Mind Plop

Trekkie, Science loving, Animal friend, Opinionated. Honestly, just plopping what I create, like and love here. Current overwhelming obsession is Nightwing with some more DC. Rats Rule! I foster super old or sick rescued Rats. I'm more than 40, appear cishet to most, but really I'm Bi and NB, but she/her works fine.

[tesseractj]

I am a sanctuary rat foster for a small animal rescue. This is the best and most important part of my life, so I figure I should explain it a bit and then pin it up so everyone knows, and can see cute rats.

This was Charles. I fostered Charles for nearly 3 years. His story is one that keeps me going when I experience too much loss or hardship with fostering.

Another rescue group had Charles and a few other male rats housed in one of their many facilities. I want to be clear, I respect that rescue a great deal, but they didn't know enough about rats. These boys were very aggressive and their Vet suggested euthanasia. Thankfully one of the wonderful volunteers with that organization thought of the rescue I work with, and those boys all came to us instead of dying.

The rest of Charles' story, more on fostering, and more rat pics below the cut.

These boys needed to be neutered. Almost immediately the other four boys calmed down, started socializing and went up for adoption.

Charles was a bit tougher. He continued to bite and was quite aggressive when placed within even 6 feet of other rats. His foster mom had some house related issues, so he was transferred to me. I was warned he might not ever socialize, though the coordinators at the rescue were pretty sure I'd manage to help Charles.

I'll admit, he was a tough cookie I got bit daily and he went full bull mode if I moved his cage anywhere near the other rats. But there was also this look he gave, like he wanted to trust me, and he wanted affection. I'd have kept trying no matter what, but those sweet, hopefully looks really spurred me on.

It took only a few months to get him to mostly stop biting, and to accept other rats. He usually kept an edge to him, and it was another year or two before he'd allow strangers to greet him, but he became a really happy and spoiled rat.

Charles would not have lived past his first year without being rescued properly. Having a rescue that focuses on rats and having multiple fosters who can handle more problematic rats is what gave him years of happiness and life. He was such a sweet curmudgeon. In his last year I received regular requests to bring him to visit at the Vet, so staff could see him. I still miss him. . .

I miss a lot of rats. I have fostered around 50 rats in the past 6 years. All have had sanctuary status, and they have lived anywhere from 3 days to 3 years with me. Some have come to me terminally ill, very old or very traumatized.

Here's French Fry, Teddie and Maize. Teddie and Maize had serious tumors, French Fry was a seriously traumatized rat who took a lot of work to feel safe and loved, though eventually he really did. He was my longest lived rat, reaching over 3 years and 10 months!

French Fry and I learned to communicate really well with each other. As an example, when his hind legs got too weak, he knew how to get me to help him go up or down the ramp. He also loved staying in a smaller cage on his own for anywhere from a few hours to days at a time in his last months. He'd just let me know where he wanted to go, little personal home or the bigger main cage with everyone else. I think he loved both his personal space, but also adored his home of years and most of the girls that inhabited it. He only ever hated one other rat, but that's a whole story in itself.

This was Christie. Unfortunately this picture is from her last day. She developed blockage from a tumor in her digestive tract. She was thrilled to have access to ask this amazing kale and carrot yumminess, but had mostly lost her appetite. But she enjoyed having her hoard of greens and getting lots of love.

Here's Smoke and Belle. These girls came directly from their adopter, who was no longer able to care for them. I miss that whole family group. In this picture, Belle had just finished chewing through the belt loop on my dad's pants while we waited at a Vet appointment. She was an energetic trouble maker. Smoke was a sweet old lady without an ounce of mischief in her. She's looking lovingly up at my Dad.

Sugar, Miso, Echo, Oreo, Harley all wonderful rats. Harley was very ill with heart disease when I got him, but passed as peacefully as possible in my arms after I had him for 2 months. Miso had a pituitary tumor and double inner ear infection. There has been recommendation to euthanize, but treating for ear infection gave him another 3 amazing months and he died peacefully in a hammock in a sleepy pile of rats who loved him. Echo was one of my dearest buddy rats. She was full of energy, love and life until her last month, when it whittled down to lots of love. Sugar was a beautiful and sweet rat, and tolerant companion to her crazy sister Spice.

