Peppee mouse

Peppee mouse wanted to be alone, but I told him it would be better if I stayed with him. So we sat together as I gently pet him and whispered to him that it was all right, holding him to the moment of his last breath. As I had mentioned in the last post about Peppee mouse it was as if overnight he had become a little old man mouse. During the day on Sunday it looked like Peppee mouse was rallying, eager to accept the offered PediaSure and acting playful like a young mouse. But come Sunday evening Peppee mouse decided it was time.

Ethel Mouse

Sweet old lady Ethel mouse passed as I held her. Ethel mouse had been in decline and when she was no longer interested in her wheel I knew the end was near. Two weeks ago I found her in some sort of respiratory distress, blood appearing to be coming out of her nose and mouth. I held her, expecting her to die that morning, but her breathing improved and she even became mildly pissy with me for holding her so long ("I have to go NOW.") Since then Ethel mouse appeared to make a come-back, but the signs were still pointing towards her decline. The morning I found her once again in distress, struggling, and she stumbled around in the cage, trying to run away from what was tormenting her. I picked Ethel mouse up and cuddled her to the end.

Ethel Mouse was one of many of what I called "the little brown mouse" type mouses, who was always feisty and independent, but could be quite the loving little mouse when the mood was right. Her friend Abigale mouse noticed right away Ethel mouse was gone and searched for her. Abigale mouse was always a caretaker mouse, minding her little girl Lizzy mouse and then Ethel mouse. Abigale mouse was cuddled for a long time and she eventually went to the nest she shared with Ethel mouse and slept with her head sticking out as if she were waiting for Ethel mouse's return...

Over the Rainbow

[I just found out about this video due to a comment on this blog by the Fluffy Tribe]

An amazing video from Vermin Realm, in honor of their special friend Riff. It includes many ratties who were well-loved by many, including our beloved Boober...

Amelia rat

Amelia rat was a strong and persistent little old lady rat from the day she arrived to the evening she left us. As she sat in my arms she struggled, fighting to her lost moment with such dignity and grace, her soft, loving pink eyes looking up at me while I snuggled and scratched her.

I found Amelia rat's tumor shortly before her nieces were born and fretted about what should be done, considering her age and temperament. Amelia was fragile but persistent when she wanted something, pushing her way out in front of the younger ratty girls and letting her intentions be known. Nothing could stop her from her navigating the house and play area. We would sit together in evenings, Amelia bruxing and boggling in my lap or against my forearm. Eventually she would start to fuss, her way of telling me she had enough and wanted to go back to her house. Amelia's nieces Drinky and Gabby and sister Isis took care of her. Gabby rat insistented to being her snuggle buddy while her newly adopted sister Elle rat would share the plush new hammock with her. Amelia rat could diffently hold her own.

A Patriarch Passes

The day after we introduced Chaucer to his boys, he declined rapidly; we think it was a stroke. Christopher nursed him all yesterday, his healing hands worked magic massaging Chaucer's tired broken body, fed him Pediasure by dropper, and made sure he was warm and loved.

Last night he was put to bed, I checked on him around 2am and he was still with us. But this morning Chris came into the bedroom with Chaucer cradled in his arms, in a towel, "...He's gone."

Chaucer would have been 2 years old this coming January. He came from a line bred for longevity. Mother nature fooled us again.

R.I.P., beloved Patriarch.

Cat plays furry grim reaper at nursing home

Oscar has predicted 25 deaths by curling up next to patients in their final hours