First rat soon

[aprilleigh]

They say people with pets live longer...

[Vladina]

Yes, that is true.

I think Trixie sounds like a real sweetheart, especially taking her food over to where Gracie is. She sounds like she is looking out for her sister and taking care of her, especially with Gracie being the shyer of the two. Rats demonstrate a caring, empathetic nature all the time with their roommates. Of course, just like human siblings, they can be bullies with each other too! It will be great to eventually see photos of your new girls. I am sure they are just precious!

Breyer, that is so funny what you said about Stan wiping the banana slime off his hands the first time he dove into a banana slice, because my boys did that too once. I gave them some banana without rolling it in dry oats first and they sort of wiped their hands on the fleece they were standing on, like, "Ewww, my hands got icky!" When the banana is coated in oats, they are good to go. I also sometimes just chop up banana into little bits and put it on a small plate too, and sprinkle the oats over it.

[Storyseeker]

Windham always did the "Banana Face Pie" dance. He'd grab a mushy blob, shove it into his face, and while tonguing the wad down his throat sans fingers as fast as he could, he'd shake his paws like mad to either side.

[breyer08]

Hahahaha, love it! Stanley did the hand shake, too, at times. Of course, he was always so proud of his hands that I think it upset him to get them dirty or sticky. hehehehe

[Vladina]

Awww, Windham, my sweet boy! Now that handshake would have been a sight to see on video, eh?

And yes, Breyer, I am sure that anything that got onto Stanley's hands would have been an afront to The Lord of the Fancy Hands himself! Those are some very famous hands, Mr. Stanley!

[aprilleigh]

I might have to give them a plain banana slice one day just to see what happens.

[Vladina]

April,

I almost forgot to send you this link (and I know you probably have tons of websites and links to look through already!) but The Dapper Rat (link below) is a really fun and helpful website for us ratty people with great ideas for make it yourself toys, games, etc, for rats and of course rat care. Some neat humor too. A fun browse for you, and great pictures of housing/toy/nest box ideas, and so forth. There are sooo many great sites out there but I just happened to remember this one. Enjoy.


http://www.dapper.com.au/index.htm

[aprilleigh]

Thanks Vladina! I love the idea of homemade stuff for the girls.

[Vladina]

You are most welcome! I hope you are not getting overwhelmed with all these links and posts and websites, etc. So much to soak in, yes?

[aprilleigh]

Yes, lots to learn, but I don't mind. I think that's half the fun.

[Vladina]

Yes, it really is half the fun. And I will tell you, I have had my moments where I think smugly to myself, "Boy, you are such a rat expert now" and then BAM, something comes up with one of my rats and I feel like a rat newbie all over again.

I realize there is always more to learn and discover about rats, every day. The learning never stops. BUT, it is fun to keep learning!

[aprilleigh]

The girls go to the sitter tomorrow morning. They'll be completely spoiled by the end of the week, but at least I know they'll be in the best of hands. I'm going to miss their little ratty noses, and paws, and tails, and ears, and eyes, and ...

[Vladina]

Yes, I miss our boys when they take an extra long nap! I start craving them and think, "Oh, I need some ratty snuggles so bad!" so I know how you feel. So your girls are going to a sitter? Are you going on vacation or something?

[aprilleigh]

Going to my in-laws. We go every year, and this year they're celebrating their 50th anniversary (actual anniversary was in January, but since it's too cold to do much in South Dakota in January they flew down here to spend that with us and are having their big party exactly six months later).

Luckily, the sitter is the same woman that works so hard to socialize and pamper them while they're at the store, so she'll smell familiar.

[Vladina]

Oh, that is terrific that she is the one sitting with them! You are right, she will smell familiar to them, so that is great. How lucky to have her taking care of your girls.