At least 4 of the rats pictured above would have died months or years earlier without rescue. Saving them might not have changed the world, but it changed their world completely. I hold that in my heart after every loss so that I can take in the next rat. It's really easy to burn out doing this.

Rats really only live 2 1/2 years, occasionally less and even more rarely up to 5 years. I have met so many adopters and fosters who just can't keep doing it. I am often tempted to join them in this. It's heartbreaking, I'm actually crying as I write this part. I miss every rat I've known. I also love them all, and I intend to persevere as long as I can do so in a way that's safe for me and them.

If anyone reading this is interested in adopting rats, please know that rats make amazing fur friends. They are so loving, usually smart (with exceptions), and they are so much fun. Just be aware that they need a lot of play, attention, clean habitats, usually need to be in groups, and should get Vet care. When I adopted I usually spent around 150-200 bucks per rat on average in total Vet costs. Some were less, but at least one rat cost me over 1,500 dollars over her life just in vet care.

Also be ready for that short life span, as I previously mentioned. It's not enough time. . . but if you manage 2 1/2 years you did a really good job. I've met a few adopters who didn't realize that and blamed themselves for not having a rat reach 5 years. We don't know why some rats have extraordinary life spans, but most simply don't. There is a lot of information that seems to add months on, and when I get rats from a younger age or who are well cared for I'm more likely to get them to 2 year and 9 months. Research, care and knowledge help, but it's by months, not years.

If you can't adopt or foster, consider donating to a rescue. Even a few dollars can buy food and fleece, or a few toys. A bit more can help cover Vet costs and medicine. Many rescues have swag for sale, so you can show off your animal love while also supporting these great organizations. I might add links to the rescue I'm part of, but I want to get their permission first. There's a lot of rules that rescues need to follow and I don't want to accidentally get mine in trouble through inappropriate posting or monetization.

Rats rule!

[tesseractj]

Science is still alive! Her giant tumor is developing scratches and possible weakening of the skin, but they keep healing. It's taking careful monitoring, extremely clean and soft living conditions as possible, and antibiotics both orally and via cream, but she's happy and comfy.

I know I'll lose the fight with the tumor, and once I find a scab or open wound that fails to show quick improvement with care, that'll be the end, but she's 11 days past the first point I thought I'd need to euthanize her, and she's so clearly happy to be alive.

I want to be very clear, this is a lot of care, medication, observation and special food along with years of experience. It is abnormal for a large tumor to heal once there are strange dark spots or weaknesses in the skin. I would usually recommend euthanizing at this point, and have done so in the past. Science has simply shown unusual resilience, healing and a level of contentment that let's me risk continuing. I am also very lucky to have a vet willing to schedule with relatively short notice for end of life, and emergency options. These are foster rats, which means access to medical care I would not otherwise afford.

I'm really hoping this miracle goes on a few weeks, but if I lose Science tomorrow, it will have been worth it. She's the animal who has been with the rescue the longest, nearly 2 1/2 years! She's been so well loved by both humans and rats in that time.

[tesseractj]

I have rats and they are wonderful.

Science has days left, but I'm making them great days for her. I don't know exactly when we'll say goodbye, but this ancient lady has multiple possible appointments so we can both give her extra time and not risk making her suffer.

Piper is a slightly prickly rat at times, but a secret softy. She's been a bit upset that I now have two rats that monopolize my affections, and it's short sleeve weather. She loves hanging in long sleeves.

Hershey, Taza and Dax below the cut.

Taza is one of my newest rats. She's 1 1/2 or so and she's a spitfire, aggressively affectionate, dominant rat. I adore her for so many reasons. However, she hunted and ate part of a mouse that entered the cage. This was disgusting and very unnecessary. She has access to tons of food, though I appreciate the protection of the cage from wild animals.

Dax, named for Ezri and not Jadzia, is my other new rat. The eye not pictured is mostly white from cataract, so she and Taza have sanctuary status. Dax is a love bug and started offering tons of kisses and grooming from the moment she met me.

Hershey is an insane old rat with chronic URI. She's also a sweetie, curious, sleepy most of the time but boy sure gets her energy in shifts, forgets to eat, forgets to breath correctly, but loves being reminded, and I adore her.

