Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Goodbye sweet Eva rat

I found Eva rat this morning sitting in her favorite hammock. Before actually seeing her I could hear that her breathing was labored. I gently took Eva rat out of her hammock and she turned her head up to look at me, her whiskers twitching and I could feel her bruxing...

Eva had been on a graceful decline over the last several months. I suspected she had had a stroke and made various modifications to her cage to give her comfort and ease of movement. She made some recovery but was not quite the same. However, during our remaining time Eva rat had became more and more loving and affectionate, bruxing and boggling on demand and kneading my hands with her front paws while we sat together. Every time I made kissy-faces with Eva rat she would lift her head up and press her cheek against mine while bruxing loudly. And even though she obviously lacked strength Eva rat would try to climb up on to my shoulders or go exploring.

This morning I wrapped her in a towel and held her, and I talked softly to her. Eva rat slipped away and her soft little body relaxed in my hands. I sat with her for a little longer and then prepared her for the journey. Eva's 27 months of life most have been wonderful for her to have been such a loving little old lady rat.

When I went to check Regina rat she was already in her hammock, looking off into the distance with her big, sad eyes.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry. Hugs to you all, especially Regina.

Sham said...

God bless little girl xxx

Rattie said...

So sorry to hear about Eva...RIP little lady.

christopher said...

Regina rat missed her sisters. Everytime I take Regina rat out to play and socialize she interact for awhile and then stop, rear up on her hind feet and start sniffing around for her sisters.

Anonymous said...

Leif and I are sad to hear that Eva has passed on. She was a wonderful rat and we loved her. We want to thank you both for caring for her in her last months. We know you gave her a wonderful and loving home and she was a lucky girl to have such loving sisters are caregivers!!

christopher said...

I could tell Eva's mommy and daddy Paloma and Leif loved her as Eva was a very loving rat. Everytime I made kissy-face or nibbled on Eva's ears she would brux and boggle and she loved to snuggle.

TFLS said...

I'm so sorry, my dear. She was such a sweet girl. I remember when you got her.