mamarat2
Well-Known Member
I haven't talked much about Morgan on here since I've gotten her.
I drove up to Ohio Dec 23rd to pick Morgan up, we had a bit of a rat transport set up for her. Ratlovingkippy was her former owner and Morgan was very aggressive so I offered to permanently rehome her with me. Morgan got as far as Dee's (OdysseyDesign) in Ohio and then I got her from there, long trip but worth it. I think 18 hours round trip driving and huge thank you to Dee in case I haven't said it enough for letting me pass out on the air mattress and a thank you to DebW (goosemoose) for the help in transport also.
Morgan came to me very aggressive and unpredictable. She hated hands and arms and skin in general, but really hands. Any chance she had she went for my hands. I've been to my doctor once for stuff and went to the ER once due to the bites, not bragging just the truth. Working with behaviorial rats is not fun but it pays off in the long run.
Morgan has been living in a martins R-680. Lots of toys, lots of stuff to do and although she does not like me much, she gets playtimes every day like everyone else. When Morgan has playtimes I can't always sit on the bed with her, so I have a comfy chair I sit in across from the bed and talk to her alot or just sit and read and be there in the room with her to get used to me.
I tried having Morgan have playtimes with my group of neutered boys and girls with the hopes she would eventually live with them. That has since been a no go due to every time blood is drawn by multiple parties.
My rat situation since Morgan came to live here has been the following:
Big cage: Stu, Luke, Merial, Chai, and Miles (2 females and 3 neutered boys)
Other cage: Stan and Larry - intact older brothers
Other cage: Morgan
Morgans' cage has always been across the room from everyone because she always seemed to be set off by them. Still can smell them and communicate across the room. We do her playtime first daily so the other smells are not as strong in the play area.
Fast forward to this past weekend. We had a vet appointment for Morgan and she has been acting SO GOOD SINCE!!!
Wracked my brain. Stacy suddenly asked me what had changed or I was doing differently. I was sitting there thinking about it when it dawned on me.
Stanley passed away last week. Larry passed away a few weeks ago. I scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned all of Stan's stuff this weekend and SCRUBBED the cage.
No intact rat boys currently live in my house.
I thought this would be a very good peice of information to share with everyone as I never really have seen such a difference. She is still slightly nippy, but its literally like someone threw a switch and turned the "trusting" rat on.
I drove up to Ohio Dec 23rd to pick Morgan up, we had a bit of a rat transport set up for her. Ratlovingkippy was her former owner and Morgan was very aggressive so I offered to permanently rehome her with me. Morgan got as far as Dee's (OdysseyDesign) in Ohio and then I got her from there, long trip but worth it. I think 18 hours round trip driving and huge thank you to Dee in case I haven't said it enough for letting me pass out on the air mattress and a thank you to DebW (goosemoose) for the help in transport also.
Morgan came to me very aggressive and unpredictable. She hated hands and arms and skin in general, but really hands. Any chance she had she went for my hands. I've been to my doctor once for stuff and went to the ER once due to the bites, not bragging just the truth. Working with behaviorial rats is not fun but it pays off in the long run.
Morgan has been living in a martins R-680. Lots of toys, lots of stuff to do and although she does not like me much, she gets playtimes every day like everyone else. When Morgan has playtimes I can't always sit on the bed with her, so I have a comfy chair I sit in across from the bed and talk to her alot or just sit and read and be there in the room with her to get used to me.
I tried having Morgan have playtimes with my group of neutered boys and girls with the hopes she would eventually live with them. That has since been a no go due to every time blood is drawn by multiple parties.
My rat situation since Morgan came to live here has been the following:
Big cage: Stu, Luke, Merial, Chai, and Miles (2 females and 3 neutered boys)
Other cage: Stan and Larry - intact older brothers
Other cage: Morgan
Morgans' cage has always been across the room from everyone because she always seemed to be set off by them. Still can smell them and communicate across the room. We do her playtime first daily so the other smells are not as strong in the play area.
Fast forward to this past weekend. We had a vet appointment for Morgan and she has been acting SO GOOD SINCE!!!
Wracked my brain. Stacy suddenly asked me what had changed or I was doing differently. I was sitting there thinking about it when it dawned on me.
Stanley passed away last week. Larry passed away a few weeks ago. I scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned all of Stan's stuff this weekend and SCRUBBED the cage.
No intact rat boys currently live in my house.
I thought this would be a very good peice of information to share with everyone as I never really have seen such a difference. She is still slightly nippy, but its literally like someone threw a switch and turned the "trusting" rat on.
