Because I didn’t have the guts to do this earlier, and then I didn’t have the Internet for a couple weeks, this is long overdue.
Rest in peace, Neville Avocado Reptar.
Earlier this month I lost my first rat, and the cage still looks incomplete without him. That day was supposed to be a really good day, but it was hard to enjoy a concert when I knew he wouldn’t be sleeping in his hammock when I got home that night.
When I went to get him from the pet store (I know, not good), he escaped our hands and was lose in the store for a few days, and in that time ate at least one parakeet. By the time an employee had caught him, they just wanted him out so he wouldn’t eat more merchandise (totally understandable), and I went to go pick him up. At first, I was afraid to pick him up because he was really skittish, but with Rachel’s help, I managed to start to handle him comfortably, for both of us.
In time he grew more comfortable with being handled and touched, and soon that’s all he wanted to do. He loved playtime on the bed. He’d always burry himself in the blankets and nap, not caring when the other boys walked all over him. He was just happy to be hanging out.
His favorite part of the cage was the hammock. He was rarely found anywhere else. If I didn’t replace the hammock when I cleaned the cage he would have a little rat panic attack until I put one back in. Literally, he’d be running all around, breathing really fast, and wouldn’t calm down, but once the hammock was back in he’d lay down and brux.
He boggled more than any of my other boys. You could stand in front of the cage, not saying anything, and he would just sit there and brux. He absolutely adored people, but not more than he loved his brother rat, Cael.
They were the snuggliest brothers and were always together, whether it be sleeping, eating, or drinking. I got Cael only a couple weeks after Neville, so they grew up together and grew inseparable. Cael’s been sleeping in the hammock a lot since Neville’s passing, and I can tell he really misses him which is heart breaking.
He was such a good first rat, and as much as I miss him, I know he’s not in pain anymore. And he has all Aunty Rachel’s rats to play with, so he’s not alone.
I love you so much baby boy. I’ll always miss you.
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