Trekkie, Science loving, Animal friend, Opinionated. Honestly, just plopping what I create, like and love here. Current overwhelming obsession is Nightwing with some more DC. Rats Rule! I foster super old or sick rescued Rats. I'm more than 40, appear cishet to most, but really I'm Bi and NB, but she/her works fine.
I am a sanctuary rat foster for a small animal rescue. This is the best and most important part of my life, so I figure I should explain it a bit and then pin it up so everyone knows, and can see cute rats.
This was Charles. I fostered Charles for nearly 3 years. His story is one that keeps me going when I experience too much loss or hardship with fostering.
Another rescue group had Charles and a few other male rats housed in one of their many facilities. I want to be clear, I respect that rescue a great deal, but they didn't know enough about rats. These boys were very aggressive and their Vet suggested euthanasia. Thankfully one of the wonderful volunteers with that organization thought of the rescue I work with, and those boys all came to us instead of dying.
The rest of Charles' story, more on fostering, and more rat pics below the cut.
These boys needed to be neutered. Almost immediately the other four boys calmed down, started socializing and went up for adoption.
Charles was a bit tougher. He continued to bite and was quite aggressive when placed within even 6 feet of other rats. His foster mom had some house related issues, so he was transferred to me. I was warned he might not ever socialize, though the coordinators at the rescue were pretty sure I'd manage to help Charles.
I'll admit, he was a tough cookie I got bit daily and he went full bull mode if I moved his cage anywhere near the other rats. But there was also this look he gave, like he wanted to trust me, and he wanted affection. I'd have kept trying no matter what, but those sweet, hopefully looks really spurred me on.
It took only a few months to get him to mostly stop biting, and to accept other rats. He usually kept an edge to him, and it was another year or two before he'd allow strangers to greet him, but he became a really happy and spoiled rat.
Charles would not have lived past his first year without being rescued properly. Having a rescue that focuses on rats and having multiple fosters who can handle more problematic rats is what gave him years of happiness and life. He was such a sweet curmudgeon. In his last year I received regular requests to bring him to visit at the Vet, so staff could see him. I still miss him. . .
I miss a lot of rats. I have fostered around 50 rats in the past 6 years. All have had sanctuary status, and they have lived anywhere from 3 days to 3 years with me. Some have come to me terminally ill, very old or very traumatized.
Here's French Fry, Teddie and Maize. Teddie and Maize had serious tumors, French Fry was a seriously traumatized rat who took a lot of work to feel safe and loved, though eventually he really did. He was my longest lived rat, reaching over 3 years and 10 months!
French Fry and I learned to communicate really well with each other. As an example, when his hind legs got too weak, he knew how to get me to help him go up or down the ramp. He also loved staying in a smaller cage on his own for anywhere from a few hours to days at a time in his last months. He'd just let me know where he wanted to go, little personal home or the bigger main cage with everyone else. I think he loved both his personal space, but also adored his home of years and most of the girls that inhabited it. He only ever hated one other rat, but that's a whole story in itself.
This was Christie. Unfortunately this picture is from her last day. She developed blockage from a tumor in her digestive tract. She was thrilled to have access to ask this amazing kale and carrot yumminess, but had mostly lost her appetite. But she enjoyed having her hoard of greens and getting lots of love.
Here's Smoke and Belle. These girls came directly from their adopter, who was no longer able to care for them. I miss that whole family group. In this picture, Belle had just finished chewing through the belt loop on my dad's pants while we waited at a Vet appointment. She was an energetic trouble maker. Smoke was a sweet old lady without an ounce of mischief in her. She's looking lovingly up at my Dad.
Sugar, Miso, Echo, Oreo, Harley all wonderful rats. Harley was very ill with heart disease when I got him, but passed as peacefully as possible in my arms after I had him for 2 months. Miso had a pituitary tumor and double inner ear infection. There has been recommendation to euthanize, but treating for ear infection gave him another 3 amazing months and he died peacefully in a hammock in a sleepy pile of rats who loved him. Echo was one of my dearest buddy rats. She was full of energy, love and life until her last month, when it whittled down to lots of love. Sugar was a beautiful and sweet rat, and tolerant companion to her crazy sister Spice.
At least 4 of the rats pictured above would have died months or years earlier without rescue. Saving them might not have changed the world, but it changed their world completely. I hold that in my heart after every loss so that I can take in the next rat. It's really easy to burn out doing this.
Rats really only live 2 1/2 years, occasionally less and even more rarely up to 5 years. I have met so many adopters and fosters who just can't keep doing it. I am often tempted to join them in this. It's heartbreaking, I'm actually crying as I write this part. I miss every rat I've known. I also love them all, and I intend to persevere as long as I can do so in a way that's safe for me and them.
