Oh, we had us some fun this morning. About an hour or so ago, I hear this yelp from the bedroom, followed by my husband asking where the rats are. I ask him why, and he informs me that one of them had just walked across his face while he was asleep in bed. Needless to say, that pretty much woke him up really quickly and not in the best of moods.
I look into Cecilie and Dumpling's cage and lo and behold, there are no rats. The cage wasn't as secure as I had believed it to be, and they had worked their little ratty way out of it and into our bedroom. AND they had chased the cat out of the bedroom on top of all that.
Let me tell you now, rat-catching at 4am should be a spectator sport. At one point, he had the box spring and mattress standing up on one side, while he "shushed" and "tsk-tsk'ed" behind them, trying to herd them under the bedframe on my side so that I could catch their little rodent selves and recage them. Him in his underwear, mad as hell, herding rats. It was hard to bend over and catch them because every time I almost caught one I'd get tickled and miss.
Well, needless to say the cage is now much more secure and they have been returned to it. They're not happy about it, either. They snuck down to their previous escape place, only to find it clipped tighter than Fabio's G-string. I actually think they're pouting.
It could have been worse. At least they didn't climb up to the Misha's and Slagle's cage and let themselves in for a rat-soiree. I do believe they're smart enough to do it, if the springs weren't as snug as they are.
Little boogers.
Posted by Mamamontezz at February 1, 2005 04:39 AMAh, the joys of catching an escaped rat! If it happens again, try a chocolate bar. They grab it and you should be able to drag them out...or so I've heard :~)
No pictures yet? I was hoping another Munuvian would join me for a little Friday Rat Roundup...and who are Misha and Slagle? I know about the bloggers, but I'm reasonably sure you're not keeping *them* in a cage in your bedroom.
Of course, if you are, I think we all would like some pictures of that, too.
Posted by: Victor and his seventeen pet rats at February 1, 2005 11:27 AMI forgot to ask--what kind of cage are they in? If it's a Martin's, then, yeah, the rats can open that up--I've seen video of it. If so, put a screw or nail thru the end of a pencil, so it looks like a "T", and drop that thru the springs so the rats can't open it. You'll have to remove it to open the cage, but it only adds an extra two seconds to any cage-opening operation.
Posted by: Victor and his seventeen pet rats at February 1, 2005 11:30 AMWow! Thanks for that stunning visual this morning!!!
Posted by: WarWagon at February 1, 2005 11:37 AMWait a minute, chased the CAT out of the room?! How big are these creatures??
Posted by: Key at February 1, 2005 12:40 PMThe joys of animal husbandry, they have the memory of an elephant and will test every bit of the cage for a weak spot. Be thankful they're not Gerbils.
Posted by: Jack at February 1, 2005 01:05 PMThey say it is an honor for friend or family member to name their child after you, but a Rat, LOL. Too funny.
That was a great story (all except the Delfts in his underwear visual)
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at February 1, 2005 02:34 PM"(all except the Delfts in his underwear visual)"
BELIEVE me SR, that wasn't a visual I would wish to be broadcast too widely either! I would hate to be responsible for the ensuing anguish...LOL
They aren't really all that big Key, but they make up for it with pure aggressivness. The cats are GREAT mousers, but like left wingers, they seem to wilt in the face of opposition.
Pics are on the schedule soon Victor. Mama will post them as soon as she can get some photo tranference protocall issues cleared up.
I'm sure they're just rat-sized rats. Ours vary from about five inches (sans tail) to about eight inches (again, sans tail). A major misconception about cats is that they're great ratters. In fact, the rat nickname for 'cat' is 'big-ass buffet lunch.' Dogs, OTOH, especially terriers, are great ratters.
Posted by: Victor at February 1, 2005 05:02 PMThe visual of Fabios G-string is a horrible thing,it is seared into my mind like kerrys Midnight adventures in nam was in his...And the thought of a rat waking me up is not a pleasent one.
Reminds when a snake bit me while driving a van down my parents driveway,I hit the fence stopped and bailed ,snake was stuck in the door and not very happy,Until I determined it was not poisonous I was not a very happy camper,I put a dent in the ceiling when I jumped up lol....A rat would cause an ifarction.I would be airborne.