my last rats - at least for awhile

I know a lot of you have had a LOT of rats, and have been keeping rats for a lot longer,
but some of you maybe are closer to my numbers...

I've got 5 girls now and have, over the past 7 yrs, had and lost 25 rats (one of those is still alive but is living with someone else to get the care she needs that I can't possibly afford- she has to have her teeth trimmed weekly. She now lives with a vet tech and a bunch of sweet boy rats, and is very happy there)

anyway, my most recent loss has hit me really hard. Pippa, the sister of the one who with the tooth issue, passed away a week ago. Changing my signature to move her name from current companions to the other section for those that are not with me, that was hard.
it's funny, I didn't feel all that close with Pippa, to be honest, she didn't like to be held but she was a steady happy presence in my life, and it's been hard not having her here.
I look at the photos and videos of her and then I start to miss the others that came and went before her....
ack, it's hard.

I don't know if I can do this anymore, love them and then lose them.

The last couple of rats that came into my life left far too soon - ok so they ALL leave far too soon, right? but I mean, Elyse I had for 8 wonderful months, from the age of 2 to 2 yrs 8 mos.
then she went downhill very quickly and before I knew it, she was gone.

shortly after she passed, I was looking thru CL for a male rat, preferably neutered and responded to an ad for 2 rats needing a home immediately. They were in a tiny 5 gallon fish tank! a teen took them in from a friend who moved across the country and never got his parent's permission.
and so, Peanut and Butter joined us. I was told they were 2 boys, about 2 yrs old. Nope, NOT boys LOL
Sadly Butter, renamed ButterCup, who seemed quite old and sleepy when she arrived, but who was otherwise happy and very sweet, passed away about 2 weeks later.

shortly afterward, Pippa got sick.
and now she's gone.

I don't know how ppl who have a lot of rats handle the losses, I don't know how rescues do it.

damn it sucks.
ya know?

I'm completely with you Petunia. I don't deal with the losses very well at all. It's indescribable when they can pass away overnight or without warning and one minute they are healthy and a couple of days later, gone. I really bond with my rats as I work from home so they usually a few feet away from me and I fuss and bother them all day. They are a pure joy to wake to and I think about them all time when I'm away from home. I can't even go on holiday because I miss them too much lol.

I've lost 12 rats and have 3 with me. Cole has a little lump and I had to take him to the vets last week. On the way there, I'm panicking, heart pounding, telling myself the same old story whenever I have to make this trip for something scary, ''No more rats. I can't put myself through this again it's too hard, etc''. And then I'll see an advert or call a rescue and lo and behold, they'll be the perfect little group needing my love the good home that I can give them and I can't resist! I wonder if we'll be able to stay away.

I took a break for a year and half and it was horrible. In truth, when my 3 boys pass I'm thinking about getting a cat. They live so much longer and vets generally know what to do for cats. I've never met a vet who knew what they were doing with my rats and every time they get sick I count my lucky stars that Shelagh and the rest of you are here on ratshack for solutions and support.

I'm really sorry that Pippa's loss is weighing so heavy on your heart. They all touch us in many different complex ways with their big personalities and I have felt the way you describe. I have trouble watching videos and looking at pictures from 3 years ago without bursting into tears! So many happy memories but a deep sadness attached for the fact that our time was so short, they are such lovely, special little beings and we probably lost them in a stressful way. More importantly, I miss them so much and would give anything to see them again.

When I start feeling this way, I try to turn the grief around now by celebrating their lives instead of dwelling on the sadness. When Barclay died, he passed in such a traumatic way and I didn't have a partner or anyone to turn to for support really, so I took his blanket to bed with me and it was such a source of comfort during those hard few days. I was lost in a state of grief and confusion over his death. But now whenever I think about him I revel in his gorgeousness and the happy memories and so glad that I got to give him a home and take care of him. We had some lovely times and I'll never forget him. I celebrate his life.

I think also it's hard for us Petunia (correct me if I'm wrong) because we don't have partners. I was in a relationship during the first year of being a rat owner and having a partner for physical and emotional comfort and companionship and being driven to the vets and all that stuff was really helpful. It's not easy going through a rats last days or an illness by yourself. Even having a partner check on them in the middle of night when you are too emotionally tired can help so much! So I think we do the best that we can and we do a great job!

Here is a lovely woman called Louise Hay. She's written a book about healing and finding peace after a death and I'm thinking about getting this book.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFBCu8Mdxw[/ame]

I hope your heart mends soon. You are not alone - we all know where you're at :wink: xx

It is incredibly hard. My sister is ratless now and she seems pretty heart broken over that fact even. But it's not a good time for her to have rats again, maybe in a few years. My mom has one remaining oldie left. We will be trying one of my girls with him so he has a friend for the end of his life. My mom told me she can't do rats anymore. It's too hard, physically, emotionally and financially. Luckily, I still have 9 and both Nic and my mom can come and play with mine when the urge for rats hits them.
Having support from people close to you is essential.

