Rat Adoption Help!!

[lilim10]

I have a bit of a problem regarding my pet rat, and I was wondering if anyone could help me. We had originally owned two adopted rats about a year old from North Star Rescue (from Andy's Pet shop) over a year ago, one named Maxie and one named Kush. Both were neutered males. Kush died a year ago from what was believed to be SDAV virus, and we adopted another rat named Pip.

Pip recently died from a suspected pituitary tumor, and Maxie is left without a companion. Here's the problem, my sister and I still attend school and live with our parents, but my dad flat out refuses to pay/take them in for veterinarian care. This issue is not even up for debate, I will not ever be able to convince him otherwise.

Otherwise my sister and I take very good care of our rats (well, lone rat now), they live in a large cage (18x30x29 inches) and are fed 2014 Harlan Teklad diet along with homemade grain mix and daily fresh fruit and veggies. We clean out their cage daily, with a full wash every weekend. They have hammocks, a litter box, chewing wood, and toys. I've browsed this site religiously, as well as the Fancyrats forum. Please do not think we are neglectful, we love our rats (lone rat now) very much, and I've done as much research online towards their care as I possibly can. I just feel trapped because we cannot take them to the vet.

They've had occasional respiratory flare ups, and we've treated it with doxycycline (having figured out the dosage through online sources such as ratguide). We also have amoxicillin and erythromycin, but no Baytril since that must be vet-prescribed. Pip began showing signs of a pituitary tumor last week and caught a severe respiratory infection that we treated with antibiotics. He seemed to be improving, but the pituitary tumor prevented him from being able to feed himself or move around much. As much as we tried to hand-feed him and help him, he died yesterday. I feel so guilty and sad that we couldn't take him to a vet, even though we tried our best with what we had.

Anyways, my question now is should I adopt/purchase (though I'd prefer to adopt) another rat as a companion for Maxie? He's about 2 now, so another adult neutered male rat of about 2 would've been my choice. I'm worried Maxie will be lonely without a companion, but I don't want to be an irresponsible owner and adopt/purchase another rat knowing I can't take it to the vet. What should I do?

Any suggestions would be helpful!

 

[hopefloats]

I personally would look for a girl friend. My sick boy just got two new girls that were spayed. Maybe North star has a spayed one?

 

[SQ]

Since you can not provide medical care when they become ill, I would say no,
just spend as much time as possible with Maxie and give him a small stuffed animal to cuddle with.
I would urge you and your sister to find a part time work and save your earnings for a vet fund so that you will be able to provide Maxie with vet care when he needs it.
If you are able to do this, then you would likely be in a position to get Maxie a friend.

 

[Fidget]

You're doing everything right for your kids with all the love they could ask for. Your research, taking care of their environment, etc, etc.
There does remain the fact that you can't provide medical care. What if you got Maxie a buddy they got into fights and there were severe injuries? Would Dad cover vet bills for that? And then what would you do with the new one?
I know your whole intention is to do right by the ratties, and you have done that. I know it's written in stone that rats need buddies, it's the natural order, as it's the natural order for us humans to have a mate, but so many of us are alone after losing our spouse in old age. Like Maxie. Just consider what you'd want at that time - Interaction & stimulation, fun & laughter, and a warm same place - And Maxie gets his shopping done, meals prepared & catered, housecleaning - more than you or I will get when we''re old & alone.
I've seen your posts, you will never fail your critters! So relax and just think about what you're best able to for Maxie at the moment.

 

[jorats]

How about fostering a buddy instead? Let the rescue know that they need to cover the vet bills should anything happen. Otherwise, I would never adopt another pet until you can pay for their vet bills.

 

[Poisoned]

I understand.. When I was young my parents refused to get vet care for anything but the dogs. Any time a cat got hurt, he was off to the pound. My hamster bit me, they released him in the park. People don't see rodents usually as a real pet... I know people who take their fish in for vet care. Any animal is worth saving.

I would suggest not getting another rat until you can pay vet bills yourself it's too much heartache.

