The End of the Line

All intros have come to a full stop. Ma started to intro us too late in the game. The young boys have matured early and are now a non negotiable little gangsta group. They are out for blood… ok, so maybe not blood but they are calling it their territory. They have the nerve to ask for payment in order to allow us to play on their turf. What the heck! It was our turf before it was theirs. And their payment, a full body groom, can you believe that? I for one am not putting my teeth on that disgustingly oily skin. Buck grease is not something I can to taste. Who the heck do they think they are… or ya, they are the boys in that bright white sports car, waving their arms in the air, who do they think they are and where did they get that car. But replace car with high levels of testosterone. They are seeping hormonal drive. Meanwhile the rest of us just stand around thinking… ok. Settle down little boys. So anyway Ma decided to have our play times separated. That does suck in some way cause that means we only get to come out for an hour a day. BUT! Payback is beautiful… I hear they are getting the snip. tee hee Already Matou and Rocher got done. We no longer smell them. Hahaha Next will be Echo and Bug. I love payback!

Leaving Your Post

This is too funny not to share and I know Rocher will not be happy that I've told you all. In the other cage, they are a pretty brave bunch, either that or they are very young and not at all up to date with cage guarding protocols. They decide to leave Rocher as the cage guard. One! only one rat as the cage guard. Nobody else is on standby. Nobody to run and help Rocher should any of us decide to jump the cage.
What's worse, I'm pretty sure he didn't volunteer for the job, they just picked him by all of them climbing out of the cage before him. He was about to climb down when he realized he was the only one left... he was not happy about that but he stayed. He stayed at his post, watching the others enjoying their out time. Watching his friends bullying us older rats. He also watched as his buddies gnawed down on the snack shack just below his cage. Oh it was so tempting.
Salivating... he climbed down real quick but only for a second, he jumped back to his post. Again, he climbs out and spots the snack and looking back twice decides to go for it. After a few minutes, he remembers his post and jumps quickly back in the cage. He waits... and waits but then goes off again to his snack. He's chewing away happily, not a care in the world until he hears something above him. A rat is moving about and he don't smell like one of his buddies. Oh god! It's the big guy Jet! Jet Black is what they call him, he's huge, he's at least 3 times his size. What should he do? He runs back and climbs up his cage. He waits at the edge, watching Jet make his way about...oh man, and he can just smell Jet putting his scent down. He knows he's going to get some flack for this from the buddies. But it wasn't his fault right? He never asked for that job in the first place. He slowly goes to Jet but Jet doesn't pay him any attention. He knows he's in trouble and just then, just when Jet was turning around and positioning his huge romp on him, a hand swoops down and grabs a snickering Jet out of the cage. PHEW! Saved by Ma!! We can all hear Ma tell Jet, no visiting yet. I was laughing so hard... that little Rocher didn't leave his post after that.

Shields Up!

So we’ve been having daily play time together for the last week or so.

I myself am having a ball. I’ve never had so much fun since I was a wee little thing.

But of course we have those in my cage that take this stuff way too seriously. They’ve actually organized a system. We have two cage guards. This is usually Jude and Fleur. But if it gets too testy, we’ve got Julia on standby. Then they send out the feelers and that’s our alpha boy Jet and Jack. They go about sniffing the young boys and trying to place them. Now Jack is always working hard at his job but what he doesn’t know… Jet simply moseys on over to the snack shack and settles down for the day and just gnaws. All the while we’ve got these strapping young studs zipping by and running all over the place. Jet doesn’t even give them a second look. Poor Jack… he’s like Rambo, a one man army. But the only difference is that Jack doesn’t win. He usually ends up sulking in the corner. These young boys are relentless… they are constantly trying to break our line and get into our cage. Then, it’s complete chaos. The girls are screaming, the boys are running, there’s boxing and jumping, taking bets… We look around for big guy Jude who’s suppose to be our strong arm and he’s off for a nap. Figures.

Jude at one end and Julia at this end.

 

Sawyer testing the line… Jude holding strong.

Any Blue Will Do

Well it’s about time I say! We are finally meeting the boys next door.

What a fabulous bunch of babies. I’m truly enjoying them. Mostly because they are still young, not quite 5 months old and still regarding us as the alphas. heehee

Oh but they are lovely, sweet and gentle but fun and rambunctious, they remind me to run, jump and play again. What fun!

