This is page two of some images and remembrances of our dearly departed past rats which form a brief history of Rodents of Unusual Sweetness. Though they are all dearly missed (except possibly Smapdi), they live on in their memories and in their offspring, many of whom still live with us today.
Lovely Lilly came to live with us as a result of my wheedling. She had been born at Curly Whiskers Rattery in Boise, ID and I'd actually boarded her at my house for couple of months for Michelle at CWR to breed her to my buck, the late, great ROUS Moby. When she turned out to be a not so hot mom, with only two boys surviving, Michelle retired her. It was then that I pounced. I begged, I whined, I wheedled, I cajoled. Given that Lilly had taken a weird and intense dislike to Michelle, it was actually pretty easy to convince her that Lilly would be much happier here with me. And thus the first hairless rat at ROUS arrived and took up regency in my cage of dowagers. Lilly was truly imperial in her outlook on life and bossed everyone about, ruling with a little naked pink iron paw. She was the star of the very first Ratapalooza, winning Best in Show as well as Best Pet Rat. She even made the newspapers, both the Times (with photo!) and P-I. A clipping from the Times with her photo hangs proudly at our veterinarian's office. It was so utterly sad to put this queenly regent to sleep, but it was definitely time when we said goodbye. Miss Lilly will live forever in our hearts and memories.
Bleu was, quite simply, amazing. To read the full story of everything this marvel of a rat overcame in her life and all that she gave to those who knew her, visit her page. Bleu was a lover, a fighter, a mother, a nurse, an inspiration, a muse, a playmate, a dear friend and, above all, one hell of a rat. Gone, but never, ever forgotten.
Dear, sweet, angelic Forti was one of the ratty loves of my life. Always ready with a kiss or a cuddle, Forti made it impossible to be sad or grumpy around him, even to the very end. I'm trying so hard not to be sad at his passing since he would never want that - he was my sunshine boy. Even though his last months were spent ever weakening, he still gave me a kiss goodnight every evening when I'd feed the gang and tuck them in for the night. Forti was such a special boy and I feel so blessed to have known him, even though our time together was far shorter than I felt he deserved. Goodnight, my angel, giver of a thousand kisses.
Most beautiful Pru left us far too early due to heart problems brought on by heatstroke. This delicate but determined lady was a joy and is sorely missed by her humans and by best friend Ani who she adopted as a little sister when I brought them home. Pru was one of the loveliest rats I've ever had the good fortune to know and her passing has left a huge hole in our rattery. Sleep well, my blue beauty.
My baby Kimo left us too early, as many of his sweet siblings did. This litter was so bittersweet from the very beginning. Our dear Bleu had the most darling babies, three of whom were felled by megacolon at barely a month of age. Several other very beloved litter members also passed on short of two years of age. The fact that the whole litter was so exceptionally sweet in temperment makes the losses even sadder. Kimo made me laugh so much with his clownish, gentle ways, whether he was "attacking" my hand with kisses when we'd wrestle or napping in my lap, lulled to sleep with scritches. Kimo was exactly the sort of rat who won over ratophobes with his handsome looks and loving ways. My darling, dearest baby Keems I miss you so much and always will.
Sonnet came with a large rehoming group and was only with us a few weeks when she tragically died after surgery to remove a mammary tumor. In her short time with us, Sonnet left a big impression. She was the matriarch of her clan but via wisdom and gentleness, not through crankiness or force. She was much loved by her former owner and had a rather long life that was quite healthy up until the end.
Our sweet and gentle beauty did not quite reach two years of age. Tarot was such a lovely girl, a touch on the reserved side, but always willing to repay your attention in kind. Tarot's lungs were not the best in her later months, but she always took her meds and dealt with her treatment with great dignity. Rest well, black eyed beauty, your battle with bad lungs is finally over.
Bad old Sophie was, alas, not quite tough enough to beat cancer. Our beautiful but bossy girl made it through two surgeries to deal with tumors in her uterus and on her cervix, but unfortunately that was not enough to stop the cancer from spreading throughout her body. As naughty and crabby as our Soph could be, she was nonetheless terribly endearing and I am so very sad that she only made it to a year and a half of age. Give the angels hell for us, Sophie Nophie.
My sweet Witch Baby was here for too brief a time. All I can really say about her is on her page - it's too hard to write it again. I loved her, I lost her too young, and a big piece of my heart went with her.
Peach dumpling Momo also left us far too early, due to heart problems that arose later in life. Momo also endured a very scary c-section delivery and bounced back, albeit slowly, from that major surgery, so she was tougher than she looked. Gentle Momo was a far cry from her cranky diva of a sister, Hisvet, though no less memorably for her gentler ways. Sweet Momo leaves her son Tobiko behind to comfort us, as he is much like her with his friendly, sparkly personality.
