Queen Molly the Mouseling
April 2001- April 2001

Molly was very nearly named Raven II. They have similar markings, and like Raven, it took me several tries to come up with a name that stuck! On her first day with us Molly spent time as Raven II, Filis, Ysabell, Susan, and Whatshername. She's named after Queen Molly of the Beggar's Guild in Discworld... what better name for a rat?

The "mouseling" nickname comes from her tiny size. When we got her, Molly was no larger than a fully grown mouse! It was her tiny size that won Chase over. Chase-chase has never been the most motherly of rats, but she seemed to tolerate Molly's clinging to her, and two days after we got her Molly was following the adult rat everywhere (so much so that she seems an extension of Chase's tail!). However, as a few days passed, Snoodles began to grow like a weed while Queen Molly remained frail and tiny. About a week after we got her she began breathing heavily, and passed away quietly one afternoon soon after. We suspect that she had some sort of heart defect, probably from birth. At least her last few days were filled with cuddles and yogurt drops instead of being eaten by a snake...

It's too dark to take good pictures of the rats in their cage, but here's Molly next to Chase, her adopted mother, and peeking at the camera.