I love my foster mischief and I'm so lucky to know each of them. I'm extra glad that I can make their lives bright and happy. How amazing is that!?!?

[tesseractj]

This beautiful, amazing, soft, lovely, special, sweetheart just turned 3 years old a few minutes ago. Science came to me with Bubblegum and Candy about 2 years ago.

It has been an honor to foster her. She doesn't have a lot of time left, a large tumor and age are catching up to her. She's also pretty much blind, though she adapted really well to that.

I struggled to find a way to spoil her more than usual, and the mixture of birthday treat and her usual senior mush did the trick. There's her usual mush with lab blocks dissolved in oat milk with some critical care mixed in. There's Cheerios, chocolate drizzle, mint leaf, kale, strawberry, and a rice puff. I thin sliced the fruit and leaves, mostly so that it would mix and present well but she seemed to appreciate the way that made them easy to munch with less handling.

Science enjoyed a large portion of it, and then the other four foster rats got to demolish the remainder in seconds.

[tesseractj]

You can foster a dog … so why not foster a rat?? #boston #massachusetts #bostontok #animals #rat

Rat love!

[tesseractj]

These foster girls deserve all the attention, love and likes! Foster rats are awesome!

[tesseractj]

You can foster a dog … so why not foster a rat?? #boston #massachusetts #bostontok #animals #rat

Rat love!

[cowboyfern]

mlemlemlem

[tesseractj]

Loving baby! I adore these moments with rats.

[ieatsoap69]

New cutie.

[tesseractj]

Cutie!

[tesseractj]

I've been learning more about this energetic and incredible old rat. Hershey is so outgoing, playful, sweet and the force of nature I was sure I was seeing.

We are starting to see improvement in her URI, nebulizer meds and azithromycin are great! She doesn't really want to take that treatment, but she forgives really fast. Applesauce had helped get her to take azithromycin, and she didn't really have a choice with the nebulizer. Metacam is a mixed bag, but I'll find a way to get her to enjoy it, probably.

I have a odd feeling about the little group right now. It feels somehow unbalanced, and I don't know why. I love these ladies so much, but maybe we need to bring in one or two more fosters to get the right personality balance? I'll talk to the rescue, there's often an old rat or two that need a safe long term haven.

[tesseractj]

This is Hershey chowing down next to Science. Hershey joined my mischief Friday, though she's still only partly introduced. Hershey is curious, pushy, affectionate, domineering (of me, not the other rats) and active. She's also got quite a nasty Upper Respiratory Infection, so off to the Vet tomorrow. Thankfully, I've run the nebulizer a few times and it helped her sound better.

I look forward to knowing this rat better. She's both very similar and very different from Bubblegum, which makes me feel lots of things.

All three of my current ladies will be heading to the Vet, because while there we are getting interviewed for a local radio station! It's going onto their TikTok page. . . though I can't really share it here without giving my identity and location away.

[mischiefmakerss]

Baby is falling asleep in my arms

[tesseractj]

So adorable!

[tesseractj]

I don't know how to handle this. I had to help Bubblegum pass today. I knew when I posted about her recently that there might not be much time left, but it hurts so much that she's gone. I want to hold her, give her chocolate, help her explore, just be with her.

I love you Bubblegum.

[tesseractj]

This is Bubblegum now. She's 2 years and 9 months old, it's incredible. I hope she lives months more, but it's getting less likely.

She has good days, but also a lot of harder ones. Her HLD has weakened her hind legs very quickly. She lost the ability to climb a few days ago. Her breathing is too hard, but there's no URI. The Vet says she's just working harder to do everything.

But she gives cuddles, kisses and demands. She was always a queen, but in her old age her demands are sharper and clearer. Get that chocolate, take me here, hold me now!

This evening she enjoyed veggie baby food mixed with critical care and a bit of oatmeal. She ate so much I almost worry she'll get a tummy ache.

Bubblegum has so much of my heart. I have treasured my time with her and love every minute I still have.

[tesseractj]

Because the last post was so sad, here a happy Piper pic. She's doing so well, I'm very proud with this rat. She's getting braver and more trusting every day. She's a real sweetie too.

[tesseractj]

I was really excited to foster a new old rat. She was alone and I have a mischief to be her friend.

