Rat training, Freyas disgust, and tail linking..

Ahh life is busy, but there's always time for free-ranging, and training. ;)

We've had some really cool break throughs just recently, with the training.
Nova - as I'm sure I've mentioned before, is ruled by her stomach, or more accurately FOOD.
If she's not eating it, then she's stashing it, fighting over it, or looking for it.
I knew training her would be a doddle.
Freya on the other hand, picks at her food, and any treats I give her are surveyed suspiciously, and only taken when she's satisfied it's not poison, or a bomb..
I knew training Freya with food was completely useless, I had to find something else she was interested in.
Luckily for me, she's a magpie. Anything remotely shiny or glittery and she'll grab it, and wrestle it away into a corner somewhere. So we now have a selection of rat friendly shiny balls, and rattles, and other exciting things to reward her with whenever she decides to cooperate.
Nova will do tricks for half a shreddie. lol.

As of this month the girls can:
Nova;
Recognise and respond to her own name.
Come instantly when called.
Climb my arm and sit on my shoulder when given a specific command.
Spin around on command (almost every time, she's a bit dense though, so we forgive her)
Stand up on command.

Freya;
Recognise her own name, responds if she feels like it, but if she's in a bad mood or can't be bothered, turns her back on me coldly.
When called, she will saunter over casually, stopping just before she reaches me, then proceed to groom herself while I say her name over and over again like a mental case.
Climb up on command, although not usually my arm, preferring more sensitive uncovered routes, so as to inflict as many claw gouges as possible on the way up. 
Flatly refuses to spin around. Gives me, and Nova withering glares of contempt, then turns her back on us.
Will stand up, on occasion, if she feels like it, and the wind is blowing in the right direction. Sometimes.

Nova and Freya are still very much enjoying water play time too. Although I suspect they enjoy being wrapped up in a towel with a lukewarm hairdryer aimed at them, while being cuddled, coddled, and stroked much more!

Last time I managed to get a photo of something they've been doing quite a lot recently.
(I think it's a comfort thing) I took it as proof that it really does happen.
I wonder if anyone elses rats do it?

 Sisterly love <3

Anyway, more updates soon. TTFN x

No updates for a while..

I've not posted since March. I haven't given up on the blog, it's just been a tough few weeks.
We've had some sadness, and been really busy, and just decided to hunker down and look after each other.
The girls are fine. And normal blogging will resume A.S.A.P.

Freya heals, Four days without mum, and warm days arrive..

Not updated for a while. It's been crazy busy here.
Freya had her final post-spay check-up, and passed with flying colours.. almost.. (a rogue stitch needed trimming) she's now almost completely healed, and her fur is growing back.
Huge sighs of relief!

I went for a break last weekend down to the south-east to visit my family, and the girls were left with someone I completely trust. This didn't stop me ringing for updates, and issuing instructions down the phone like an Army Officer.

On my return, they were pleased to see me, but I realised just how much they missed me the next day..
Good morning kisses were a frenzy. Their routine of breakfast - snack - and warm evening meal was the most excitable and frantic it has ever been. Free range time was a full-on pampering session with manicure, eyebrow trimming, and my hands and cheeks covered in ratty licks.
*JOY* =D

Freya is already gaining weight, and has all but lost that skittish, nervous side of her nature.
Missing a few days of this transformation, then coming back to find my not-quite-so-tiny girl climbing the bars of the cage to greet me, was pretty surreal.
I still maintain, despite our drama, that rat spaying has an incredible effect on them, quite aside from the many health benefits. My opinion has not been changed.

Right now the ladies are in the back garden, in some shade, enjoying the unexpected warm breeze. (UK weather has been nuts this year - where did winter go? O_o)
They are lying eyes half closed, wind ruffling their fur, and looking adorable.
My daughter is on duty keeping an eye on them, while doing some homework, although judging by the giggles, I suspect less homework is being completed than usual...
Have a great weekend, wherever you are.
Deplume xx

 

Sunbathing Nova.. ^_^

The Bad Rat Pledge..

