![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
New rats and illness
Jun. 7th, 2014 05:02 pmI'm sick with a cold right now. Started to drip around Wednesday. Didn't take time off work but drugged up to the gills, so not feeling well and wanting to sacrifice workmates. Today's my first chance to stay in pj wear and do nothing.
Fortunately M is now able to do own shopping and has car, so apparently has loaded up for the apocalypse. I guess something that keeps you at home for eight weeks qualifies. She is back to usual cheerful pronouncements, like reminding me to make sure her brother and sister-in-law (whom I call aunt) in England are informed when she falls off the perch. Sure. As soon as I get out of this sickbed. My aunt's no better. M told them about her fall a few days ago and Jean (aunt) told her to be sure I had their phone number in case she (M) "did something" to herself. I honestly think this has been enough for M right now.
On Thursday my visitor rats and rabbit went home. I informed owners about William's bad behaviour. Reaction: "Hm. He's never done that before!" William was then lectured and all but promised never to do it again.
On the same evening (yeah, with me sick but dripping under control with pills), I received two little rats to join the mischief. They are very small for their eight weeks, being two of the four survivors from a litter of 12, born to a much-too-young mother. Another irresponsible ex-owner! The mother rat was taken into the rescue after their organiser saw an ad in Gumtree offering a pregnant rat. Knowing this was likely to attract snake owners, she took the female rat into care.
These little guys are very energetic and should do well despite their shaky start. They're a bit wary of my senior rats, though the three males are only vaguely curious about them. Coconut tries to grab, much as she does with a handful of Cheerios, and the babies eek and run. I don't think she approves of anyone smaller and cuter than she is. Hard to tell as I've not done an intro involving an adult female rat, but I've been told they are not likely to welcome babies who aren't theirs. The very thing that gets these guys accepted by the males is what puts Coconut off; they aren't old enough to have the scent of a "proper" male rat.
Not too worried, though, as they are both too fast for Coconut to get hold of them. Now I just hope I'm recovered by the end of the weekend, as working when sick has got knobs on.
Fortunately M is now able to do own shopping and has car, so apparently has loaded up for the apocalypse. I guess something that keeps you at home for eight weeks qualifies. She is back to usual cheerful pronouncements, like reminding me to make sure her brother and sister-in-law (whom I call aunt) in England are informed when she falls off the perch. Sure. As soon as I get out of this sickbed. My aunt's no better. M told them about her fall a few days ago and Jean (aunt) told her to be sure I had their phone number in case she (M) "did something" to herself. I honestly think this has been enough for M right now.
On Thursday my visitor rats and rabbit went home. I informed owners about William's bad behaviour. Reaction: "Hm. He's never done that before!" William was then lectured and all but promised never to do it again.
On the same evening (yeah, with me sick but dripping under control with pills), I received two little rats to join the mischief. They are very small for their eight weeks, being two of the four survivors from a litter of 12, born to a much-too-young mother. Another irresponsible ex-owner! The mother rat was taken into the rescue after their organiser saw an ad in Gumtree offering a pregnant rat. Knowing this was likely to attract snake owners, she took the female rat into care.
These little guys are very energetic and should do well despite their shaky start. They're a bit wary of my senior rats, though the three males are only vaguely curious about them. Coconut tries to grab, much as she does with a handful of Cheerios, and the babies eek and run. I don't think she approves of anyone smaller and cuter than she is. Hard to tell as I've not done an intro involving an adult female rat, but I've been told they are not likely to welcome babies who aren't theirs. The very thing that gets these guys accepted by the males is what puts Coconut off; they aren't old enough to have the scent of a "proper" male rat.
Not too worried, though, as they are both too fast for Coconut to get hold of them. Now I just hope I'm recovered by the end of the weekend, as working when sick has got knobs on.