I am destroyed every time one of my ratties die and a pretty much shut down with grief for a couple of weeks afterward .....
last fall I decided to stop having rats once my current rats passed and had stopped rescuing unless the rats were older (so would not extend the time left as a rat owner) but rats in desperate need of help keep coming into my life ....
most of the people I knew in New Brunswick who had rats, and were involved in rat rescue, no longer have rats

*HUGS* So sorry you're going through this.

My numbers are on track with yours, Petunia. 20 rats lost over the past 6 years. Probably not a great indication of my mental health, but I've become a bit ... numb to the passings of my little ones. I guess it helps that since I have a cap on how many rats I can have, each death is an opportunity to rescue another one.

I do worry greatly though, about my daughter. She absolutely adores my rats, and bless their furry little hearts, my current crew is so good with her. If I continue to have rats as she becomes older and more aware, I'm not sure she can handle the brief spark of a rat's life span. I have been seriously considering getting longer-lived pets, but am severely constricted by my blasted allergies to hay and animal dander. Wondering if its worth getting allergy treatments so we can adopt a pair of cats.

lost Sage overnight


I now have just the four girls, two that will be a year old at the end of Sept. and Peanut and Lady, ages unknown but probably both at least 18 mos or more.

will write more when I can think straight

I hate to read this, I'm sorry Petunia. I am thinking of you and hoping that you will be able to grieve in peace. We've all been there, you're not alone, although it's very easy to feel like you are all alone with your grief. Sage is at peace and loved always.

I am so very sorry

thanks guys
I was just angry this morning, I did not want to be sad again, so I fought it all day

kept super busy but the tears caught up to me tonight

I miss Sage and it's made me miss Pippa all over again.

but we all go thru this, so I mean, I feel silly posting about it. I don't need any sympathy (although it's always nice) I just wish that things were different

I am actually getting ONE more rat in a few weeks, a boy who needs a home, he will be neutered before he arrives.
I've been looking for a single male rat for a YEAR now, so I can't say no to this guy, even though right now, he's a very angry biter boy.
yep, and I'm ok with that, cuz this boy is not so much for me as it is for my girls

they could use a big squishy boy to dote on and help them get over their losses, which must be much more profound than my own

he's about the same age as my youngest two so that works out for getting down to no rats, age-wise and all

Don't feel silly. Your points and the way you feel are completely valid and understandable. If you can't post here about your experiences, where can you?!

I'm really quite excited about your new addition and I hope he's a tonic for you all! Keep us updated on how he gets on. If he's getting neutered and coming into a good, stable home with lots of ladies to love on him, he's got a lot to look forward to

Don't feel silly! Needing support, companionship and like minded people in your life is what all of us need.
CongRATS!! on the boy!

jorats said:

Don't feel silly! Needing support, companionship and like minded people in your life is what all of us need.
CongRATS!! on the boy!

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thanks!
now I must come up with a name!
he's been called Scabbers in his foster home but er, I'm not into Harry Potter, which is apparently where that name comes from and scabs? ew! LOL

I always thought if I got another boy I would name him Tater aka Tater Tot, but I don't know,
this is a scared boy, and the last scared guy I had, I gave him the name of a big badder rapper dude, Dr Dre, to try to infuse him with courage
Not sure it really worked LOL

so then I was thinking maybe Mr T, but that's so retro and I don't want to be hearing "I piddy da fool" in my mind every time I say his name hahahaha

So I gotta think on this
there's a lot of nice names out there, but some just don't sound right to me when I say them

maybe Trevor?
Hunter?
Tobias?

suggestions welcomed.

or maybe he will tell me his name!
I am looking forward to meeting him

I have a tendency to go with human names for my pets! Over the years I've had a Steve, Bruce, Maria, Natasha, Audrey, Holly, Phil, Rosie, Ykaterina, Roger, Max, Phoebe, Herschel, George, Marilyn, Patrick, Nelson, and Spencer. And I've added Izabella and her sister Valeriya to the list! Not all of those names were used for rats either - cats, dogs, and birds are included! I've also had a Nermal, Loki, and Nicodemous in the past, and currently have a parrotlet named Napoleon.

I tend not to name my pets until I've had them for a little bit, or their name just comes to me the moment I look at them. I'm sure your new boy will tell you his name soon enough

Aw, you'll know his name within a day or two. He'll tell ya. Sounds as though he's already cheering you up with the excitement of his arrival. I'm glad to hear that you sound a bit happier Petunia after your heavy losses. You deserve it xx

lol When you wrote Mr T, that's exactly what popped into my head.
I'm sure you will find the perfect name for him!