rodentia

I have so much to catch up on...

But first I just wanted to say that my beloved pet dumbo rat, Gryphon, passed away today. He was quite an old gent, and I had been expecting it for a couple of weeks. In fact, when I realized he was getting old a few months ago, I cried in advance just knowing he was going to leave. Luckily he died of old age.

I had Gryphon for two years. He was already eight months old (an adult rat) when I adopted him from a lovely friend of the family. When he was younger he was an energetic frat boy kind of rat, who would throw things out of his cage and was always excited. Even in his old age he was enthusiastic and curious.

I am lucky to have had him, he was one of the best and most social and sweet rats I've had. He's the only rat I've ever had who boggled his eyes at me, which (although I know it sounds really weird) is a sign of great contentment and affection. As he didn't have a cage-mate, I spent a lot of time tickling him and letting him wrestle with my hand.

In the past two months, another set of adopted rats I've had for about a year, Pollux and Aldebaran, also both passed, and also of old age. I wasn't nearly as bonded to them as Gryphon, but in the space of just these two months, all three of my rattie boys have gone. I just wanted to post about how great they all were... but I shall especially miss my buddy Gryphon.