Willow was so sweet.

She got here and started declining, though I didn't realize it at first because I didn't know her baseline. Eventually I saw depression, signs of pain, reduced appetite, and more. At first we thought it was just arthritis and a touch of sniffles. She seemed so happy overall.

Further below the cut, because it's sad.

She made friends with Science and moved into the main cage. There were the few issues and I started to arrange a Vet appointment.

Then she got into the real depression, and withdrew except for cuddles with Science. Still, it was explainable with some age and stress. . . So I coaxed her back into cuddles and eating. A few days later she was improving, though we got that Vet appointment set up just in case.

There's a ton of details I'm leaving out, but here she is gobbling food mush!

Two days ago she seemed happy, relaxed, still with major concerns as I learned more about what her baseline has been before I met her, but improving.

It's a bad picture, but she's cuddled so happily with Science here.

There were small signs it was not good as of yesterday, but this morning there was a sudden sharp turn for the worse. She was barely able to move and she was clearly in pain.

I reached out to her original adopter/Mom to come and say goodbye in the likelihood we'd lose her.

By the time we got to the Vet she was wiped out, shaking, and there was nothing to do but give her pain meds and then euthanize.

I'm so sad, I just wanted this sweet rat to be loved, spoiled and cuddled. The Vet thinks an earlier visit wouldn't have saved her, but I know I'll always second guess.

I will try to remember how wonderful she was to cuddle and how much she loved Science.

[papayafromtv]

conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 36 (masterpost here) (league days edition)

*distinct Damian-sounding cackles*

Jason: -yay or nay,

Tim: don't do this to me,

Jason, insistent: yay or nay.

Tim: LEAVE ME ALONE.

Damian: *still cackling* it's not- it's not that hard-,

Tim: YOU DON'T GET TO FUCKING DECIDE THAT. YOU NEVER GET TO FUCKING DECIDE THAT.

Jason: Timothy Jackson Drake, i say this with all the love in my heart; it has been forty five minutes-

Damian: *broken wheeze*

Tim: NO BECAUSE- YOU PUT STAKES ON IT. YOU CAN'T JUST-

*connecting ping*

Tim: -YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE ME STAKES AND THEN ACT LIKE THIS ISN'T WAY MORE STRESSFUL NOW!

Dick: awwww yeee boi we getting steaks after patrol? I'm coming.

Damian: nO- *breaks off into more cackles*

Tim: SHUT THE FUCK UP NIGHTWING.

Dick: ...what the fuck? why am i not allowed to go to dinner with you guys?

Damian: oh my- *wheeze* ohihaveasTITCH-

Jason: we aren't going to dinner, goldie. we're playing league days and RR's mad about it. again.

Tim: I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GASLIGHTING ME ABOUT THIS NOT BEING AS FUCKED UP AS IT IS.

Dick: oooooo~ league days! what's the prompt?

Tim: yeah- fuckin let me hear the original prompt again. i need to think.

Jason, bemused: kiddo? floor's yours.

Damian: *delirious giggles* *high pitched* oh shit, ok wait hold on, fuck-,

Dick, absently: oh shit that guy has a gun- ok go ahead i'm listening i'm just-

*gunshot*

Dick: *laughs* *faintly* missed me bitch- *grunt* *fighting noises*

Damian: *clears throat* for my ninth birthday, my grandfather took me on a quest which, as my grandfather planned from the beginning, ended with the CEO of the Totino's pizzaroll brand kissing my boot and offering to give me his pet iguana.

Dick, incredulous: -sorry?

Jason: *uncontrollable wheeze* *muffled* Tim...?

Tim: ok. well saying it a second time didn't fucking make it any saner.

Damian: admittedly this was one of the occasions where even akhi and i were side-eyeing each other like. maybe it's time to get grandfather screened for dementia.

Jason: in my defence, i didn't think he'd take my idea so seriously.

Dick: how was- how was it your idea?? how did this- oh shit- *thud* HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN?

Tim: i am no more sure of this than i was forty-five minutes ago.

Dick: AM I NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN CONTEXT FOR- ACK *gruesome squelch*

Damian: the fuck...?

Jason: yeah man that sounded fatal, you good over there wing?

