December 2000 - 2nd edition

I have done a major update to the Ratabilia Page, dividing it up into sub-sections as it is filling up. I have added several new items (to 3 out of the 4 sub-sections).

December 2000 - 1st edition

Sadly Ben has passed on, she died on the 7 November. She had large tumours, as her sister Midge had. Their mum is still going, she has had to have her teeth clipped twice soon after Ben passed on. Moose has had quite a change in personality after Midge died, she has mellowed and become quite affectionate, she has lost all her nervousness, she is not 'nippy' anymore and now seems to like being handled, where as before she had been very nervous and would squirm continuously when handled! She had a bad start in life, we 'rescued' her from a crowded, mixed sex enclosure, in the pet shop. Shortly after had a large litter. Then Moose's teeth have went 'wonky', we have had to take her twice to the vets for teeth clipping, we now do it ourselves. The second time I did it, one of poor Moose's teeth split downwards, leaving a spiky tooth and a little bleeding from the gums. Then she sprained one of her front legs, then just as she stopped hobbling on it, she sprained one of her back legs! She is getting and looking old (2 1/2), but she still insists on being young and climbing all over the cage! So it's a surprise (but a nice one) that she is our oldest rat.

Salem is developing a small soft lump under her foreleg.

Now some good news - I have added a great new wallpaper to download on the Ratty Fun Page (see end of this page).

I have also been working on some Ratty Screen Savers using MM Fusion, but I am having problems achieving effects due to bugs in MM Fusion! I will get there in the end.

I have been restructuring the Ratty Fun Page, so if there are any broken links, please let me know.

Quick Update 30 September 2000

Just added a system start logo screen and a screen saver to the Ratty Fun Page - bottom of page for link.

17 September 2000

Long time no update. Sorry to people whom keep coming back and see no changes, such is life. I will try in future to allocate more time to work on this website.

As stated on the Main Page - Midge and Gilmour have sadly passed away. Ben's 'lumps' are getting bigger, but she is still eating well and seems to be enjoying life.

Thanks to Heron Vets, Morden, Surrey, for the treatment of Midge and Gilmour - it is very much appreciated. Also thanks for sending a bereavement card when Gilmour passed away.

I have added Barney, Buster, Crusher and Ruth to our 'hall of fame' of current rats. You may note that Midge and Ruggy are still listed here - they were my wifes' and my favourite rats and will always have a place in our 'hall of fame'.

I have updated some of the photos in the 'hall of fame'.

Kira won the first place in the adult pets category at the NFRS show held at Chertsey (Sunday 13 August 2000).

19 June 2000

More items added to Ratabilia Page. See bottom of this page for link.

News Flash - 4 June 2000

Little Midge

Midge did not recover to well from her op, shortly after going back into the cage with our other girls, Midge seemed to spend more and more time at the bottom of the cage until she would not climb at all. Her lump under the arm started to come back and we noticed two lumps getting larger under her back end. The weekend two weeks ago we thought Midge was a goner, she seemed so lathargic and as if she had 'lost the plot', I really don't want to lose Midge, every one has one special pet, Midge is my very special rat. We took her to the vets fearing the worse, Midge had perked up a bit that day and by the time we got her out for the vet, Midge was in an 'up and at em' mood! Which was great to see. The vet prescribed Baytril (liquid), Prednisolone (in quartered tablets) and Entrodex (in powder for her water). After a few days Midge was doing well, she is sleeping more but is quite active and keen to come out. Every day Midge lives on is special.

Tip! - If you are having trouble giving your rat Baytril or [quartered] tablets, try a piece of bread about 2cm square (I use soft roll crust) squeeze it flat and put the Baytril/tablet (tablets are best crushed between two teaspoons) on the bread and fold over and squeezing the medicine inside the bread - our rats gobble up the bread, where as they are little sods when trying to give them it otherwise!

Because of Midge we checked all our other rats thoroughly, unfortunately we found Ben (her sister) had a very small lump under her arm and a lump under her back end (in the same places as Midge), had we not purposely looked we might not have noticed until they got quite bigger. Ben seems OK and it does not seem to impair her in any way.

Rat Rings

I have recently applied for membership in two Rat Rings, The Absolute Rat Ring and The Pet Rat Ring - see Links Page.

Poppet's Pups

The pups are doing very well, 5 Rex's, 4 girls in a total of 7. One of the boys (Buster) is very much like his father and grand-father, see below for some pics