If anyone reading this is interested in adopting rats, please know that rats make amazing fur friends. They are so loving, usually smart (with exceptions), and they are so much fun. Just be aware that they need a lot of play, attention, clean habitats, usually need to be in groups, and should get Vet care. When I adopted I usually spent around 150-200 bucks per rat on average in total Vet costs. Some were less, but at least one rat cost me over 1,500 dollars over her life just in vet care.
Also be ready for that short life span, as I previously mentioned. It's not enough time. . . but if you manage 2 1/2 years you did a really good job. I've met a few adopters who didn't realize that and blamed themselves for not having a rat reach 5 years. We don't know why some rats have extraordinary life spans, but most simply don't. There is a lot of information that seems to add months on, and when I get rats from a younger age or who are well cared for I'm more likely to get them to 2 year and 9 months. Research, care and knowledge help, but it's by months, not years.
If you can't adopt or foster, consider donating to a rescue. Even a few dollars can buy food and fleece, or a few toys. A bit more can help cover Vet costs and medicine. Many rescues have swag for sale, so you can show off your animal love while also supporting these great organizations. I might add links to the rescue I'm part of, but I want to get their permission first. There's a lot of rules that rescues need to follow and I don't want to accidentally get mine in trouble through inappropriate posting or monetization.
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Like most rats, I adored her from the start. I was so excited to get a rat named Science! She came to me with Bubblegum and Candy, and I'd later learn that this was a reference to Adventure Time.
Science could bite a bit at first, but she became a loving and laid back rat who enjoyed lots of people and other rats. She gained weight after her spay and we worked on healthy eating and using the wheel more. She preferred to walk in the wheel and not run.
Science was able to make friends with nearly any rat, even if I was having trouble introducing them to all the rest. She was eager to meet her new friends, and recent played with baby rats. She was delighted by them much like any old lady
Science's aging started with HLD, then her eyes starting paling and getting strange occlusions, like crystals, in them. Her final issue was a tumor. The tumor, blindness and HLD slowed her down, but she remained happy and content right until this morning.
A barely graphic description, and end of life, under the cut
Last night I could tell the small wound on her tumor wouldn't heal. It was bleeding more and skin was started to be lost around the edges. This weak spot had existed for around 4 weeks but been and to heal nicely with help. Now it was open and likely to get infected. So I arranged her final Vet appointment.
There's so much more to making this decision, but it's a lot to go into
This morning I gave her the best of the foods she loved
Looks yummy, right? She enjoyed a bunch of it too.
I wiped her down with a washcloth until she let me know she didn't want to be groomed anymore.
Finally, I took her to the Vet, where we said goodbye. All my doubts were washed away as I saw that the wound had started to show signs of infection. In her final moments, I held her and told her she did the best job and was so loved, and to please find her sisters and tell them I miss them too.
Science lived an amazing 3 years and 1 month plus about a week. I had her for over 2 years.
I got some fun pictures while at the Vet with Taza recently.
This picture of Dax is my favorite. It's so soft, sweet and adorable. Oddly, it's her bad eye we are seeing, and you can barely see the cataract.
This is Taza in a rare moment of calm. She settled in on my Dad's thumb and basically spaced out. She was very done with being examined and getting an ultrasound. Thank goodness we went though, she has a Uterine Cyst.
Hershey went exploring as much as possible, including the counter and sink.
Science rested, but also got pet by some Vet assistants and techs.
Piper stayed hidden away in the wooden hide. She didn't come out until we got back in the car.
I got some fun pictures while at the Vet with Taza recently.
This picture of Dax is my favorite. It's so soft, sweet and adorable. Oddly, it's her bad eye we are seeing, and you can barely see the cataract.
This is Taza in a rare moment of calm. She settled in on my Dad's thumb and basically spaced out. She was very done with being examined and getting an ultrasound. Thank goodness we went though, she has a Uterine Cyst.
Hershey went exploring as much as possible, including the counter and sink.
Science rested, but also got pet by some Vet assistants and techs.
Piper stayed hidden away in the wooden hide. She didn't come out until we got back in the car.
Science is still alive! Her giant tumor is developing scratches and possible weakening of the skin, but they keep healing. It's taking careful monitoring, extremely clean and soft living conditions as possible, and antibiotics both orally and via cream, but she's happy and comfy.
I know I'll lose the fight with the tumor, and once I find a scab or open wound that fails to show quick improvement with care, that'll be the end, but she's 11 days past the first point I thought I'd need to euthanize her, and she's so clearly happy to be alive.
I want to be very clear, this is a lot of care, medication, observation and special food along with years of experience. It is abnormal for a large tumor to heal once there are strange dark spots or weaknesses in the skin. I would usually recommend euthanizing at this point, and have done so in the past. Science has simply shown unusual resilience, healing and a level of contentment that let's me risk continuing. I am also very lucky to have a vet willing to schedule with relatively short notice for end of life, and emergency options. These are foster rats, which means access to medical care I would not otherwise afford.
