed myself with multigrain Cheerios and away we go.
Interestingly, Max is alpha. I thought it was Rory but it really isn’t. Max is a good one too. Little Doc was walking about all macho and flaunting his junk (only intact boy in the crowd) when Max comes out and sets him straight. Doc makes a run for it and no longer seeks gonad adoration. He decides to play with the girls instead. Even Max was fine when Doc would come past or even little Meeko. Max is turning out to be a fantastic big manrat. Things were fine in the beginning as they always are especially when food is available. Food distracts the rats from each other. I guess their stomach needs are stronger than hormones. lol But don’t kid yourself, this is not always the case. I’m lucky I have no aggression in any of these rats. 40 minutes into the intro and Rory has had enough. He decides to pick on sweet Gera. Which is lucky for Rory cause Gera is pure love. Chu sensing Rory’s stress runs to him and makes him flip her instead. Meanwhile, Rory is trying to catch up with Gera with a Chu on his tail. Chu flips didn’t seem to help Rory at all so I decided to cover him with both my hands, all his body length and press his head down to the floor. After a couple of seconds he immediately released his tension and was ready for play. Rory looks at you in such a way, like he’s trying to understand you all the while he knows you can see deep through him. He’s definitely got a deep soul. I decided to end it soon after. Gera had had enough of the stalking and needed time out fast. He runs into his spot in his cage only to find Doc had claimed it. This did not go well. Doc takes a grab out of Gera’s side, not ever breaking skin cause he’s really all talk no action and Gera whimpering. That’s when I said everyone go home. Which is too bad because for some, they are just starting to have fun like Meeko and Rory but my nerve were getting shot and I needed a coffee badly. So everyone went home, all safe, all sound and happy.
Tomorrow should go a little worse as day 2s usually are but then it’s all downhill from there.
I have survived initial familiar ground intro with cage and no animals were harmed during the process.
We are happy campers.

I’m a glutton for punishment? Not really, I knew Gera needed more buddies. His little Meeko can get annoying and Gera loves to cuddle. I have been doing intros with Gera and Meeko with Doc but it wasn’t going so smoothly. Doc would constantly try to aggressively dominate the boys. So my intros are now with Gera, Meeko, Doc with the Rory and Molly crew, in all 9 rats. My worries were Doc and Rory. Rory can be a little neurotic in his alpha role. But, I was worried for nothing.
I placed all the rats on a neutral spot which caused them to stress and be somewhat fearful of the new place. This works in our favour and forces rats to bond. I placed a big bowl of baby cereal in the middle which was very well received. lol
The intro lasted an hour and with no real issues. Some interesting dynamics… Doc settled right down and respected Rory as alpha. Not once did Doc dominate anyone. He was a good boy. He needed a father figure to keep him calm. He sure had a ball sniffing up all the 4 spayed girls. Bianca, my little hussy enjoyed the attention too. At one point, Rory towered over little Meeko and that totally freaked him out, immediately Max stepped in between Rory and Meeko. Interesting how Max became the peacemaker. Almost like allowing himself to be the punching bag. Gera at first only wanted to be with me. For me to take him away, but eventually he enjoyed all the extra furries around him. Finally at the end, I took them back to their cage one by one, leaving Doc and Molly for last. The two were cuddled together for the longest time. Doc looking at me with his big sad eyes… my heart broke as I could almost hear him say: can I keep her mom? Do I have to go to my cage all alone again? In time sweet Doc, in time you won’t be alone any longer.

