Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / August 2007

I'm so sorry for Munch.
I'm sure Fin will grieve and you'll have to spend extra time with him
until you can find him a suitable new partner.
Hugs to you, Fin and mom.

I am so sorry for your loss.  Its never easy.  Fin will most likely go into a
depression, so you might want to almost force him on you (carry him around
with you, put him in your shirt so he cant get out, or someonething like that)
.  It will take some time, but you will heal, and so will Fin.

Darling, I am so sorry. I am still grieving my Winston. I so understand. I
am here for you.

Love and hugs,
Lynn kitty
---last night.

My mom woke me up a little after seven, by knocking on me door. She
told me that she went down to the basement to check on some things,
and noticed that Munch was not moving no matter what she did. It was
pretty much clear to me that he had died sometime last night. I think
I started crying a few seconds after she told me, when it started to
really hit me then an now. The full effects still have not settled in
with me. I know the good thing is that he at least died knowing he was
loved and cared about, and that now he does not have to suffer. Even
if that fact is I am still greatly sadden over his death. My mom ended
up calling my uncle to take the rat out of the cage. She didn't want
me to do it, and she did not have the strength to do it. When I
touched him he was so cold and stiff. He was laying there on his right
side....gone. No amount of mental prepation could ever hold back the
emotion, the shock that I still felt when he was lying there. From
what I was told my mom saw Fin sitting near his dead body.

After an hour of sitting in my room, trying to make myself feel
better. I ended up going downstairs, wanting to check up on how Fin
was doing. He is pretty much stressed out and confused. I took him out
of the caged, picked him up, hugged him, put him down, and then gave
him a strawberry yogurt treat. He does not seem to want anything to do
with me now. He ended up sniffing around the room, avoiding my touch.
I believe he was looking for Munch, and could still smell him.

We spent the yesterday (late) afternoon calling a bunch of animal
hospitals up, asking them if they had a specalist in rats/rodents or
anyone who knew them well enough. On maybe the third or fourth call,
we found one and a made an apointment this morning for nine o'clock.
We were looking for a second opinion, and then to see what our options
for Munch could of been.

Last night there were no changes. When I tried to feed him snacks, he
would not eat them no matter what I did and no matter what I tried. He
would nibble at it once, and then turn his head away. He did, however,
gladly accept the water I was giving him from one of the needle
syringes. I would give him water until he started to refuse it. After
that I hugged him, and told me that I loved him and that he was my
pretty boy. I put him in the cage, right next to where he brother was
sleeping at the moment. I stroked his head, and left to take a shower
and go to bed. It was starting to get late by then. (11-ish.)

Fin----he is what I am worried about. He has spent his whole life with
his brother. They had always gotten along with each other, minus some
fights that happen. I know I am going to get another rat, but not now
until I know he can handle it. I want him to grieve. My problem is
that I feel like I would be placing Munch, even if the logical part
says that it not true. I do not want Fin to be around. I want him to
have someone to explore the cage with, find stuff to steal from my
desk, and to sleep next to at night. But what Fin needs now is love
and time.

Munch was a year and a half. He will live in my memories forever.

I'm so sorry to hear about Munch, it's so painful to lose such a good
friend.
Give Fin plenty of love and cuddles, you can help each other.
Thinking of you both.

Kind thoughts are winging their way to you and your family especially
Fin.  He is in mouring for his Brother but rest assured although you
will get him another companion he will not be replacing Munch.. they are
all different wee souls with their own personalities and your new one
will bring you love and contentment.  :)

Regards Kate and Mater and Silber

It's the hardest thing. I'm so sorry for your loss.
-Marlo

Thanks to everyone who responded---I appreciate it.

My family (including Fin of course, minus my cat) are doing fine...as
can be at this point.