For #SundayPixPile, have a pile o’ ratties.

@sundaypix #RatsOfMastodon #Ratstodon

Welp. One of the turd burglars, Cleo, has a lump near her vagina. Thankfully, we can get in Friday morning to have it assessed. As of right now, she seems to be doing fine, and is her doofy self. Why do rats have such health issues for such short lives? Would be completely lying if I said I wasn't anxious and scared.
💚🐀

#Rats #RatParent #RatMom #CrazyRatLady #RatsOfMastodon #Ratstodon

Update on the Maurice situation:

He spent the night in the warm box! Just like I wanted him to.

He's deeply, deeply asleep, little hands curled up, nose whiffing as he dreams.

In the shadows to his left you can just make out the beautiful dark brown eye and face of Frankie, keeping a close watch on me.

You never know. I might produce a treat, or decide to clean the cage and undo all the hard work she's been doing with newspaper scraps.

#RatsOfMastadon #ratstodon #rats #PetsOfMastodon

The way's of the ratto are mysterious.

I made Maurice a lovely box that he can reach easily, with his very own heater, and a water bottle nearby. You can see him snoozing there in the photo, nestling between Jasper and the lovely Saffy. What could be better?

Well, according to Maurice, the dig box. Really cold. No heater. No water source. No pretty rats to snuggle.

I've tried putting him in another cosy box higher in the cage in case he prefers that but no, he hoists himself out of that (no idea how he gets out, his back legs don't work and he only has his little arms to pull himself around with) slid down three ramps, fallen down a vertical pipe, clambered into another box to get where he is in that other picture.

All by his lonesome lone.

He's done this three times now so I know it's not an accident. He wants to be there! So I've given in and given him a bit of avo to eat when he wakes up and finds it next to him.

#today #ratstodon #rats #PetsOfMastodon

The rats shared my rooibos tea this morning. It was not hot, but much warmer than anything they've encountered before. The cashew nut milk probably attracted them.

Jasper takes one lick, then backs off. Shakes out his little hands, *shake*, like that, washes his nose. Then goes back for lick, then backs off for another shake and wash.

Saffy drinks, glances up at me whiffling her whiskers at the unexpected temperature, and just goes on drinking, noting the heat but not worried by it.

I also watched Maurice wash behind his ears: he doesn't use his hands like I assumed. He reaches up with his little arms straight up, and rubs the inside of his wrists behind his ears, exactly like a lady applying perfume to her pulse points. 😂

And to wash his chest, he doesn't do that "crane and lick" thing that cats do, he very sensibly takes hold of his loose chest-skin and pulls it up to his mouth as if it was a jersey. Too cute.

#rats #today #Ratstodon #PetsOfMastodon

I now have two rat dig boxer permanently connected to the rat cage with a piece of PVC pipe. I swop them out. You can see how they flattened the grass in the "Garden Box", so it's taking a much needed break outside getting sun.

Since (hooray!) the lid fits exactly on another plastic bin, I replaced it with a the "Maze Box" which is basically another plastic bin filled with a cardboard maze and dry grass for the little monsters to dig through.

The holes in the lid are useful for dropping little bits of food through when the rats are in the dig box. They look hilarious, tiny noses sticking through the holes.

So far Maurice hasn't fallen down the pipe into the box yet, but not for lack of trying. I have to put him in there and take him out, his hind legs don't work at all any more, but he's just as keen to explore as the younger rats.

#Raturday #Rats #PetsOfMastodon #Ratstodon

My #rats are all fast asleep. They love cuddling up together like this. #ratstodon #PetsOfMastodon

I usually take the #rats out of their cage before I clean, but #today I just worked around them. The three boys kept climbing on me, but Saffy and Frankie slept through the whole thing.

They must have been aware of me dismantling and redecorating their home but it didn't seem to bother them at all.

#ratstodon #PetsOfMastadon

Had to book our dear little Feegle in for his last trip to the vets.

Here he is in his prime, being a happy boy in a box with a Cheerio.

#Rats #Ratstodon

Nicodemus is the largest of my #rats. He's showed me how important it is to calibrate my judgement of a creature's character based on their needs, and not my assumptions.

Nicodemus is an odd mix of assertive and timid. Odd, until you consider that rats are prey animals, and being alert and ready to retreat is not a sign of timidity or cowardice so much as proactive *common sense*.

Nicodemus seems to value status above companionship, he'll claim the best sleeping place even if it means being alone.

He's a serious little guy, checks everything out carefully. But he's not highly strung. Once his decision is made, he relaxes and trusts his own judgement.

He loves being stroked. Totally melts into a puddle.

My rats are so different from one another, but they are not unique in that. All creatures, domestic and wild, are individuals. Every rat, finch, mouse, hen, pigeon, mole, and all the rest of them.

#ratstodon

These days I have to feed Maurice separately from the other #rats as he's old (2.5 years, that's very old for a rat).

He's pretty much blind, as far as I can tell, and has lost the use of his hind legs. But he still gets about!

I built him ramps so he can get all the way to the top of the cage where the other rats like hanging out. Rats hate being alone so this is quite important for his wellbeing.

He seems contented with his life, although It's difficult to tell, as rats have such different body language than the animals I'm more familiar with, like dogs, cats, and humans.

Still washes himself very thoroughly, gets excited when he realises there's food about, grooms the other rats, and tends to end up right at the bottom of the sleep pile which I think he enjoys, based on the blissed-out body language.

Maurice is the most chill and good-natured of my rats. He's sort of a rat version of the Dude in the Big Lebowsky. #ratstodon #today

This is my youngest #rat, Saffy, gradually falling asleep.

All my rats are rescues, but Saffy's the only one who has experienced trauma. I don't know how old she is or what happened to her but it must have been scary.

She used to tense up when I picked her up, letting out a tiny involuntary squeak, and shivering so much it felt like holding a little shuddering motor.

These days she's a lot better. She seems to trust me more. She no longer shivers, although she still occasionally spreads her tiny hands and feet as I pick her up, and wraps her tail tightly around my wrist.

She's the cuddliest and most loving of my rats, she likes snuggling into my hand and being stroked.

Such an honour to be trusted by a tiny animal 😍 ❤️

#rRatsAreAwesome #ratstodon #pets #rescuepets

Breakfast time for #rats! As the oldest and slowest, Maurice has to be strategic to prevent the younger rats from stealing from him. #ratstodon

Jasper wants to know if there are any snacks available. #ratstodon

#ratstodon

#throwbackthursday to when we made Mika pose with our last remaining rat.

#richandjason #richandjae #tbt #mikathecat #catsofmastodon #catstodon #tortoiseshellcat #tortoiseshell #tortoiecat #longhairedtortoiseshell #longhairedtortoie #rescuecatsofmastodon #ratsofmastodon #ratstodon

My daughter wanted me to share this with you. #rats #ratstodon

This is Sophia Louise. . She's my lil hood rat.
#rats #ratstodon #pocketpets #therattateria #hoodrat #cutie

Ook hier laten zien🥹. Ze ging echt zo mooi erbij zitten en toen ik de foto knipte schoot ze weg. Ik dacht ach mislukt. Maar kijk eens wat een prachtige lieve foto🥹. En pssr zaterdag kom ik met nog veel meer koekjes thuis. De verstopplek op de bank is ook al gemaakt door der. #ratten #rats #ratstodon

Risky reached a new milestone in his training. Jumping _up_ through the hoop.

#Ratstodon

https://youtu.be/lhlxodwFjlk