*a beat of silence*

Dick, weakly: *cough* assistance. possible lung pierced. docks. now.

*a beat*

Tim: motherfucker-

Damian, professionally: i'm closest, on my way Nightwing. Hood, alert Batman; he's got the batmobile over in the Diamond District with Catwoman tonight. he can take Nightwing back to the cave.

Dick: *weak coughing* don't you fuck-ing dare- I NEED TO KNOW IF IT WAS A YAY OR A *cough* nay,

Tim: you see what fucking happens when you start talking about your childhood, Robin? Nightwing dies.

Jason: YOU ASKED. TO PLAY. ANOTHER ROUND.

Tim: I DIDN'T ADD STAKES TO THE GAME.

Dick: do i not get steak because i might pass out?

Tim: I- what?

Jason: s' thinkin about meat again,

Tim: oh. that wasn't the stake, Nightwing.

Damian: i'm here- holy- yeah Jason, get father now.

Jason: i texted him.

Damian: you texted him!? fucking nobody in this family understands the idea of urgency- ORACLE.

*ping*

Barbara: Batman is ten minutes out Robin, i alerted him of the situation.

Damian: THANK you.

*disconnecting ping*

Damian: *over the noise of fabric* at least somebody is being helpful. Nightwing stop moving i'm trying to apply pressure-

Jason: he's been through worse, pussy. the golden era seemed so bright because we were all loopy from blood loss half the time. a random-ass punctured lung? i've seen him beat Booster Gold in darts tournaments with those.

Dick, faintly: barbeque...

Jason: see?

Damian: we're not having a fucking barbeque Richard.

Dick: Tim didn't- he didn't give an answer.

*silence*

Tim: an answer to wh- oh fuck off, Nightwing.

Dick: if he gets it right i want steak- ow, Damian!

Damian: *unapologetic, slightly smug* sorry.

Jason: you heard him RR. he's on his deathbed and his last wish is you finish the round. yay or nay, did Robin get a boot kiss from Jeff Harmening?

*three seconds of silence*

Tim, pensive: take away the stakes-

Jason, instant: nope. you get it wrong and i want you ready to go, next gala, in that bathtub.

*another two seconds of silence*

Tim: i... pick... yay.

*silence*

Jason: aw fuck man-

Damian: correct!

Tim: W- REALLY?!

Dick, simultaneous: SERIOUSLY?! oh- ow, shouldn't have done that, ow,

Damian: *faint smack* stop trying to sit up.

Tim: I GOT IT RIGHT?! MOTHERFUCKER I GOT ONE RIGHT- *instant voice drop* dude you really let the ceo of Totino's kiss you?

Damian: it was a birthday gift. i felt bad.

Tim: wELL I GOT IT RIGHT. I GOT IT RIGHT I GOT IT RIGHT-

Jason, over Tim's yells: congratulations, kid. no bathtub for you.

*connecting ping*

Bruce, panicked: i'm almost there, how is he doi-

Tim: -I MADE LEAGUE DAYS MY FUCKING BITCH AND I AM NEVER GOING BACK. WE WIN THESE MOTHERFUCKER, WE FUCKING WIN! THESE!

Jason: oh, uh-oh,

Dick: *wet cough* *delirious* yeaaaahhhhhhh~ bar-be-queeeeeeee~!!!

Damian: shut up or i puncture the other lung- why are you so stuck on the meat thing??

Tim: *loud whooping*

Jason, hissing: Red shut up; B!

Tim: -WHOOOOOOOOoooo.... oh. hey B. when'd you join?

*silence*

*more silence*

Dick: *coughs pathetically*

Bruce: i am banning that game from patrol.

[tesseractj]

I was laughing so much

[titaniaheart]

Sneak peek photos!!! I will be doing a 360 video tomorrow along with probably a bit better lighting. Sorry for the mess! BUT I learned a lot about resin printing nFEP films(leaves lines like on the fridge) and PFA files (no lines like in the sweatpants) I also also learned about how 22 degrees Celsius(72 ish Fahrenheit) is prefect print temp!

I’m not sure of the overall success of the composition because the fridge ends up dominating the scene maybe a cabinet would have been better but you live and you learn. His eyes could have also come out a lot better I still suck at painting tbh