A question for rat lovers/ keepers

reallytinyamy · Jan 4th, 2009, 14:36 PM

Hi, I know theres a few on here that keep rats and know a lot about them. I have two, they are brothers, I've kept single rats before and this is a new one on me.

Basically Rum seems to be poorly, he's very weak and slow and definitely not himself. They are about 2 years old. I'm pretty sure that whatever happens he is not going to be with us for too much longer.

My question is, what is the best thing to do re Raisin, his brother? They have always been togther and I don't know what the best thing would be to do for him if Rum dies. Will he cope on his own? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't cope with a new companion.

Any ideas/ advice would be very welcome. Thanks in advance

JayleighAnn · Jan 4th, 2009, 14:44 PM

I have kept rats before, and I've never had to deal with this as I gave mine away as they became nasty and attacked me everytime I went near them so I can't offer any advice from experience

But I would suggest that Raisin might be alright, if Rum dies, in a new cage? without the smells of his brother?

FsMummy · Jan 4th, 2009, 15:58 PM

i have two rats atm that have turned really nasty so im getting rid of them (theyve bitten dd!) but my last two were lovely, they were brothers n when franky died ronnie covered him up with sawdust (presumably to keep him warm) they were both about 3 yrs old and ronnie died a cpl months later unfortunately

at his age i doubt itd b a good idea to introduce a new companion. sorry i dnt have any good advice

reallytinyamy · Jan 5th, 2009, 05:07 AM

thanks, I'm so worried about them!!

milkmachine · Jan 5th, 2009, 06:15 AM

i would say just give him lots of love and attention. they are clever hanimals and need to be mentally stimulated. my rat was one of a pair but they didnt get on so hes not on his own we get him out all the time, he has free roam of the bathroom most of the time and provide him with lots of toys to keep him busy

Whisper · Jan 5th, 2009, 11:08 AM

I had 2 brothers as well and when 1 of them died the other was poorly anyway so i knew he wouldn't last long, they both died from various tumors (i think it is pretty common for rats), i think Raisin will be fine. Give him a few more treats now and then, mayonnaise and dog biscuits were a fave for mine! LOL

1st_baby · Jan 5th, 2009, 12:21 PM

I had this problem with my two girlie Hershey & kisses , Hershey passed away a few months after we got her and kisses was depressed for a lil until one day while she was out she grabbed a lil stuffed bear I had on my table and she brought it inside her cage and was happy ever since

heres a pic there the two furred ones

Jan 4th, 2009, 14:36 PM	#1
reallytinyamy Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 4,327	A question for rat lovers/ keepers Hi, I know theres a few on here that keep rats and know a lot about them. I have two, they are brothers, I've kept single rats before and this is a new one on me. Basically Rum seems to be poorly, he's very weak and slow and definitely not himself. They are about 2 years old. I'm pretty sure that whatever happens he is not going to be with us for too much longer. My question is, what is the best thing to do re Raisin, his brother? They have always been togther and I don't know what the best thing would be to do for him if Rum dies. Will he cope on his own? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't cope with a new companion. Any ideas/ advice would be very welcome. Thanks in advance

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Jan 4th, 2009, 14:44 PM	#2
JayleighAnn Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 4,182	I have kept rats before, and I've never had to deal with this as I gave mine away as they became nasty and attacked me everytime I went near them so I can't offer any advice from experience But I would suggest that Raisin might be alright, if Rum dies, in a new cage? without the smells of his brother?

Status: Offline

Jan 4th, 2009, 15:58 PM	#3
FsMummy Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,072	i have two rats atm that have turned really nasty so im getting rid of them (theyve bitten dd!) but my last two were lovely, they were brothers n when franky died ronnie covered him up with sawdust (presumably to keep him warm) they were both about 3 yrs old and ronnie died a cpl months later unfortunately at his age i doubt itd b a good idea to introduce a new companion. sorry i dnt have any good advice

Status: Offline

Jan 5th, 2009, 05:07 AM	#4
reallytinyamy Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 4,327	thanks, I'm so worried about them!!

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Jan 5th, 2009, 06:15 AM	#5
milkmachine Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,450	i would say just give him lots of love and attention. they are clever hanimals and need to be mentally stimulated. my rat was one of a pair but they didnt get on so hes not on his own we get him out all the time, he has free roam of the bathroom most of the time and provide him with lots of toys to keep him busy

Status: Offline

Jan 5th, 2009, 11:08 AM	#6
Whisper Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 3,275	I had 2 brothers as well and when 1 of them died the other was poorly anyway so i knew he wouldn't last long, they both died from various tumors (i think it is pretty common for rats), i think Raisin will be fine. Give him a few more treats now and then, mayonnaise and dog biscuits were a fave for mine! LOL

Status: Offline

Jan 5th, 2009, 12:21 PM	#7
1st_baby Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: montreal Posts: 3,873	I had this problem with my two girlie Hershey & kisses , Hershey passed away a few months after we got her and kisses was depressed for a lil until one day while she was out she grabbed a lil stuffed bear I had on my table and she brought it inside her cage and was happy ever since heres a pic there the two furred ones

Status: Offline

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