Here’s an entry that has 0% to do with food. But since I am officially ratless after 5 years of keeping them, I couldn’t not write a piece about my special little guys.

Sadly, on Wednesday we had to say goodbye to Bailey Boo. Unfortunately his passing meant that I was left with a lone rat, Harvey. This was bad as rats shouldn’t be kept alone as they are very social creatures. Within 2 days of losing Bailey, Harvey was looking increasingly depressed.

I made the decision a while ago that I wouldn’t be getting any more rats as I have been allergic for a good few years now and I’m sick of taking antihistamines, wheezing, having a rashy cleavage and not being able to open my eyes in a morning. So, I had already made plans for my surviving ratty to go live with “Auntie Caza” since I knew she would take the best care of him.So today I dropped off little Harvey to live with his new friends Remy and Mika. It was so hard to leave him there, even though I know he will have a great time – I’m just so paranoid that he thinks I’ve abandoned him. I think he may have knew though as I got a fair few goodbye kisses from him So, I thought I would write a summary of all the little furry fuzzballs I have had the pleasure to share my life with:

1) Mr Gregory Bread
My first ever ratty and my one and only non-rescue. I got him from a Garden Centre and a week later, thanks to a Fancy Rats Forum education (www.fancyratsforum.co.uk), I got him a little friend a week later. He was naughty, cheeky, cost me a fortune in vet bills but he will always hold a very special place in my heart for sparking my ratty obsession 5 years ago.

2) Sir Ivory Coast
My smeezy baby, soft as anything and lived to a good old age. We never had any trouble with this little chap  He was a total little love bug and broke my heart when he was a baby when I found him crying after being cornered by Gregory

3) Master Jeremy Ruffles
This little monster was pint-sized but feisty! he came to us with his little Friend Rodney. He was so cheeky, but also cuddly, he was impossible not to fall in love with. He was also a class-A food thief!

4)Rodney Hood
My silly fatty, goofball  I loved this little guy, he was so soft and stoopid. He would let me cradle him like a baby and was scared of everything! Definitely special in all sense of the word ♥

5) Wee Willy Whiskers
This little naked chap was named after the way he feels…  He came with his brothers Barry Roll and Billy. He was a funny little guy, he was a bit blind and before his neuter he would sit on his own screaming even though their were no other ratties around. He smelt amazing and loved a spot of pea fishing. He also never ever stopped eating. Even when we took him to be PTS, he was still eating noodles in the waiting room. He was the oldest ratty I ever had (estimated at 4 years but no hard evidence)

6)Big Bad Billy Bear
This man was a bad lad! He was 1000g of pure muscle and for some reason he always had it in for me! He was always biting a chunk out of my hands and once he actually pushed a pen onto the floor then when I bent over to pick it up, looked behind at me before kicking a stack of CDs onto my head!!! People probably think i’m making it up and he couldn’t possibly be that clever and calculating, but my mum saw him do it!  Unfortunately he didn’t live much longer after his neuter and died from a suspected brain tumor, which was a shame as he did calm down into a bit of a snuggle-butt.

7) Beautiful Barry Roll
This guy was also a whopping 1000g… unfortunately for Barry it was mostly fat rather than muscle!
he was an absolute babe, always happy to have a cuddle. He was usually very patient but on the rare occasion he got annoyed, he would just flip and systematically beat up each cage mate in turn before stomping off to bed in a huff 

8)Little Timmy Tatters
This little man was taken from me far too soon. He came with his two brothers Larry and Denny. Unfortunately we’d only had him a few months when we found him in a state of forever sleep on top of a hammock. He was sweet natured and had super-soft fur. He was playful as a kitten too 

9)Denny Doofus
Denny was ace. He was so cheeky I was determined to rescue him (when I offered him my fist he forced my finger and thumb apart with his paws and shoved his head in the gap to check I wasn’t hiding anything  )

10)Little Larry Love
The longest surviving out of his brothers, Larry never quite grew out of his skittish ways. We still loved him loads though and wouldn’t have swapped him for the world

11)Terry Triviani
I shouldn’t admit to having favourites, but Terry was totally mine. He was the perfect balance of cheeky and naughty but cuddley and licky. Once he escaped from his Abode cage and we caught him opening the kitchen door with his teeth. Once he escaped and “knocked” on the toilet door whilst I was having a wee  I was terrified opening the door, thinking there was a burglar so imagine my surprise when I saw him looking up at me! He won 6 prizes at the Preston show a couple of years ago and no other rat has ever left such a large hole in my heart. I still cry over my little chocolate orange

12)Minky Mikey Moo
Aka my trapdoor spider rat. Don’t be fooled by his beautiful colour and little pink nose, this lad was a biter! he was too old for a neuter though so we left him as he was. When we first got him, he wouldn’t come anywhere near us but we did manage to coax him to have the occasional cuddle with us.

13)Tony Balloni
Tony came to us with his brother Bailey. He was shy but lovable and had a thing for brussel sprouts!

14)Bailey Boo
Bailey loved his food and cuddles and was a good guy despite having HLD for a long time. He was probably the easiest rat to get meds into!

15) Harvey Wallbanger
Last but not least, my little Wiganer, Harvey. Currently still on this mortal coil unlike his other friends, but now living with Auntie Caza so that he has some friends to cuddle until the end of his life. Harvey is the most licky rat I ever had, he would lick my hands for hours if I let him. He loves kisses and cuddles but is also a bit of an escape artist. Saying goodbye to him today was very hard 

The house is very empty and lonely without my furbabies  . Luckily I still have Spike the axolotl and the chickens to keep me sane Thank you to everyone who has supported, guided and helped me out with all things rat-related over the last 5 years, I have appreciated everything.XXX