We have peepers

Yvaine's kittens have eyes, so it won't be long before they are chasing around after mum. This was actually taken just before they opened their eyes.

We have:
1 x Black Eyed Russian Blue Point Siamese doe
4 x Black Eyed Siamese does
2 x Ruby Eyed Siamese does
1 x Black Eyed Russian Blue Point Siamese buck
1 x Ruby Eyed Russian Blue Point Siamese buck
3 x Black Eyed Siamese bucks
2 x Ruby Eyed Siamese bucks

All the kittens from this litter are provisionally booked, my next litters will be mated in February / March 2011.

Yvaine and Orrin's babies

Here they are at 3 days old

You can follow their progress as they grow in photos here

Yvaine and Orrin babies

Yvaine gave birth today to a nice round 14 babies. At a first check it looks like 7 girls (5 black eyed and 2 ruby eyed) and 7 boys (4 black eyed and 3 ruby eyed), though it's possible that I got them wrong.

Returnees

Any rat that I have homed I will always take back, no questions asked. Due to a change in the owners circumstances these little ones needed to be returned last week.

Caledonian Tali

Caledonian Leliana

 

 and Caledonian Mae

Silver Champions

Both Caledonian Bracken and Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar were awarded Silver Champion status at the NFRS AGM on saturday.

Rats need a total of 8 stars in order to be awarded Silver Champion status, each show is awarded a star status and stars are awarded to rats that the judge considers to be a good example of their variety, see the NFRS Rules and Regulations.

Caledonian Bracken
Siamese Kitten * - Portsmouth 2010
Siamese Adult *** - Summer Cup 2010
Siamese Adult * - Romsey 2010
Siamese Adult *** - Annual Cup 2010
Best Opposite Age * - Annual Cup 2010


Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar
Russian Blue Kitten * - Bath and West 2010
Best Opposite Age * - Bath and West 2010
Russian Blue Adult * - Romsey 2010
Reserve Best In Show * - Romsey 2010
Stud Buck * - Romsey 2010
Russian Blue Adult * - Self Show 2010
Best In Show * - Self Show 2010
Stud Buck * - Self Show 2010

This week's cage layouts

The younger girls cage (Bracken, Yvaine, Danna and Rona)

 

The older girls (Isobel, Iona, Heather and Roslin)

The younger boys (Croup, Vande, Berneray and Orrin)

 

The older boys (Hamish, Constantine, Conner, Tristran and Dornie)

hopefully babies are on the way

Halycon Yvaine has been mated to Caledonian Orrin, so hopefully there will be the patter of little feet here soon.

NFRS Annual Cup and Self Show Results

Saturday was the NFRS Annual Cup and Self Show, unlike last year, there was a good entry and competition was going to be tough. The rats however took it all in their stride and got some fantastic results.

Caledonian Danna - Best Silver - Annual Cup Show.
This one was a bit of a surprise that's for sure, she's a nice rat that's silvered all over but the silvering is pretty patchy.

Hakuna Matata Mr Croup - Best Agouti - Annual Cup Show

Caledonian Rona - Best Russian Blue, Best Russian, 3rd Adult Challenge, 4th Supreme Challenge - Annual Cup Show
She didn't quite beat her mum (Bracken), but gave her a bit of a run for her money. She's still young, only 6 days out of kitten class hopefully as she gets a bit older she'll do even better.

Caledonian Bracken - Best Siamese, Best Shaded, 1st Adult Challenge, Best Novice, Best Opposite Age - Annual Cup Show
Bracken is well and truely ending Orrin's run at Best Siamese, she's beaten him in the last 2 shows. I got the Best Siamese trophy back again after Caledonian Isabel won it last year. Combined with her previous stars, Bracken is now a Silver Champion.

Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - Best Russian Blue, Best Stud Buck and Best In Show - Self Show
Vande, having been beaten by Rona in the Annual Cup Show, did his best to charm the judge in the Self Show, so much so I wondered whether or not I'd get him back. He managed to go one better than Romsey where he got Reserve Best in Show and got Best In Show as well as Stud Buck, making him a Silver Champion.

Inspired by a friends cage, I've decided to remove the shelves from my Explorer cages. My rats don't tend to use the shelf other than to occasionally wee and poo all over, and it does take up a bit chunk of space. Admittedly you need to be a bit more creative in terms of how you put stuff in without the shelves, but I definately think you can make better use of space this way.

Introducing Berneray, Faray, Danna and Rona

I think I definately suffered from Keep More Kittens syndrome with this litter, as I fully intended to only keep 2 does from the litter. But Berneray was almost too good to let go, so after discussion with the person who he was going to go to, we agreed for him to stay here. Having only kept one doe from the previous litter who I intended to breed, and got lucky that she turned out so nice, I wasn't prepared to take the same risk again, so with Halcyon Yvaine as well, I now have 4 possible breeding does.

