Zoe's Rats

I met Zoe and her rats quite by accident.

I was wandering around cyberspace, probably seeking information about rats, and fortune guided me to a website all about her and her love of rats.

I then found out what an incredible, talented, and extraordinary person she was, and that she left us too soon...

...and for those that wonder, don't worry - she found homes for all her rats in the country, when it became all too apparent that her tribe was reaching critical mass!

You may not have agreed with how she lived her life, nor how she had her rats live theirs, but I have no doubt she had a lot of love for them...

Ever-happy mice may hold key to new treatment of depression

A new breed of permanently 'cheerful' mouse is providing hope of a new treatment for clinical depression.

Chaucer rat in repose

Chaucer rat taking it easy.

"We is sleep'n"

Regina rat, Beatrice rat and Eva rat prepare for a nap after a hard morning of begging for treats.

The moods of Slugo rat

Slugo rat looks grouchy. But actually Slugo was just awakened to take his mid-day medicine. Slugo rat, like the rest of the rats, tend to sleep in from about 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is a hard life...



Slugo rat is quite happy to sit in my hand and make goo-goo eyes. He is the most relaxed rat of the bunch. I suppose it as more to do with us getting him when he was so young and his getting used to us handling him.



You can see compared to earlier posts that Slugo rat has grown quite a bit.

The moods of Boober rat

Boober rat does not like the camera. The moment he notices a camera he will move away or at least turn around. It is very hard to catch Boober rat by surprise.



Even when Boober rat is bruxing and in a near boggle he seems to know if someone wants to take pictures...



Boober rat can be slightly convinced to hold a pose for a moment, but it is usually on the spur of the moment.


[I swear it looks like Boober rat is smiling in this picture. Often Boober rat will stand with one paw up like he is gesturing...]

Jazz Funeral for Pets Lost to Katrina

NEW ORLEANS
Some came to the jazz funeral memorial march with photographs of pets lost in Hurricane Katrina's floods or aftermath. Others came with just their memories.

Happiness

Slugo Rat takes medicine Part 2

At first Slugo rat had to be scruffed to give him medicine. But after getting scratched up by an older , larger rat, I had to figure out a way to give Slugo rat medicine without hurting his wounds. I was suprised when I simpley offered him the syringe and he started lapping up the medicine..

Slugo Rat takes some medicince

Slugo takes some medicine and does not really mind.

Chaucer Rat in the playhouse

Chaucer rat loves the playhouse but does not love the camera...

Slugo Rat in the playhouse

Slugo rat is in the playhouse. Slugo is very excited.

Clara mouse on parade

Clara mouse is checking out the play area. She will be two years old and is expecting many presents.

Bath Bliss

Some people might think the rat is dead in this satirical poster, but he's not.

The image used in the poster came from a photo taken by the poster creator - and the rat's owner. It was explained that when he grew to be an old rat, his back legs became paralyzed. One of his joys of old age was baths, where he would flip and float for 10-15 minutes at a time...

Rats trained to detect landmines in Africa

Experts in Mozambique have trained rats to detect landmines to help save human lives. The new mine detecting team hope to clear the country of landmines by 2009.

Parrot that talked up a storm

A talkative German parrot sparked a police inquiry after neighbours thought they heard the cries of a neglected child.

Papa Duck...

"Last month a momma mallard was killed while she sat on her eggs in one of our potted plants out by the pool, taken by a predator. We took her eggs and put them into an incubator..."

Slugo and Boober

Old Boober rat and Young Slugo rat are having a sniff and greet. So far the boys are getting along.



Boober at first seemed to not really care either way about Slugo but eventually offered some grooming which Slugo appeared to enjoy. Slugo would frequently slip underneath Boobers head in order to get more attention.



It's a good start. Slugo wants a buddy and Boober does not mind being the big brother.

When Boober met Slugo

Slugo is trying so hard to be Boober's newest, bestest friend...

Boys Only Meeting

A couple of nights ago we tried to formally introduce Boober and Chaucer during a social hour / playtime. At first it went well, each sniffing and grooming the other. Boober appeared to try to apply his dominance when Chaucer decided he had had enough and events quickly turned into a furball. They were separated, Chaucer gave me a light nip on the palm of the hand when I pulled them apart, and taken to different rooms. Boober sat in my arms, slightly shaking with his eye wide open but relaxed after some skritching. Chaucer was wide eyed and twitching for a long time but would often run to Trish for attention as if he was seeking confirmation of comfort. We will try to introduce them again over time.

When Boober and Slugo were introduced things went much more smoothly. Slugo immediately went to Boober and offered grooming but Boober ducked away as if he was afraid of confrontation. Slugo was not aggressive at all with Boober and seemed to want him to be his newest, bestest buddy. Boober did not appear to mind too much...I hoped this too would be the ones that got along the best.