Critter City

Watch my boys grow!

After losing my beloved one eyed boy, Santana back in June, I was so heartbroken and the loss of him really had me so depressed my immune system became weak. I ended up with the flu that turned into developing pneumonia in both lungs. I ended up in the hospital for a few days. Everyone kept saying I was so sick because I was so bummed over the loss of my last rat. Being without rats in the rat room really had me more bummed than I imagined.

Santana, my wonderful old boy, I will miss him always.

Much to my surprise, my babies were almost ready to come home with me. I was so excited to have new rat pups in the house and was so amazed at how tiny they were. My breeder, Keith, from Carolina Blue Rattery, did an absolute amazing job socializing these three boys. They were a bit shy the first night home but by the second day, my new baby boys were like whirlwinds of fun, flying, floating, gliding, climbing, jumping all over the place. I knew I had no choice but to construct a tall cardboard wall. I made a fun play area for them, complete with a little childs toy barn I found at a flea market, and they get out a few times a day to play. They use me as a totem pole and climb me, climb down my shirt , on my head, you name it, they do it. They are fearless little boys, always chasing, running, wrestling each other and enjoying the life that they have. I will continue to update this page while they grow from young rat pups full of energy, to wonderful adult males. Meet Ben, my little black berkshire who is named after the song by Michael Jackson, "Ben" which is about a boy and his pet rat named Ben. Jackson is the little dove boy, who is also named after the late King of Pop who I have always been a huge fan of, and finally, my blue boy, Pepsi, who is named after one of my favorite sodas! LOL! Their baby pictures can be viewed on the ABOUT ME page.

Meet Jackson, Pepsi and Ben!

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2.5 weeks old

Little Jackson

Little Pepsi

Little Ben

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Four weeks old

Three babies in a pile, their first day home!

So, who are you and why are you flashing that light thingy at us?

Jackson and Ben, getting to know me!!

Little Pepsi, getting closer to me very carefully!

Their cage for a few months till they are ready for the ferret nation!

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Five weeks old

Pepsi and Ben, deciding if they should venture out.
The cardboard is to keep them from climbing the cage and getting out of the cardboard play pen!

Litte Ben! Note the last part of his tail is pink!

Jackson on his way out with Ben close behind!

Ben in the toy barn. Nope, no horses in this stall! LOL!

The boys find a toy with a bell in it! Jackson looks like his eyes are red but they are really black.

Ben and Pepsi have a wrestling match, as usual!

Its Bens turn to be the alpha!

Seven weeks !

Little Jacksons fur is turning different. He is a Dove coat so he is developing silver streaks
over his white fur. He is the smallest of the three but the most energetic and bold. Isnt it always
that way with the smaller ones? They always seem to be the alpha! Here he is tugging at my shirt
trying to get my attention!

Ben and Jackson climbing up my back to see me!

Ben and Pepsi. It looks like Pepsi is laughing!

Pepsi is really getting darker too. They all have glossy coats. Beautiful boys!

Pepsi standing on my back! LOL!

Jackson getting ready to jump on Pepsi!

9 weeks

Getting bigger! Ben says hello, why are you flashing that light in my eyes, ma?

Little Jackson tending to his farm! LOL

Sleek as ever, little Pepsi is growing like crazy!

Jackson may be smaller than his brothers but he sure knows how to pin them down during a wrestling match!

Its Bens turn to wrestle with Pepsi. Poor Pepsi is always the one being pinned down! LOL

The play area within the 3and a half foot cardboard walls.

Despite the toys they have to play with, I am their favorite toy. The boys climb up my back leaving me
no other choice but to lean forward so they can climb down safely. They just simply jump up and grab
onto my shirt and start climbing as if I am their live jungle gym! LOL Jackso is the first to climb up!

"Back view" of Pepsi, who also climbed my back! Little bRatz!

They found an ant! LOL!
* Note the cardboard pieces in front of the cage along with bottled water (I use that water for my hermit crabs)
The water bottles keep the boys from climbing up the cage when I am not looking. Ok they still manage to get up there but the bottles slow
them down. LOL!

Yes folks, this is ME walking like I am in totally wiped out after chasing around
three super energetic male rat pups for over 90 minutes! I always come out of the room
stuck leaning to one side! I guess I am gettin old! ;)

11 weeks

Little Pepsi smiles and says "Hey to everyone!"

Little Jackson is the smallest of the three boys.

Big Ben, the largest of the trio but also the most timid. He decided he was going to stick close
to the safety of his cage after spotting a duffel bag in the room that he had never seen before.

Little Jackson on the prowl!

The photo is blurry, but this is the position that Jackson assumes before he makes a leap trying to jump
over the 4 foot cardboard play pen wall once he discovered there was life on the other side!

Up he goes!! He never made it yet, but he never stops trying!

Big brother Pepsi is also thinking about trying for the jump.......

But decides to push his jingle ball around instead!

His coat is really pretty!

Bens fur is also very glossy!!!

Fourteen weeks!

My have they grown! Ben and Pepsi are much larger than the average 14 wk old buck proving to me they have genes of some large rats. Jackson is right on the mark at being the right size. He is also faster than his brothers, very sleek AND........yes, he finally made it over the four foot cardboard wall!!!!!!!
Camera caught him in action, too! lol!
I am also trying to get them used to their ferret nation cage. They like to play and explore in it but dont like me to lock them in yet. I had to add hardware cloth to it because Jackson can fit through the bars. They did not have the Critter Nation out when I got the Ferret Nation or I would have bought that one. Oh well.

Preparing to jump! He tried using his toy barn to give him a boost.....

But he did it without any help here, jumping four feet! So there he is, hanging on the side of the box. I grabbed him before he dropped into the glass hermit crab tank below. GAH!