Meet our new baby...

[____paradox____]

When we went to a local pet store to find a bunny, and were disappointed when they didn't have any, a small ball of white+beige fluff caught my eye and we ended up coming home with the newest member of our rat family. So... everyone... may I introduce:
Norbert Nipkin!

Comments

[noximist]

Now that is one adorable little rat! (Much love also to his siblings, of course, lest some sort of hideous rivalry begin... although I'd pay good money to see rats with tiny rapiers defending their honour.) He'll likely treat you better than a bunny, anyhow. Did I ever tell you the story of my 15-lb. rabbit who ate a couch? ... yeah.

[_creepy_]

only a couch? look! our rat is just a baby and already he's onto eating elephants! :)

[neffarious]

I once had a rabbit (who was given to me by a school chum) who would actually hiss and growl when anyone came near the cage. He was literally a killer bunny who would attack anyone foolish enough to open the cage door too. Aristotle (I named him, and I was in Gr4 so stop laughing) soon after our aquisition of him, became a feast for my grandparents.

[branch_monster]

They make Holy Hand Grenades for such occasions.

[cybress]

*squee!* Soooo cute!! Awwwww! *hehehe* My girls use to be that small. :P

[____paradox____]

I used to have only girls for years and years... but they keep dying so young and get tumors and a lot more health problems than males... and the constant heartbreak of burying ratties was too much... so I got males... females tend to live 2-3 yrs while males can live 5+...

[neffarious]

I remember Chronic and MaryJane! I actually really liked them and have many a fond memory of watching them and their antics in your basement. And you would give rat treats (was it Cheerios?) to MJ to do her tricks! They were the best rats ever.

Norbert is actually pretty adorable! I forgot what actual rats look like (I only ever get to see the albinos..so I forgot that most rats have black eyes). I'm more inclined to like rats at the moment given that I haven't worked with any in a little over a month.

Not that you want to know, but that's about the size that I get them at when I do their surgeries (they bleed less when they're small).

[____paradox____]

Yeah... Chronic and MJ were the best... I cried and cried when MJ died... she tried to follow me out of my room and she scurried right under my foot as I stepped out.... I wanted to die... she squeaked and ran behind my bed... then came running out to me when she couldn't breathe... I picked her up and put her in her cage... but when she still couldn't breathe she actually leapt out of the cage to me and was looking right in my eyes... I could see the expression on her face was asking me to help her.... and as I was picking up the phone to call the animal hospital... she coughed up blood... and died. :(

[neffarious]

OMG! Wow, I didn't know that's what happened! I can only imagine how totally devastated you must have been :(

[____paradox____]

I almost didn't get any more rats after that... but time heals all wounds... it was just a terrible accident... and if it teaches me to be super-duper-extra careful around them from now on... then at least I take something positive away from the experience...

[branch_monster]

Aww, I almost want rats.

[____paradox____]

Yeah... but if you did... eventually Seren would find a way into the cage... and then you'd have quite a mess to clean up....

[branch_monster]

One of my friends drew a picture of something much like that years ago. It's almost like he knew ...

[____paradox____]

Aww... childhood drawings of blood and gore.... meeeeeeeemoriesssssss... in the corner of my miiiiiii-yiiiiiiiind.....