September 2003
With the sad loss of our amazing little rattie Willow, Biscuit and Badger were to upset to write their diary entries. So they have picked out some of their favourite Willow photos and memories to share.
Willow:
Our dear sweet baby Willow died. It was a terrible blow for us, even though he had been poorly for a week, we just weren’t prepared to loose him. The previous weekend Willow had fallen in his cage and hurt his leg, not being able to get around made him quite depressed. While he was feeling unwell a respiratory infection took hold and our beautiful bouncy Willow just couldn’t shake it off. We took him to the vets and got him special rattie medicine, we also fed him lots of baby food to keep his strength up.
August 2003
Badger’s entry:
Yuck mum gave us this new bedding, it’s called carefresh and it is horrible. It sticks to my toes and my tummy. I keep throwing it out the cage and dad tells me off, but it is just so horrible. Mum is going to give us our bio-catolet back next time we get cleaned out. The weather is not so hot anymore so I’ve been having fun running around. And my 
appetite is as healthy as always, it is much easier to enjoy my dinner now I’m not so warm. Willow has been showing me all these places he has discovered, we have to climb really high. Mum and dad were amazed I could be so energetic, they were so proud of me they gave us broccoli for supper, yummy.
July 2003
Badger’s entry:
It’s been so hot, I don’t like it hot. Sometimes I don’t even like to eat but that doesn’t happen very often. Mum and dad got another rat, he’s called Otter and I’m pleased to say he lives with the other rats, cause you know I don’t like to share my food.
Biscuit’s entry:
Not much to say really, Badger keeps getting grumpy because it’s hot. I like to stay out of his way. Willow is as silly as ever he thinks he climbed a tree, but it was just a potted plant in the dining room window.
June 2003
Biscuit’s entry:
Our new rattie arrivals Mole, Mouse & Ferret
We have some new brothers, they don’t live with us but mum has told us all about the new boys them. There names are Mole, Mouse and Ferret and they are not a cute as us, but that would be very difficult because mum says we are the cutest bunch of rats ever. They were at the pet shop and nobody wanted them, dad said mum could get just Mole and he could live with us but the woman at the pet shop asked her to take them all because they were getting big and most people only want baby rats. Dad says Mole is fat he calls him lardy and teaspoon, because one end is bigger than the other. I find it hard to believe that he could possibly be chubbier that Badger, he takes up so much room it is unbelievable.
May 2003
Badger’s entry:
FOOD! We get lots of yummy food now we live in the dining room. Mum and dad come in everyday to eat a yummy meal and we always get some, mmmmm. My favourite is soup because I can just sit there and slurp it 
up, the only problem is I have to share it with my brothers. Willow is okay he gets a bit distracted and wanders off, but Biscuit can eat a lot like me and he even forgets to be grumpy when there is food around. I always make sure I’m first at the door to see what we are getting and to pick the best bits. We have to run around lots though or mum says we can’t eat so much, she doesn’t want us getting fat and unhealthy, I will do anything for yummy food.
April 2003
Willow’s entry:
Oh wow, we now live in the dining room, it is so exciting. Our cage gets put on the floor and we can run around and squeeze under the furniture and climb up the curtains. There are pots of soil to dig in and plants to eat, oh I am having so much fun bouncing around. When we were in the living room I kept dropping of the sofa and running around on the floor, but dad didn’t like the way I played with his expensive speaker cables. Mum and dad sit on the floor with me while I run around now. There are things I am not supposed to do but I get so excited I forget what they are, so mum and dad have to keep telling me off. When Biscuit and Badger come out I can jump on them and it gets even more exciting. I am just having so much fun.
March 2003
Biscuit’s entry:
Mum has made us another tent, the was so popular mum and dad thought we needed a bigger one. It is nice to have all the extra room, Badger is so big and round he used to fill the other one with his bottom. I taught mum a new trick, because I’m a bit shy I don’t like to come straight out of our cage, mum now holds a folded towel in the doorway for me to climb into. I much prefer this method of being handled, I feel much safer in my towel.
February 2003
Biscuit’s entry:
Mum made us a tent, she hangs it from the top of our cage so it’s all cosy and warm, IOne of the new rattie tents feel really safe in it. Willow and Badger insist on squeezing into it with me which makes it a bit cramped, I still like it though. We have two so mum can take one away and wash it because Badger piddles in it, stinky Badger. Mum has joined this thing where lots of rat parents get together and talk about rats. She told them about me, and now thinks I may be a bit short-sighted and that’s why I’m so shy. It doesn’t stop her making me come out Biscuit (top) and Badger all warm and cozy and play though.
January 2003
Willow’s entry:
Mum and dad have been getting worried about me because I have so much energy and Biscuit and Badger are big and sleepy compared to me. I don’t like exploring on my own and sometimes Biscuit and Badger just want to stay in bed. Mum says I have to understand I am a very energetic little rat, she tries to play with me but it’s not the same as my brothers. Mum and dad have talked about getting another friend for me, but he could be just as sleepy as Biscuit and Badger. Mum has made us a “rattie apartment” she saw it on the Rat Planet web page, and thought it would be fun for me. She drags Biscuit and Badger out of bed, if they are being sleepy and stuffs them in it. They get to sleep and I can explore and play knowing I’m not alone. Biscuit and Badger have fun in there too, but I’m not supposed to tell.