Three years ago my wife and I got three pet rats. A little over a year later, we added two more, and for a brief moment had a lovely little mischief of five happy boys.
Then we lost one of the new babies in a freak accident after he got injured during a scrap, then, a few months after that, the first of the original trio left us, and so on, and so on, until today, when the last of the new babies, who was now just over two, passed away.
And as much as I try to focus on the happy times, watching them boing about on the sofa, or stealing snacks from us, or just snuggling inside the hood of my jumper and falling asleep, it’s really hard to reconcile that with their short little lives.
We recently adopted a pair of 6yo cats, and while they could feasibly spend the next 10/15 years with us, there’s always that nagging doubt that they’ll suddenly develop an incurable illness, and we’ll lose them too soon.
But that’s all kinda worth it when they’re asleep on your lap, purring away. Or in the case of the ratties, boggling and bruxing.
Sorry if this is a bit maudlin; I’ve just buried Wilbur in the garden, and I miss my little toast-stealing friend.
This rat is absolutely adorable. My condolences.
I really am terrified of this, and actually that's the main reason why I never had a pet.
Of the five we had, Wilbur was by far and away the pointiest of nose, and the most questionable of parentage, but I still loved him. He could yoink a Cheerio like nobody's business.
This was Nac, Mac, and Feegle, at about eight months old, I think.
It was really hard to take good photos of them...
That photo is so adorable.
We had 10 over the course of about 5 years, but yeah it got sad saying goodbye all the time. Rats are hugely underrated as housepets. They are super sociable, and smart. When I see snaps like yours I miss having them, but when I read posts like yours I remember why I don't.
It was a while ago now and I'm rubbish with photos anyway, so not sure I can pay the pet tax. If I find anything I'll come back and edit.