#ratsitting

Day 13 of Ratsitting: Today was cage cleaning and baby bathing. Observations include the necessity for a mini vacuum, and a way to make those tiny little nails less sharp. Poor little Baldr nearly made slivers of my hand while he was getting all clean and nice-smelling. He does not like being held stationary for any amount of time. Also, I need to give their cages a serious deep cleaning at some point. I have a feeling that not all of the smell is emanating from the rats or their bedding.

I really should record the rhythms that the babies make on their water bottles at night. I feel like they'd make a great backbeat to a rap or something.

Oh gosh now the boys are at it. And they're scuffling too. Babies, calm it down. None of you are ever getting any. That's just the way of it, and you're going to have to accept the fact one of these days.

The girls are squeaking. I think they're gossiping about the boys.

Day 6 of Ratsitting: This morning was pretty exciting, not gonna lie. I decided that the smell of the babies' cages was getting just a bit too ripe for me, so I changed their bedding. During the course of cleaning the girls' cage out, I discovered that when the tray is removed, the bottom of the cage sags a bit. If not watched, they will try to get out and give me lots of love. And also visit the boys. In order to clean out the boys, I have to move them to a secondary cage- a holding cell, if you will. And Karen, I know you told me to watch the hatch at the top, and I did. I made sure it was shut tight. I tested it before I put the boys in there, an checked once they were in. Tyr, it would seem, is stronger than your average rat. He popped the hatch while I was dumping the granules. Fortunately for me, he only made a beeline for his cage, and I picked him up a few seconds later. After that, I placed one of the food bags on top of the holding cell, just to be safe. They are really strong boys, though, and managed to jiggle this bag that is easily four times their combined weight. I also discovered tonight- and sorry I don't have pictures, but my phone died during the day- that Tyr also has an affinity for climbing pant legs. A sensation with which I must say I am fully uncomfortable. Bugger's got sharp little claws. That's all for tonight- I shall keep on posting more adventures at a later date!

i am going to have so many rats in my life for the next five days.