Up first, Caledonian Berneray - Black Eyed Siamese 

and the girls, Caledonian Faray, Ruby Eyed Siamese

Caledonian Danna, Black

and lastly Caledonian Rona, Russian Blue

NFRS Romsey Show

Yesterday was Romsey Show, last time I went was 2 years ago when the show ground was pretty much a mud bath and I had a broken ankle (not that I knew it at that point in time). Any, this year I was determined to look round if only for a short while as I was also show secretary. After the 2 hour queue to get last time, I left exceedingly early, 6.45am and by 7.05 I was parked up outside the show tent. The nice thing about getting there before 8am is that you can drive onto the show ground, so no need to carry everything long distances.

This year, Jayne (show manager) and I decided against having exhibition / shoulder rats, so the public did have to make do with just seeing them in their show tanks, but that's the same for all the other fancies, in some respects we are different by often allowing the public to "stroke a rat". Though of course there's always the odd person who decides that sticking their fingers into a show tank is a good idea, and occasionally they are met with a rat that decides to teach them a lesson !


After a early morning rain shower, the weather brightened up and it turned out to be a lovely sunny day, if not a little bit hot and humid in the show tent, which did turn a few of the rats a little grumpy, especially those judged later in the day.

Entries weren't at all bad, on the day there were 51 entries in varieties and 24 in pet class, which for a southern show a week after a major cup show is great, though need more entries next year *hint hint*

The kittens from Bracken's litter were old enough to be entered into the show, they were 1 day too young for London Championships last week, so along with the adults I had a grand total of 14 rats in variety and pet classes. I am really pleased with the kittens results, out of 22 kittens, I had 1st, 2nd and 4th kitten, and 2 of which placed in the Supreme Challenge. The silver black kitten buck, who has still to go to his new home, got Best Opposite Age, and as I breed both him and his mother, it counts towards my stud name. Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar got Reserve Best In Show and Best Stud Buck.

Firstly the kitten results

Siamese doe kitten
3rd Siamese Kitten
3rd Shaded Kitten

Russian Blue doe kitten
1st Russian Blue Kitten
1st Russian Kitten Challenge
2nd Russian Challenge
2nd Kitten Challenge
4th Supreme Challenge
2nd Novice

Black doe kitten
1st Black Kitten *
Best Black
1st Self Kitten Challenge
2nd Self Challenge
4th Kitten Challenge
4th Novice

Siamese buck kitten
1st Siamese Kitten *
1st Shaded Kitten
2nd Shaded Challenge

Silver black buck kitten who is going to be homed next week
1st Silver Kitten *
Best Silver
1st AOV Kitten
2nd AOV Challenge
1st Kitten Challenge
3rd Supreme Challenge
Best Opposite Age *
Best Novice

The adults

Halycon Yvaine
2nd Guide Standard

Caledonian Bracken
1st Siamese Adult *
Best Siamese
1st Shaded Adult
1st Shaded Challenge
3rd Adult Challenge
3rd Novice

Caledonian Dornie
3rd Siamese Adult
3rd Shaded Adult

Caledonian Orrin
2nd Siamese Adult
2nd Shaded Adult
4th Shaded Challenge

Caledonian Connor
1st Guide Standard *
Best Guide Standard
2nd Stud Buck

Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar
1st Russian Blue Adult *
1st Russian Adult Challenge
1st Russian Challenge
2nd Adult Challenge
Reserve Best In Show *
Stud Buck *

Pet results

Caledonian Iona
2nd Adult Owned Pet Doe
4th Adult Owned Pet
Special Award - Stolen

NFRS London Championships

Saturday was the last London Championships show in Reading as next year it moves to Peterborough. I do quite like London Champs, it's normally quite busy with a lot of exhibitioners who I don't get to see much the rest of the year. This year there were 150 rats entered in varieties classes.

I'm still in shock over the results, Caledonian Orrin who got best Siamese at Lowestoft show back in July, got 1st in Siamese Adult, 1st in Shaded Challenge, 2nd in Adult Challenge, Best Novice and Reserve Best In Show. So he now has 6 stars (only 2 more and he's a champion) and I have another cup for Best Siamese on the mantlepiece.

Orrin really is lovely, he is everything that I love about bucks, he's confident and in your face but at the same time laid back and squishy. Hopefully soon one of the does will be old enough to mate him to and he can go on to sire some babies as lovely as he is.

and with his stash of rosettes

This is probably my favourite picture of him.... "it's mine.... I tell you....mine!"

