[Shayna&Liam]

For all of you who have read my last thread, Cocoa and Gracie's New Cage, you'll understand what I mean when I say I think the girls were lonely. So today we decided to start rat hunting. Honestly, I thought it would take awhile to find two perfect girls, but we found.....wait for it.......three! Here are some pics and end result pics of the new Rat Mansion (we also bought new toys).

The blonde one is Lilly and the grey and white one I think I want to call Mercedes.

Mercedes again, checking things out. Initially I put them all together outside of the cages and everyone got along totally fine, after a little while I put all five into the Rat Mansion and they all started to kiss and cuddle.

Lilly and Mercedes.

Now it's time to meet the reason we got three rats today and not two. This is the little dumbo ear that caught my eye as I was leaving with Lilly and Mercedes and I just HAD to cuddle her, and she was of course, so cute and sweet. This is Minnie Mouse (Minnie).

Lilly and Minnie.

She was too little to jump up on the branch, it was too cute.

And some new pictures of Cocoa and Gracie on the bottom level of their new Rat Mansion.

Minnie is too small to live in the big cage, she could squeeze through the bars with no problem. So she is living in the small cage (compared with the Rat Mansion, still totally adequate) Cocoa and Gracie were in. I didn't want her to grow up alone, she needs friends to snuggle with and groom so they are all in the old cage, and they will all be moving into the Mansion when Minnie is big enough not to escape.

 

[Shayna&Liam]

That's what we are planniing. Last night they all got about 45 minutes of playtime, then Cocoa and Minnie started spatting so we separated the two of them, put Cocoa back in the big cage and let Grace play for about ten more minutes. Then it was bed time for everyone. They did remarkably well - I was really surprised it took over 45 minutes for an altercation. They were all so cute together though, I am so excited to be able to move them all over.

I have a stinking suspicion that Lilly is pregnant, though. They said all the rats were in sexed cages but her belly is awfully round, I didn't notice it so much when I picked her in the store but last night she laid down on my lap on her back like she wanted a belly rub (I HAVE NEVER SEEN A RAT DO THAT BEFORE, IT CRACKED ME UP!) and I noticed. So... I may need some advice from all of you in the next few weeks as to taking care of kittens.

 

[Shayna&Liam]

Awwww you're so welcome! Hurt faces are always a good thing, when it comes to smiling that is LOL. Speaking of things being hurt... Lilly is most definitely pregnant. I set her up in a 50 gallon aquarium in my bedroom yesterday morning so she has tons of peace and quiet, is away from the cat and screaming kids, etc. Well tonight I went upstairs to give her some one on one time, cuddles etc. and when I moved her house there was a little tiny blood spot on the Kleenex she made a nest out of. I picked her up gently and she has a tiny spot of semi-dry blood on her girl parts. So NOW... I need help. Is spotting normal for rats? I know it is for people (having had two kids)... what should I do? Does this mean the babies are coming soon? HELP!!!

 

[Shayna&Liam]

She is not all that big. I mean, she is not a baby by any means but neither is she full grown - I would say, if she was a person, she would be about fifteen or sixteen years old. If that makes sense. I started a thread about it if you want to come talk there.. it's called So uhh... Lilly is about to pop!

 

[Shayna&Liam]

Just an update, there are no babies as of yet, but a little more blood in her nest tonight (maybe the size of a quarter of a penny) and she is starting to look pretty pear shaped. How long do rats usually carry for? I have heard anywhere between 21 and 28 days, is that correct?

 

[Shayna&Liam]

Oh lol she looks like an underdeveloped pear.

 

[Shayna&Liam]

1928, isn't that funny that you got a Lilly who's pregnant as well? That's so crazy! Good luck with the babies and definitely post pictures! What are you planning on doing with them, keeping, selling, etc? Did you know that she was pregnant? I had no idea but my Lilly is about to pop!