The Bad Rat Pledge

• There is no need to steal treats from others when I am given one of equal size of my own.
• There is no nutritional value in tissue.
• Bath time means a bath, not a chance to jump out and knock everything over.
• When dinner is being served, I will control myself and share with my cagemate in a sensible fashion.
• I will go about my night-time business in respectful silence.
• I am not qualified to give my human a manicure, pedicure, ear cleaning, nose cleaning, or dental exam.
• My human lovingly handcrafted this cozy hammock for me.. so I must not pee in it, or chew six holes in it.
• Band-Aids/plasters are there for a purpose and are not to be removed without permission.
• I will not bite my human's earrings, especially when she is wearing them.
• Begging for another treat after stashing the first one does not fool my human.
• I will try to remember to groom my tail... at least once a year.
• It's rarely ever wise to chew a hammock hook while lazing in it.
• I will strike perfect statuesque poses every time the camera lens points in my direction.
• I will not cling to that spot between my human's shoulder blades where I cannot be removed without assistance.
• I must remember that human skin simply does not have the traction required for vertical climbs.
• Walking down one level of my cage to use the litter tray is not inconvenient.  
• Water bowls are not provided for tail washing, or as a repository for unwanted food.
• Peeing all over myself and my cagemates does not make us smell irresistible.
•  I will not stare forlornly at my human, nose pressed through the bars of the cage, when she is having dinner and make her feel guilty so we get most of what she was eating..
  
  
  Credit goes to: Dapper Rat

The girls have been reunited!

Good news; Freya has now gone back into the big cage!
I was going to be really strict and keep them apart for longer, but she has done so well, and they both looked so sad, I decided enough was enough.
Time to get back to normality (or what passes for normal around these parts!)
Obviously I will keep a close eye on the wound, and a close eye on Novas grooming habits... ;)

An unexpected but very welcome upside of Freya and Nova being kept apart, is that I've been able to tackle the litter training separately.. and by jove I think we've cracked it!
They now have soft cosy fleece flooring, and a litter tray in one corner. ^_^
I fully expect the fleece to be shredded by morning, but hopefully not soaked through with rat pee....

Another bonus was spending time with Freya alone, as she's never been as outgoing as her sister, we needed some more trust training and bonding time.
It seems all the quiet whispers, and head scritches have paid off...
Yesterday she came out of the small cage, onto my hand, and straight up to my shoulder, without me having to pick her up!

This morning just to make sure reuniting them in the main cage would go well, I took them both upstairs for some free range time on my bed. I laid down and and put my head on my arms, and let them go about the important ratty business of checking whether my pillow case was edible, and fighting with a stuffed toy rabbit..
Then after around 20 minutes of frenzied exploring, Freya snuggled up next to my face, and started grooming one eyebrow.. and Nova, not wanting to miss anything, started grooming the other.
Within ten minutes we were all asleep.
It was only a cat nap, and I was rudely awoken by both girls trying to remove my fingernails... but it was bliss.

It's been a few days of ups and downs... but everything has settled down nicely..
:)
xx

Reunited at last... ^_^

Freya the (small but) mighty!!

Freya is home!! She had a very rough day yesterday.
She came out of her op fine, but then started spotting blood.
A nurse checked on her 15 mins later, and blood was oozing through the wound.
She had to go under, and be opened up again, washed out with saline, and then the bleeding stopped.
Put under, and opened up twice! Poor little girl..
She's been eating and drinking, staying warm, and I've been giving her pain relief, but she still seems very sore. It looks like she's lost some weight, she seems so tired and fragile, and I'm looking at her now, wondering how on earth she made it through. She's got some spirit for one so small!
Her wound is also a bit of a mess, and will probably scar a lot more than Novas did, but it's to be expected, and the last thing Freya has to worry about right now.

The vet said it was very unlucky, and they could spay lots of rats, and not have it happen.
She said she'd still recommend spays, and hopes it hasn't put me off.
I don't know what to think at the moment. I'm just so glad she pulled through. xx

 Poor Poorly Freya! :(

Freya: Spay has become complicated,

The vet nurse rang me earlier to let me know that Freya had been rushed in for emergency surgery.
Apparently they discovered a bleed while she was in recovery waiting for me to pick her up.
I don't know what this means, or how she is now, because they've asked me to ring back later for more information.
Hang in there bright eyes!
:'(