Caledonain Bracken and her brother Caledonian Dornie didn't do too badly either, they came 2nd and 3rd in the Siamese class out of 8. Bracken also got 2nd in Shaded Challenge. It'll be interesting to see how all 3 of them do under some different judges.

My blue point siamese's Caledonian Connor and Halycon Yvaine did well in their class as well. Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar had good critique, but I should have put him in Russian Blue and not Silver class, I guess it's a learning curve, atleast I know for next time.

Some of the other rats that I've breed did well too, Celeste came 2nd in Russian Blue Agouti, and Flo got 1st in Self Dumbo, Best Dumbo, 3rd in Adult Challenge and 3rd in Supreme Challenge and earnt her owner Best Juvenile, so well done Hannah.

All in all it was a good show, shame that next year it'll be so much further to travel.

Bracken's babies all grown up and flown the nest

Bracken's babies have now all grown up, the girls that I'm not keeping have all left for their new homes along with one of the boys. The other two boys are here for another week, which means I get to show them at Romsey show on saturday. In total I'm keeping 3 girls and 1 of the boys.

I always try and do a photoshot for each litter between 4 and 6 weeks old. As it's summer (or atleast it should be), Bracken's kittens went to the "seaside" for their photoshot.

These are a few of my favourites

I've heard back from all of the kittens new owners and they are all settling in really well which is great to hear. I do like it when new owners keep in touch, rather than just when asked for updates.

Busy, busy, busy

Bracken's babies are growing up fast, they are nearly 2 weeks already. Almost all the kittens are now reserved, just 2 girls still needing a home.

Last saturday was Lowestoft show, which was a lovely but somewhat quiet show. The rats did me proud, with Caledonian Connor getting 4th in Supreme Challenge and Caledonian Orrin getting Best Siamese and Best Shaded and 2 stars. Caledonian Iona got Best Adult Owned Pet and 3rd in Pet Challenge and earnt herself another 2 pet points, she's now on 7 points, just one more to get and she'll be a pet champion.

While at Lowestoft I picked up a lovely ruby eyed Russian Blue Point Siamese doe from Halycon Stud, say hello to Halycon Yvaine.

Kittens :)

It's been a while since there were kittens here, but Caledonian Bracken gave birth on sunday to 13 little ones. Mum and babies are all doing well.

Due to most of my waiting list deciding to get kittens from elsewhere there's quite a few kittens available from this litter, if you are interested please email me (lois@caledonianrats.co.uk).

Photos of the kittens are here, if you want to follow their progress.

Summer Cup Show Results

Caledonian Bracken got me my best result at a show for a rat that I've bred by getting 3rd in the Supreme Challenge. There was a large number of entries, probably the largest I've seen at a shown in the past couple of years, so that makes the result even better. It's likely that Summer Cup was her last show as I intend to mate her as soon as she comes into season, but hopefully her offspring shall be as good as her if not better.

Caledonian Bracken - 3rd Supreme Challenge
Caledonian Bracken - 3rd Adult Challenge
Caledonian Bracken -Best Shaded
Caledonian Bracken - 1st Adult Siamese ***
Caledonian Bracken - 2nd Novice
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - 2nd Russian Blue Kitten
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar -2nd Russian Kitten
Hakuna Matata Mr Croup - 3rd Agouti Kitten
Caledonian Connor - 4th Guide Standard
Caledonian Iona - 3rd Adult Owned Pet Doe

NFRS Bath and West Show Results

I got my best set of show results so far yesterday with Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar getting Best Opposite Age.

Caledonian Bracken - Best Shaded
Caledonian Bracken - 1st Shaded Adult
Caledonian Bracken - 1st Siamese Adult
Caledonian Bracken - 4th Novice
Caledonian Isabel - 2nd Siamese Adult
Caledonian Isabel - 2nd Shaded Adult
Caledonian Isabel - 4th Shaded Challenge
Hakuna Matata Mr Croup - 4th Kitten Challenge
Hakuna Matata Mr Croup - 1st AOV Kitten
Hakuna Matata Mr Croup - 1st Agouti Kitten
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - Best Opposite Age *
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - 1st Kitten Challenge
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - Best Russian
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - 1st Russian Kitten
Hakuna Matata Mr Vandemar - 1st Russian Blue Kitten *
Caledonian Connor - 4th Supreme Challenge
Caledonian Connor - 3rd Adult Challenge
Caledonian Connor - 1st Guide Standard Adult *
Caledonian Connor - 2nd Stud Buck
Caledonian Connor - 2nd Novice
Caledonian Iona - 2nd Best Pet
Caledonian Iona - 2nd Adult Owned Doe *

Photos from this show, both friday and saturday can be found here

Matings planned for late June

I intend to mate Caledonian Bracken with Hakuna Matata Tristran later this month. I expect there to be siamese and agouti kittens from this litter.