I'm really hoping this miracle goes on a few weeks, but if I lose Science tomorrow, it will have been worth it. She's the animal who has been with the rescue the longest, nearly 2 1/2 years! She's been so well loved by both humans and rats in that time.
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Science has days left, but I'm making them great days for her. I don't know exactly when we'll say goodbye, but this ancient lady has multiple possible appointments so we can both give her extra time and not risk making her suffer.
Piper is a slightly prickly rat at times, but a secret softy. She's been a bit upset that I now have two rats that monopolize my affections, and it's short sleeve weather. She loves hanging in long sleeves.
Hershey, Taza and Dax below the cut.
Taza is one of my newest rats. She's 1 1/2 or so and she's a spitfire, aggressively affectionate, dominant rat. I adore her for so many reasons. However, she hunted and ate part of a mouse that entered the cage. This was disgusting and very unnecessary. She has access to tons of food, though I appreciate the protection of the cage from wild animals.
Dax, named for Ezri and not Jadzia, is my other new rat. The eye not pictured is mostly white from cataract, so she and Taza have sanctuary status. Dax is a love bug and started offering tons of kisses and grooming from the moment she met me.
Hershey is an insane old rat with chronic URI. She's also a sweetie, curious, sleepy most of the time but boy sure gets her energy in shifts, forgets to eat, forgets to breath correctly, but loves being reminded, and I adore her.
I love my foster mischief and I'm so lucky to know each of them. I'm extra glad that I can make their lives bright and happy. How amazing is that!?!?
This beautiful, amazing, soft, lovely, special, sweetheart just turned 3 years old a few minutes ago. Science came to me with Bubblegum and Candy about 2 years ago.
It has been an honor to foster her. She doesn't have a lot of time left, a large tumor and age are catching up to her. She's also pretty much blind, though she adapted really well to that.
I struggled to find a way to spoil her more than usual, and the mixture of birthday treat and her usual senior mush did the trick. There's her usual mush with lab blocks dissolved in oat milk with some critical care mixed in. There's Cheerios, chocolate drizzle, mint leaf, kale, strawberry, and a rice puff. I thin sliced the fruit and leaves, mostly so that it would mix and present well but she seemed to appreciate the way that made them easy to munch with less handling.
Science enjoyed a large portion of it, and then the other four foster rats got to demolish the remainder in seconds.
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I've been learning more about this energetic and incredible old rat. Hershey is so outgoing, playful, sweet and the force of nature I was sure I was seeing.
We are starting to see improvement in her URI, nebulizer meds and azithromycin are great! She doesn't really want to take that treatment, but she forgives really fast. Applesauce had helped get her to take azithromycin, and she didn't really have a choice with the nebulizer. Metacam is a mixed bag, but I'll find a way to get her to enjoy it, probably.
I have a odd feeling about the little group right now. It feels somehow unbalanced, and I don't know why. I love these ladies so much, but maybe we need to bring in one or two more fosters to get the right personality balance? I'll talk to the rescue, there's often an old rat or two that need a safe long term haven.
This is Hershey chowing down next to Science. Hershey joined my mischief Friday, though she's still only partly introduced. Hershey is curious, pushy, affectionate, domineering (of me, not the other rats) and active. She's also got quite a nasty Upper Respiratory Infection, so off to the Vet tomorrow. Thankfully, I've run the nebulizer a few times and it helped her sound better.
I look forward to knowing this rat better. She's both very similar and very different from Bubblegum, which makes me feel lots of things.
All three of my current ladies will be heading to the Vet, because while there we are getting interviewed for a local radio station! It's going onto their TikTok page. . . though I can't really share it here without giving my identity and location away.
I don't know how to handle this. I had to help Bubblegum pass today. I knew when I posted about her recently that there might not be much time left, but it hurts so much that she's gone. I want to hold her, give her chocolate, help her explore, just be with her.
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This is Bubblegum now. She's 2 years and 9 months old, it's incredible. I hope she lives months more, but it's getting less likely.
She has good days, but also a lot of harder ones. Her HLD has weakened her hind legs very quickly. She lost the ability to climb a few days ago. Her breathing is too hard, but there's no URI. The Vet says she's just working harder to do everything.
But she gives cuddles, kisses and demands. She was always a queen, but in her old age her demands are sharper and clearer. Get that chocolate, take me here, hold me now!
This evening she enjoyed veggie baby food mixed with critical care and a bit of oatmeal. She ate so much I almost worry she'll get a tummy ache.
Bubblegum has so much of my heart. I have treasured my time with her and love every minute I still have.
Because the last post was so sad, here a happy Piper pic. She's doing so well, I'm very proud with this rat. She's getting braver and more trusting every day. She's a real sweetie too.