The whole bit with Rodeo was quite a let down. Ma ended up introducing him to the older cage. I was so hoping that I’d get me a blue boy after all. But it’s working great with Rodeo and his new buddies…but wait! Hold your horses… there are not one but two blue boys in the group of the younguns! Why was I not aware of this? So I found me one very handsome boy and latched on. His name is Darcy. He’s gentle, cautious and kind… I’m quite taken with him. I hope he doesn’t mind though…  a girl has to have fun. I do go running around and playing with the others, one in particular, Bronco, I don’t know where that boy gets his energy. Oh to be young again…

 

Night Owl

Rats are crepuscular… we like to play a lot but also sleep is so very important. I’m sure a lot of you will agree that laying down, in that perfect spot is so essential to happy living. You know how it is. First you stalk that perfect spot. For me, it’s in that gigantic round ball that hangs from the ceiling. I wait till the others leave and then snag it all for myself. Of course, I can’t stop the other from entering but I can sure give them the evil eye when they do that and box them a bit. Then you have to find a good position, on your side, on your tummy and there’s the one your head. But man, you sure get a kink in your neck when you wake up after a good 15 minutes of napping. Then there are the brave ones… they sleep on their back. I just don’t know how they do it though… all exposed like that. And they go into such deep sleep, I actually can walk over them and they won’t wake up. They just keep on snoozing, with all their legs spread out and those um, things out in the open. Please… have some decency.

Ok, I went off track here… My point is, being almost middle aged, I like my sleep, it’s so important to get my beauty rest but GAWD… those youngsters next door don’t ever friggin’ sleep! They are up at all hours. What gives? A shrill shriek here, a long winded eek there… and on and on… I keep yelling at them, it’s 2am, don’t make me go over there…

Oh but you know what? the guys sleeping on their backs don’t hear ‘em. Mmm… maybe I should do like Jack and sleep on my back.

Ugh but look at him… that’s boy’s got no shame.

New Kid On The Block

Last weekend Ma took a trip to meet up with a very nice lady for our rat food. Of course we get the best, it’s Harlan Teklad 2014… we just love that stuff. At the same time, Ma picked up a new boy. We haven’t met him yet but we can sure smell him. Ma tells us he’s a blue variberk standard boy, he’s about 15 months old give or take…  I started to think, vavavoom… but then Ma said he was neutered. Crushed.

He’s still a very timid boy. He comes from Henry’s Haven a rat rescue located in the Kawarthas. He was a biter and a meanie so they had him neutered over there. He still needs some work and Ma figured she had some time on her hands to give this boy some loving. She named him Rodeo.

So far, he’s been very scared when out of his cage, we can sense this but we are very confused cause honestly, there’s nothing to be scared of here. Sheesh. But I’m sure he will quickly learn this. Also, Ma is looking to see who will be the perfect girl for him. I sure do hope she picks me. hehehe… Who wouldn’t want a big strong handsome blue boy?

Hopefully soon, we’ll all meet Rodeo… and he’ll be part of all of us! Yay!

Decorating the cage…

I know that it’s more pleasant for humans not to see our stuff laying around. But it’s really not our fault. One does it, the other must do it too. And do you know how many “others” there are in this cage? We try to use the litter pan, honestly we do. And yes, there are plenty of tissue paper to convince us to do it the hooman way but it mostly doesn’t happen as Ma would like it.

Are there other ratties out there needing a lesson or two? My sister Blue has it down pat. When you first wake up, avoid the overwhelming need to rush to the nearest corner. Find the litter pan. That will be that rectangle or triangle thing in a corner of a cage, in my case it’s at the bottom of the ramp. Ya, Ma had to put it there cause some of us, and I won’t name names like to harpoon it down the level. Hopefully it’s got some great litter in there that helps with odour control cause heaven knows, it don’t smell pretty when you do your business. Ma uses Yesterday’s News… it’s great stuff especially when you have an upset stomach, I like to munch on it a little. Don’t make that face at me! Ok now once you’re done, go find some tissue. I don’t really know why but hoomans do this too… you grab it and …um I’m not sure what but here’s an idea… bring it into your nest. Yes! That’s it. Nesting tissues. Sweet!

So there you have it. Poops in the litter pan and not all over the place although a little neutral brown decoration in your home is always in. ;)