She was diagnosed with heart disease about 6 months ago, and the vet gave her some pills but had said it would eventually catch up with her. She was doing fine until last night, when I went to give my rats their daily treat and found Lola huddled in a corner, wheezing and twitching. She didn’t resist when I picked her up, something she usually doesn’t like. I held her for awhile and then put her back with my other two girls, who immediately gave her a deluxe grooming.
I went to sleep and woke up just after 4, with a strong feeling that I should go check on her. I did and she was lying on her side, breathing shallowly with her eyes closed. I picked her up and took her to the bedroom, laid down on the bed and let her rest on my chest while I talked to her. She opened her eyes and looked intently into mine for a few moments, then sighed, shivered a little and slowly sank back onto me. She died while I held her, looking at me.
She was a stubborn rat, not cuddly like the others. But underneath that she was soft-hearted, a huge suckup and fiercely protective of me and the other rats. Her favorite thing in the world was her daily treat, so I put a couple in her makeshift coffin.
I’m so sorry. Pets really are a part of our families. One of my kitties died over the summer and I still miss him terribly. It’s hard having one less furry little beast to greet you when you get home. My thoughts are with you.
My condolences. And I really feel happy that you woke up. If she had to die, at least she died against your skin, feeling loved.
I lost a beloved bird a few years back, and she died, trembling, in my hands. It broke my heart but I was always glad I thought to pick her up in the last few moments of her life and hold her close.
I’m sorry for your loss - I’ve learned a lot about ratties reading stories about yours. She’s in good company over the Bridge waiting for all of us to arrive.
Thanks so much for the kind words.
It was a gift to me, too, to have her with me when she passed. She never liked being held much and I had actually wished that when it came time for her to die that she would let me. I think she was happy for it…she bruxed lethargiacally for a few moments (bruxing is a rythmic teeth-grinding that rats do when they’re happy).
Man, it’s hard to be at work right now. I want to talk about it but I know most of my cow-orkers would think I’m overreacting/insane for grieving for a rat. It hurts to lose her but it’s worse knowing that many people think it’s insignificant just b/c of what she was. Makes me appreciate the support here even more.
I really hate that attitude. I got it when my bird died, too. “It’s just a bird”. No, you dolt, she was a beloved friend and very close to me. If your puppy/kitten is important, can’t you understand my pet is important, too?
I’m sorry to hear about Lola. I had a little white rat, Vodka, back before I had kitties and I know what you mean when you say people don’t understand your relationship to her because she’s just… a rat. Thanks for “bruxing” btw… Vodka used to sit on my shoulder and wrap my hair all around his body and make that little grindy noise in my ear, but I never knew there was a name for it. Unlike Lola, Vodka liked to be held, but I wasn’t at home when he passed on. I’m glad that you at least got to spend that time with her. As intelligent as rats are, I don’t doubt at all that she felt comforted to be close to you.
I’m sorry to hear your girl died. I lost one of mine, a rescued feeder, a few months ago. She was barely over a year old and started getting really bad respiratory infections at about 9 mos. But feeder rats aren’t bred for health. She was also the most outgoing of all my girls and actually loved human attention more than she did from her cagemates (she was alone in a cage at the petstore and way too young when I bought her - I think she always sort of “knew” I had saved her), so it was really hard to let her go. They’re like little puppies that don’t grow up, and you get so attached to them in the brief time they’re with you. All you can do is make them comfortable in the end.
The last thing my girl ever did was try to get to me, even though she could barely move or breathe. She shuddered and died while I was holding her. I lost it for about a week, but eventually it does get easier. I had her creamated and she’s in a little urn where she’ll eventually be joined by her friends. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad by saying “it was just a rat.” No one who has ever met and seen how personable and intelligent these small creatures are would say such a thing.
My condolences.