Torts left us far far far too early due to a sudden brain aneurism. He leaves behind his brother Orzo and a very sad group of humans who knew him. Torts was such a big, sweet marshmallow of a guy. Fate was kind to send him but cruel to take him so young. We will always miss our Tortellini.
Oh my sweet sweet Shadow. You were such a darling boy. Your human mama and dear brother Spooky miss you so much. I wish you would have had more time with us but our two years together were so very good.
Sweet and lovely Roxie never had the best lungs in the world, but that didn't stop her from living her little blue life to the fullest. She was a great companion to our beloved Forti and was unfailingly sweet and gentle to all she met, rat or human. Our pretty girl is now at peace, breathing easily.
Our sweet, beloved, most beautiful Klee passed away after dealing with neurological issues for about two months. Klee was such a wonderful girl who gifted us with two beautiful litters. Unfortunately, her first litter was not the healthiest as time went on, but litter number two seems to be going strong. Klee's beautiful spirit lives on in Roger and Bunny and grandson Tobiko.
Dear old Karni came to me late in life, which made our time together even more precious. She was a gentle old soul who loved to be out of the cage and to give kisses.
Ezri, like Karni, came to me in a group of elderly rehomes. She was never in the best of health since I first met her, but was unfailingly gentle and keen to see you. Ezri was a dear old sweetie and will be missed.
My sweet, beautiful Noody - there's so much I could say about you, but I think it's enough to say that I loved you, loved your strong but gentle spirit, loved your beautiful creamy blue ticked fur, loved your shining eyes and sleek little body, even when you'd run and hide behind furniture because you didn't want playtime to be over. I wish I could write you a eulogy as beautiful as you were in life, but this will have to do. Rest, my beauty, and know how very much you were loved.
As her name implies, Milagro was truly a little ratty miracle. Though she was an unexpected surprise for her breeder, she was very much wanted and thoroughly adored by me. Heart attack or aneurism took her far too young and she leaves a big rat shaped hole in my heart and the hearts of her cagemates.
Azizi was and will ever be the Queen of the Rat Room and of my heart. My dear little black-eyed pea was so very very beloved. She was so beautiful and so dear and so tough and everything wonderful about ratties in one little petal soft package. The only bad thing she ever did in her life was to break my heart when she left me. I will always love my darling little Ziz so very very much.
My dear old redheaded wonder made it through two tumor surgeries quite late in life, but in the end her cancer won. It's hard to believe anything could snuff out a light that bright, but it did. Lucille was a wonderful old girl who was a pleasure from the moment I adopted her as a baby. We had two and a half terrific years together, chasing and playing and cuddling. She leaves behind a daughter, a grandson and granddaughter and soon, great-grandkids. Gone, but never forgotten, my bad little redhead.
This dear old fellow was also a cancer victim who fought the disease bravely and endured a very serious operation to remove part of the tumor which ultimately claimed him. He spent the majority of his life til about two years of age in fine health and sired two lovely litters. He is very much missed by his humans and by his three cagemates as they were an inseparable foursome for most of their lives.
My sweet Zin was taken from me far too young from a massive systemic failure, quite possibly caused by cancer or internal rupture. Though his death was sad and traumatic, his life was anything but. He was a dear, sweet, cheerful boy who loved his cagemates and his humans. Zin was the perpetual ritten - always frisky and playful and so curious about the world. Play well, my dear Zinny.
Dear lovely Trots came to me all the way from Texas and left me far too soon. This sweet big russian boy was so soft and plush like warm velvet. His personality was so gentle and friendly - he was truly the golden retriever of rats. I will miss this dear gentleman so much and take much comfort in his similarly darling son, Raskol.
The Beef lived a good long life, but I still don't think a million years with this fine lady would have been enough for me. Beefy was one of the greatest rats I've ever known and leaves a huge void in our rattery. She was truly our matriarch and is much missed by both her humans and her ratty companions. Beefy spent the last several months of her long life without the use of her rear legs, but that didn't hamper her enjoyment of life one bit. Beefy, like Auntie Mame, lived, lived, lived! And we loved her so very much.
Gracie was a cantankerous grande dame of the rat room. She bossed around everyone she met - rat, cat, dog or human. And we loved her for it. I'm sure Gracie is giving the angels hell right now for not having her cloud properly fluffed or the exact right kind of heavenly lab blocks to chew on.
Sweet Kiz was fated to be our little masked lover man. He was the gentlest of souls and was much loved by humans and ratties alike. Kiz was an angel here on earth so I expect he'll adjust quite easily to his new wings.
Dear, dear Raf was truly a rat of my heart. He was a great solace to me when my beloved Keoki passed away in November of 2002 and was a fabulous office rat who kept my futon sofa warm for me. Rafiki means "friend" in Swahili and Raffles fully embodied his name. He was my companion and I adored him.
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 1
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 3