 

[EDK]

I feel bad you and you're sister were in the same situation I was with my first rat. My father refused to help pay for vet care so I took my boy to the vet when he was 4yrs old and noticed he was having issues. Sadly the vet I took him to was not exactly rodent expert and being a first time rat owner, he didn't have a cage mate, so he was with me all the time. They told me he was just old and there wasn't much they could do other then keep him comfortable. Granted, he was 4yrs old, I had him for 4 glorious fun years of love and friendship...but I wish I could have gone to a vet that knew what they were speaking of and that I could pay for it other then with small babysitting allowance.

These days I do have a job and I can provide for my boys. So I guess out of my experience here's what I could suggest: Yes it is true rats do better in a group, however the first boy I had, was alone since I got him because at the time i didn't know rats needed a companion. However making up for that, He was with my 12hrs a day. I took him everywhere with me, even snuck him into school. I took him on walks on my shoulder, I took him to the pet store, we watched TV together, he watched me draw. We played outside, and inside, we snuggled together while watching horror films. I even went along the lines of using his ears as a diary. I would tell him everything so aka he had alot of verbal as well as physical stimulation. For 4yrs I had him...and I think he lived that long based on the fact I gave him so much attention and good diet, plus he and I were lucky not to have any major sick flare ups other then when he was coming of age. I think your Maxie will do ok if you give him enough attention, since you can't afford vet care at the moment. That or take Jorats suggestion and foster another rat to keep him company. Hope this helps

 

[Aida]

No. I'm sorry, but it really isn't fair for your ratters, if you cannot provide them with vet care- ecpecially since this is the age when rats go downhill, and fast. Please start a rat-fund with your sister for your little leftover guy! (My ratfund is a piggy bank where I put off all my spare change, and at least 10 dollars a month.)

 

[Petunia]

North Star may be able to help you out with a foster rat about the same age as your guy, esp if you got him from that rescue, they won't want him to be alone, either

good luck!

 

[lilim10]

Thanks so much for all your comments!!

I guess I'll lay off adopting another rat for Maxie. Right now we're spending tons of extra time with him, that pampered little guy I'm trying to get a tutoring job so I can save up for a vet in case Maxie ever becomes ill (heaven forbid that ever happens, he seems to be a strong rat!).

As for fostering a rat from North Star, it seems they don't use foster homes. It looks like they have particular stores they adopt out from (I remember going to a pet store named Andy's, though I believe it's a non-profit now). Either way my parents don't like the foster idea.

Would you guys happen to have any suggestions for keeping a single rat as happy as possible? We are spending extra time with him, but in those lonely hours when we're not home, what would you guys suggest? Extra difficult treat toys?

 

[temblabamomo]

If fostering a buddy isn't an option, and you aren't willing to rehome him with some having a boy or group he could be happy with, then I can't think of anything aside from giving him a boatload of time with his people. It still doesn't replace the companionship another rat provides, but sometimes older boys adjust okay to living out their days with just a human. Its one of the downsides to having rats - you can get caught up in a cycle if you constantly adopt newbies to keep the sinlge oldies company. Are you sure there is nowhere else that will allow you to foster?

 

[victoria]

To add to tremblabamomo's comment, some people have found giving lone rats a stuffed toy to snuggle with helps. It doesn't replace rat or human companionship, but it helps.

 

[EDK]

I can understand not wanting to give him up, but you are faced with a difficult choice here... But at the same time, the first rat I had he was alone (i didn't know at the time rats needed companions) but he lived for 4yrs only because I gave him 12hrs of attention a day lol! So unless you can dedicate that much time to him...I'm afrad I don't have suggestions other then to keep trying to find a foster, convince your parents its important to you and that it's not fair to your little guy, or try to find a new home for him would be the last option. A shame you live in CA, I'm in TX, I would have happily kept him for you so you and your sister could visit, and that way he'd have my neutered young boys to hang out with. Sorry I wish I could help good luck

 

[Fidget]

Give him as much entertainment as you can in his cage for the day when he will do most of his sleeping anyway (rats are so curious, even changing things around in his cage will entertain him when he's awake).
Spend as much time as you can with him in the evening, have him on the table (buy a cheap plastic tablecloth to put on it for him when he's there) while you prepare supper, have him on the bed or couch when you watch TV at night. It's not about looking after him tho so much as reminding you to enjoy him while you have him. I've been rattieless for 6 months after 13 years of them. I don't laugh every day anymore...
Don't LOOK AFTER him, just really ENJOY him while you can.