Babies babies babies! **lots of photos**

Happy Sunday morning!
As I think I have mentioned before, I am part of NZ Rat Rescue (go look, go on).
On Christmas Eve, 2 girls came in who were probably both pregnant. As an average size rat litter is around 12, with the 'normal' range being anything from 5-15+, this was concerning.
So, both girls (Possum & Bellatrix) were fed and housed as if they were up the duff. The signs were not awesome. Weight gain was steady-which, being that they had not been correctly fed before, was not a guarantee-they were eating a lot, loved nesting etc etc.
There is no real surefire way of telling if a rat is pregnant, until you get near the end, and they look like they have swallowed a lightbulb.
Possum is now off pregnancy-watch. NO BABIES!
Bellatrix surprised me last Saturday (4/1) with 12. TWELVE teeny pink squirmy things.
I have never raised a litter, and had never planned too. Being involved in a rescue shows you precisely how few new rats are needed. There are plenty of needy rodents out there.
Anyway-my nails have been a bit left out, as I have been distracted. I will have something to show later today, hopefully. For now-baby pics! They are 9 days old today, and I have a group shot from ages 1-8days for you.

They are so freaking cute. Ears are no longer stuck down, their peach-fuzzy fur is incredible. It is almost impossible to stop touching them. In a week-ish, eyes will open, and they'll start eating real food. This will also be the time I end up staring into my kitchen, wondering how I am going to feed all these mouths. I started stocking up on food that day Bellatrix popped.
It is possible to sponsor this litter; if you are interested, contact office@nzrr.org.
There are 6 boys, 6 girls. Because Mumma rat is Bellatrix, the babies will get Harry Potter names. I have the names chosen, but I haven't given them to anyone yet.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have eepers to cuddle.

My Jynx

This is going to be a rambly post.
I have pet rats. If you have some negative opinion on that, do me a favour and keep it to yourself.
I am a foster/rescue person for NZRR
I have one Sanctuary rat at the moment, Magda. A sanctuary rat is one that can't be rehomed due to health issues, aggression, etc etc. All but one of my other rats are rescues in one way or another. I've had rats for 4yrs now. Due to their ridiculously short life-span, I have had a large number of losses.
None hit me as hard as Jynx.
Jynx, and her sister Lotis, came to me in 2011 as 4mth olds. I got them as company to a rescue girl I had gotten. Atropos was sweet to humans, and a whirling dervish of horror to all other rats. These 2 babies beat the crap out of her (in a ratty, bloodless way), and I was able to introduce the 3 of them to my main colony.

 Jynx (black hood) and Lotis

Jynx was my midget, so tiny in appearance but she had a HUGE personality. She was my Alpha rat, and kept the others in line. Including my 2 GIANT neutered boys; they cowered if she was pissed with them.

In October of last year, I found a tiny lump on Jynx-likely a mammary tumour, which are reasonably common, particularly in intact girls. Within a month, it had grown to the size of a huge grape. I booked her in for a spay and lumpectomy. The night I brought her home after the op, I was terrified. She was cold and unresponsive, and wanted no food or water. This is quite worrying-unlike other animals, it's vital that rats have food right up to, and immediately after, surgery. They have incredibly fast metabolisms. After a while, Jynx started licking Resource and water from my fingers, and recovered fine.
Last week, Jynx stopped being interested in food. From being the first to the food bowl, she didn't even give it a sniff. I managed to get her to eat minimal amounts by separating her, but it was pathetic. She looked thin and just old. On Friday night, we went for our final vet visit. I have a specific rat-vet clinic, as they are very knowledgable. The ladies there have seen me multiple times, both for euths, rescue rats, and of coure, Jynx's surgery last year. They know me reasonably well, but were quite shocked to see me that night. I was surprised at just how upset I was. I am more of a private crier-with previous euths I have held it in until I get to the car. With Jynx,my special girl, it just burst out.
Jynx was such a cheeky tart. Trying to wipe down the cage was impossible to just get done; she would steal the wipes. The second the door was opened-regardless of whether I was gtting them out or simply refilling food bowls-she was out and either on my shoulder, or adventuring around the floor.

I miss her a lot.