In this pic: Meeko, Max and Gera

Back in June, I also picked up two sweet boys. They were suppose to go to my sister’s place but some unfortunate event has prevented the adoption to go through so I took them in instead. Meeko is a young double rex boy and Gera a most laid back sweet rex.
These two weren’t always together. They were put together by chance and luckily it worked out very well. It was without any doubt that it would work because even though Gera is a much older boy (16m) he is the sweetest most loving rat I have ever known. Gera knows rat talk and body language and adjust his to match his buddy. He knows when to be submissive and knows when it’s time to stand up. But he’s most happy on a human. He will seek you out and won’t leave you alone until his out time is over. A real people rat.
I was worried that Meeko would lose that baby happiness being with an older rat but nope. Not with Gera, Meeko is his happy bouncy popcorning self with Gera and Gera gets into the baby bounce with him. They are a ray of sunshine in my life right now especially with having to deal with Doc and Chief. Those two frustrated rats are trying real hard to forget their past. Doc is able to have his out time with Gera and Meeko and once Chief and Doc are neutered, the real intros will begin.

Please meet Meeko and Gera:

A small hobby rattery in southern Ontario got slightly out of hand and quickly became overwhelmed with rats. They were found out and the landlord needed them all gone. Luckily a couple of good friends of mine decided to go and check out the situation. The rats were in a horrible state. They had 29 males crammed in a wooden crate type cage and 19 females in a much too small a cage. The rats were living on pine, no food and hardly any water. Almost all the males have sores, cuts and bruises. Some are in such bad mental state, they will need a neuter to help them cope with the stress of a horrible habitat and overcrowding. I wanted to help and decided to adopt two of the males. I brought them home and when the dust settled, the true personality of Big White came through. He is one stressed boy. He puffs up like a rat in a dryer and chatters loudly. He attacks any rat that goes near him. Lucky for me, he hasn’t realized that he could hurt me too if he wanted too. He’s still scared of me which is a good thing for now. I had him with his buddy Little Mink and they seem to get along fine until we got home. Big White doesn’t really like Little Mink. So for now I’ve got the two separated until their scheduled neuters.
Big White is now named Chief. I’m guessing he’s about 6 to 8 months of age. I know his type and with a neuter, he’ll soon be jello.
Little Mink is now named Doc. He’s just a baby, about 3 to 4 months old, which breaks my heart because instead of playing and bouncing and having a great baby time, he’s just totally stressed and scared. He’s unsure of his home, unsure of other rats and very unsure of me.
It’s so easy to breed. You put rat A with rat B and make babies and money signs dance before your eyes, until you realize rats are not in demand. It takes a special person to do things right. If you really need to breed, you need patience, time and space. You need money and a good vet. You need to know your rat’s background and have full support of your family. You also must have a demand or you will be stuck with the supply. Better yet… don’t breed at all. Don’t make more of these poor rats who ultimately end up needing a forever home.

It’s going to take me lots of work, time and patience with Chief and Doc. But I know I can get them to come around and be real rats enjoying life. They’ve had a super rough start… it’s time to give them an amazing forever.

Please meet my new boys. Big White aka Chief

And sweet Little Mink aka Doc

My dirty monkeys finally have realized that we have rat invaders in the place. Yesterday Bronco took it upon himself to beat any rat that even so much as walk within touching distance of himself. A very uptight little rat, he needed a good strong energy to help him accept his role. So after he decided to slightly hurt Benji, I picked him up and placed him our “out time” cage. He remained in that cage for about 10 minutes, any longer and he really wouldn’t have understood why he was there. I take him out and he had forgotten all about his macho stress and had some fun on the rest of his out time. I was sure though that Bronco would very much need a neuter soon enough but today’s out time was even better. He didn’t care one bit about the Noobs and their cage being nearby. I am most pleased. It also helped big time to have the sweeties Sawyer and Desmond watching over the coveted cage spot where the smell is so much stronger. I think this means that all will work out fine and perhaps if I’m real lucky in the future, I might be able to intro the two colonies at some point.

It is very common and ok for rats to act out when new rats come into the home. With time they should settle down, others might need help and only a neuter might bring them back to their loving self. Some rats have a hard time understanding and accepting their instinctual behaviour to protect and be territorial. That’s our job, to help them. You can’t get mad when an animal acts out, you have to understand them and do everything in order to help them overcome their “feelings”.