Also, Coastboat Constantine is going to father a litter for Coastboat Rattery in Portsmouth around a similar time.

If you are interested in kittens please email lois@caledonianrats.co.uk, it may be possible to pair kittens from both these litters.

NFRS Portsmouth Show Results

The rats did me proud at the NFRS Portsmouth Show yesterday.

Caledonian Iona came away with Best Pet, another 2 pet points and another trophy, maybe I should get her her own trophy cabinet :)

Caledonian Bracken got first Siamese Kitten, first Shaded Kitten Challenge, third Shaded Challenge and 2nd in Kitten Challenge. She also got awarded 1 star.

Caledonian Dornie came second to his sister in the Siamese Kitten class.

Caledonian Isabel came second in Siamese Adult and second in Shaded Adult Challenge and second in Shaded Challenge.

Caledonian Connor came third in Guide Standard.

Meet Caledonian Braken, Roslin, Orrin and Dornie

My keepers from Lady Johanna and Delphi's litters

The boys, Caledonian Orrin from Lady Johanna x Hamish




Caledonian Dornie from Delphi x Tristran




and the girls, Caledonian Roslin from Delphi x Tristran who has the silliest ears ever but the sweetest personality




and finally Caledonian Bracken from Delphi x Tristran

Buck kittens available at Aquarius Rattery

Phil at Aquarius Rattery has 2 Caledonian bucks from Delphi x Tristran, these are to be paired up with black kittens from his latest litter. It may be possible to arrange transport to Southampton, so don't be put off by the distance. Either contact me and I'll put you in touch with Phil, or contact them directly.

Heather's babies

Caledonian Heather had a litter of just 4 babies over at Hakuna Matata Stud earlier this week. After 2 large litters a litter of 4 seems so tiny, however given everything that could go wrong I'm happy that she gave birth successfully.

First Caledonian Best In Show

Congratulations to Jenna from Hakuna Matata Stud who got Best In Show at NFRS Clevedon show with Caledonian Dazzle. It turns out the mystery coloured buck is Russian Silver and a good one at that.

I'm just hoping that the litter mates I've kept will have equally as good success at future shows.

The little one himself, a few weeks back.

Welcome

Welcome to the Caledonian Rattery blog. Here you'll find regular updates and news of everything going on at Caledonian Rattery.

But first, who am I?

My name is Lois and I have a small rattery based in Southampton, Hampshire, UK. My aim is to breed good tempered, healthy rats in Russian Blue Point Siamese, Seal Point Siamese and Black for both pet and show.

I am a member of the NFRS, and tend to show my rats at NFRS shows in the south and south west. I am also a NFRS Show Secretary and a member of the NFRS Committee with the role of Website and Forum Administrator.

Caledonian Rats is not an NFRS stud name, but simply a name I used to identify the rats I breed. However, 'Caledonian Rattery' is an NFRS registered rattery and I hope to gain my stud name in the future.

Thank you to Jenna Sutcliffe of Hakuna Matata Stud for both providing me with wonderful rats for the foundations of my lines, and the ongoing and invaluable help and advice without which I would not be here now.

If you have any queries regarding rats, my website or would like to be placed on my waiting list for kittens, please email me.

Caledonian Heather planned mating

Caledonian Heather has gone to Hakuna Matata Stud to have a litter for them, as I decided for personal reasons that I didn't want another litter before she would be too old to breed from. If you are interested in homing kittens from this litter you will need to contact Jenna directly at Hakuna Matata Stud.

NFRS Boscombe Show Results

NFRS Boscombe Show Results
Caledonian Isabel - 1st Shaded Challenge
Caledonian Isabel - 1st Shaded Adult
Caledonian Isabel - Best Siamese
Caledonian Isabel - 1st Siamese Adult *
Caledonian Heather - 2nd Dumbo Challenge
Caledonian Heather - Best Russian Dumbo
Caledonian Heather - 1st Russian Dumbo Adult
Caledonian Connor - 2nd Guide Standard Adult
Caledonian Iona - Best Pet *
Caledonian Iona - Best Adult Owned Pet *
Caledonian Iona - Best Adult Owned Pet Doe

Retirement for Lady Johanna

Hakuna Matata Lady Johanna has been retired to a pet home.

and more babies

Hakuna Matata Delphi had 15 kittens on friday 29th January.

Babies

Hakuna Matata Lady Johanna gave birth to 17 babies on wednesday 6th Jan.