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How long did your Rats live?

13 replies

PrettyFeckinVacant · 21/10/2010 23:17

I have one of my lovely rats sat on my knee. He isn't very well. Has gone very lethargic and very unsteady on his feet Sad

He is over 2 yrs old. Not totally sure what age they were when we got them (have 2) but maybe around 6 months.

Do they really only live for 2 to 3 years?

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Ryoko · 31/10/2010 13:03

I've had three all female the first one died at about 6 but she did have a stroke at around 4 and a half, she fully recovered, I'm sure because I kept giving her supermalt, the other two lasted 3 and 4 years.

MaimAndKilloki · 31/10/2010 13:11

2-3 years unfortunately. I think only one was over 3. (Out of 6)

Sorry to hear about your rat :(

What do you feed yours Ryoko?!?! [hgrin]

Ryoko · 31/10/2010 13:20

That was years ago and only when she had her stroke and couldn't eat properly because she got paralyzed down one side, Super Malt it's one of those vitamin enriched health drinks, she loved it, had a cap full every day until the day she died.

TheNextMrsDracula · 01/11/2010 21:11

I've had three, and none of them lasted much beyond 2.5 years. Really sad; they are such lovely personalities.

PrettyFeckinVacant · 01/11/2010 22:43

Wow Ryoko, that is amazing - 6 years!!

I thought the most you could hope for was 3 yrs.

Well, he is still with us at the moment. I feel quite guilty because I just assumed there was nothing I could do but took him to the vets in the end and he told me it could be his brain but it could be an ear infection and gave me (well, sold me) some anti-biotics.

He is looking very thin but seems to hang on in there. Maybe he will be ok Smile

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mrsgordonfreeman · 01/11/2010 22:47

I've had 8 or so and none lived for more than 2 1/2 years.

It's why I gave up keeping them actually, couldn't deal with the regular heartbreak.

Ryoko · 02/11/2010 09:37

She was a strange creature the other two where boring in comparison, she was secondhand (had babies and got taken back to the pet shop so was a half price rat).

I'm still not entirely sure if he didn't just catch her out the back of the shop, she was black with a white belly, she did things the other two didn't.

She carefully weaved nests out of news paper and objected to any other kind of bedding, pushing it out the sides of the cage.

She didn't like the commercial rat food and throw it all in the poo corner and then started throwing it out the side of the cage when we still gave her it.

She never licked herself, she'd put her hands under the water bottle got a drop and then washed with it.

I had gerbils at the same time, she hated them, every time they managed to get near her cage she punched them in the face, she never bit anything or anyone (unlike the other two).

She was frightened of heights, seriously so, you couldn't pick her up, she'd dig all her claws in and scream, had to build little steps for her to get in and out the cage 3 inch drop was too much for her.

Very strange rat.

Kaloki · 02/11/2010 13:31

"She never licked herself, she'd put her hands under the water bottle got a drop and then washed with it. "

How strange!

They can have such radically different personalities can't they?

On of ours, we are convinced, doesn't realise she's a rat. She likes to hang upside down from the top of her cage. We've gone in before to just find her holding on with her back legs.

PrettyFeckinVacant · 02/11/2010 22:51

They are definitely characters. Such a shame they dont live a bit longer.

My poorly one seems very disorientated tonight. He loves taking his medicine though. Vet gave me a very thin syringe and I am giving him water with it because I am afraid he has forgotten how to get a drink from the drink bottle.

He is curled up on my knee now.

Love the sound of your special rat Ryoko. Sounds like she definitely had a mind of her own Smile

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Enchantica · 08/11/2010 22:19

Hi there

I wanted to see if I could help with your rat. I am not a parent, I am on Mumsnet to try and get as much info as possible before I have children :) Me and OH looking to start trying end of 2011.

Anyway, I am a mother to 8 rats (I have had 14 in total, along with loads of other pets) I take in homeless rats from my local rodent shelter so I am used to only having them for a few months as no one wants the oldies. My eldest recently passed at the grand age of 2 years 9 months (he came from a horrible neglectful home and was 2 years old when I adopted him).

What are his symptoms? Does he have a head tilt? Is he having difficulty eating food with his paws? Can he still balance? Does he push his head against your hand when you pet his head? I have a feeling it could be a pituitary tumour if any of those symptoms sound familiar. My eldest had that along with another tumour and some of my other rats had them too.

With rats, it is best to judge their quality of life. Are they eating/drinking, can they wash themselves, are they very unbalanced. You will know when their quality of life has decreased. Mine was unable to eat rat nuggets anymore and could only eat baby food and even then he would just lick it off his paws. He wouldn't be able to balance properly and also got very thin. We decided it was time to say goodbye. My vet also told me that rats often only live 18 months - 2 years. It's such a short time. Mine have on average lived 2 years. I was surprised and in awe to read about a rat living to 6 years, fantastic! I believe the world record is 7 years. That's great.

Anyway, if anyone has any questions about rats please send them my way if you are stuck. I have learned a lot about these little critters and like to think of myself as a good rat mum :) Hugs to you and your squishy beans (as me and OH call them!).

PrettyFeckinVacant · 09/11/2010 21:25

Thanks Enchantica, I answered your message earlier.

Just to update. He did seem to stop eating and anything he was interested in eating was being taken off him by the other rat. This morning I gave him some shreddies soaked in milk and took the other rat away. He sat eating for ages so he is definitely hungry. I am also giving him water or milk through his syringe as I feel he is dehydrating. I dont think he can drink from the water bottle without toppling over Sad

He has a tilt and seems to walk to one side. Maybe you are right about the tumour but I will try to keep him comfortable for now Smile

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Ormirian · 09/11/2010 21:27

None of my girls got much over 2 years Sad

It is heartbreaking. I cry my eyes out everytime I lose one.

So sorry your rattie is ill.

PrettyFeckinVacant · 09/11/2010 23:07

Thanks Orm Sad

To be honest, I cant believe he is still with us. He looked so ill a couple of weeks ago but he is battling on.

We have just noticed tonight that he has what I can only assume is a big bite mark on his underside. I have washed it and hope that he is ok.

I would love to separate the rats but dont have another cage and dont fancy spending the money on another now!! I shall see how he goes on for now Smile

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