at 1st July .2002

News Page

Story of Gift. The struggle to exist by a lone rat kitten born to good parents but destiny fated him to be the only kitten in a big empty nest.

Born  10 minutes into 26th June

after a full 24 days in the womb.

Mum a Cinnamon Rex, Dad a Cinnamon Pearl.

Here recorded at 5 days old. Being cared for by Mum but due to a cruel

quirk of Nature her hormones now do not stimulate enough feed for the single tiny tot as he alone cannot make enough demands on her system to trigger more lactation.

Click to see

Fur and Feather feature =>>

on New Rat Club May 9th.2002

Click to see

June Fur and Feather feature No.2 =>>

See accompanying photos below

Gift ,  all alone in his nest

Gift ,  having been hand fed a breakfast of human baby milk

Desperately  adapted syringes to hand feed him

Pound coin for scale:

The 'white band' of milk shows across his belly

4th July more ....

Now he's reached 9 days old

His Mum

Been fed, now he's just sleepy

From the Angling shop,  This pack has very useful narrow rubber tubing that can be used to make Teats from.

[ I have left two pieces of syringe blunt needle stuck in ends to show scale.]

4th July. 2002

Straight whiskers, smooth coated.

Growing into a beautiful boy.

'click' on Mouse to see the babe

from 11 days old, inc bottle feeding.

see               " Pied Pied Piper of Pontefract "

report in Pontefract & Castleford Express 30th Jan 2003 ==>>>

Skipton Sheep Day

July 4th 2004.

Photo Page. 1

Photo Page. 2

( Start of The story of Gift starts lower on page )

updated  14th February 2008