The rats

A nice quick post.

I've had something like 70 rats in the last 11 years, but I am now down to my last two - and I won't be getting any more. They are not the animals they used to be - the vast majority have been horrendously overbred and are so prone to health problems and personality problems that I can't go through it any more.

That said, my last two girls are very sweet, if a bit wonky.

Seren is a Pets at Home special, bought as company for Freya, a tiny girl from the adoption section with a permentent head tilt following an ear infection. I lost her earlier this year to respiratory problem (by far the biggest killer of pet rats IMO and an absolute swine to treat), but Seren marches on.

She's a husky, or roan - light grey on top with a white belly and nose. She's very sweet - she used to lick a lot but as she's gotten older she does it less. She's horribly thin but eats plenty, she has always been that way; but age is catching up with her. She's nearly 2.5 years old now - a great age for a pet shop rat these days. She has neurological problems; if I were to pick her up on my hand without supporting her back legs, she would let them dangle over the edges of my hand. If I were to do the knuckle test - where the toes are bent under to test the animal's reflex to put them flat again - she would leave them there. She has feeling in them - just not the right responses. She is almost totally blind, and deaf; she obsessively hoardes her food for no reason. She knows absolutely no fear at all - and I don't mean she's brave. I'm talking literally - she does not know the concept of fear.

Kismet is another pet shop rat, and proof of what happens when rats are bred commercially. With no handling as a pup, she is still fearful of being picked up. She'll take treats, but that's it. Kiz is around 2 now, and a bit plump; but age is catching up with her two. I suspect senility may be setting its claws into her.

Kiz is a himilayan dumbo: cream body with brown nose, ears and bum and ears on the side of her head. She was an adorable baby and is still adorable now - himis and huskies are my favourite rat breeds by far, and the dumbos have certainly made their mark on me too!

Kix gets annoyed with Seren's food hoarding and buries the bowl to try and stop her; they have handbag, old-lady spats most evenings now. But they are happy.