Cheesecake came to us on 12/14/25, with her sisters Crouton & Miso, because their owner was moving and couldn’t take them along. Cheesecake arrived with some serious respiratory issues that she mostly recovered from, but it was found that she would need medication for the rest of her life for lung inflammation. Because of that, she was given sanctuary status.
Fostered by Jamie in Concord, NH.
UPDATE 3/16/26:
These girls are some of the friendliest, easily handled rats I’ve had the pleasure of fostering! If you ever wished that you could have female rats that had lazy, cuddly moments like older male rats, these are the girls!
Cheesecake is a quirky little peanut (topping out at 260 grams) who is the most timid of the group but is still quite friendly and easily handled. She absolutely adores her sisters and will constantly chase them around during free room to try and groom them. She loves to get full body rubs while resting in her hammock and will brux and boggle hard to show her appreciation.
When Cheesecake came to us, she was somewhat lethargic and appeared to have difficulty breathing. After a vet visit and chest x-ray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia in her lower lungs and inflamed bronchi. After 10 weeks of antibiotics combined with prednisone, her pneumonia cleared up, but her labored breathing remained. While trying to wean her off the prednisone, her breathing seemed to worsen and her appetite and activity level were low, so it was decided to continue her prednisone indefinitely. She continues to take a small dose (0.05ml) every 36 hrs. and she seems to be keeping a good activity level and healthy appetite on that dosage. Her vet believes that she may have some lung scarring from previous URI’s and it is likely that she will need to continue on the steroid for the rest of her life.
They are all truly special!
Cheesecake
Together
