Oh Christie that is hilarious! Poor mama rats! What they go through with the little cling on leeches! Wait until they are almost ready to be weaned pups. The poor females literally get swarmed and if the litter is big enough, they will topple mom over in their need to nurse (even though the little piggies are eating and drinking by that time they always love a bit of momma's milk anytime they can get to her). I swear rat momma's are the most patient mothers in the natural world to put up with this stuff.