Nezuko's Rat's Nest

I don't think I ever mentioned it, because there was so much else going on, but I lost two rats in February. Before I left for England, I knew that Daigo wasn't doing well: he was underweight despite plenty of feeding, and slowing down. At almost two years old, he was just at the cusp of "elderly", and I believe he must have had cancer, probably lymphoma as I have seen similar declines in other rats with lymphoma. According to my friend who was rat-sitting, he was happy, though slow, up until the day he died. She came in one morning and found him already gone, evidently quite peacefully.

The week I got home from England, his brother Zoro, the last survivor of the three I'd adopted two years ago, developed a sudden and virulent pneumonia. From first symptoms to death was less than 48 hours. I had to take him in and have him euthanized, because I couldn't stand to see him struggling to breathe, and he was far too sick for even intensive intervention. He was one of my all-time favorites, and I was heartbroken.

That left me with Survivor, who is pushing three and showing signs of spinal degeneration, which often strikes elderly males in their last months, and Toto and Twister, who are both about a year and a half. Most rat people will say two years is an average rat lifespan, but most of my rats have lived closer to three, so though I'm not shocked when they go at two, it's like seeing a person die at 60 instead of 90.

The very same week that Zoro died, I received an email from a rat breeder in Walnut Creek at Amour Petite Rattery: she had two litters that would be available for adoption around April first. I'd been on her mailing list for two years, but had never had a place for new rats when she had litters. Until now. I took it as a sign that the Universe was ready for new babies to come into my life.

So....

Today I drove to Walnut Creek and brought home my three April Fool ratlets! I have given them names of famous tricksters: Anansi, Oberon, and Loki.

Right now they look pretty similar, because they still have their baby coats, but Anansi will grow to be a curly-coated red-head (fawn) with standard ears, Oberon will be a seal-point Siamese with dumbo ears, and Loki will remain a blond (beige) with dumbo ears. I can tell them apart easily already. Can you?


Loki, Oberon & Anansi

( more adorableness here )

Izumo passed quietly in his sleep today. When I got up this morning I found him cold and sluggish, but still with me. I held him and petted him and sang to him, and told him I loved him and that he had lived a long, courageous, wonderful life, and it was okay for him to go now. Then I put him in the hammock with his cagemate, Anzu-hime. They snuggled together, both sleeping. Late this afternoon, my friend Phi and I went out to get food. When we left the house, he was asleep. When we came home, he was gone.

Surprisingly, Anzu-hime remained curled up with him, despite the fact that he was beginning to stiffen. I've never seen a rat stay with the body of a companion after his death. It was touching, and a sign, I think, of how bonded they were. She seems alright. Not very lively, but it was a warm day and all the rats are a bit drowsy.

I was grateful to have Phi here to offer me a shoulder to cry on. I will really miss my Izumo, the One Eyed Pirate Rat. I'm so glad that I had him in my life. So glad that he was able to stay with me as long as he did. And glad that he was able to leave this life peacefully.