When a rat dies
I have a bit of a morbid question for you, but it’s regarding an issue I never see mentioned on rat info websites, so I do hope you can help me. I was wondering what you should do when a pet rat dies: whether you should allow the cage mates some time alone with the body, or whether it should be removed straight away. When my first pet died, she was in my arms and out of the cage. I didn’t know what to do for best so packed her away immediately. However, I got the impression that her cage mate just didn’t know what had gone on and was a bit frantic when her sister disappeared. I feel as though I should have allowed her to see the body, but I’m not sure if this would cause distress. What do YOU do in this situation?
This is actually a REALLY good question. Thank you so much for bringing it up!! I think it is important. In my experience, rats cope a lot better when they can see the body. I’ve had several sets of siblings. With two sets (Pitter & Patter and Lukass & Rizzo), I had to put one of the rats to sleep and I didn’t put the body back in the cage. It seemed as if the remaining sibling was looking around the cage for its mate. Eventually, he or she would come to terms with the fact that the mate wasn’t going to come back, but it was kind of a long process. On the other hand, I had another rat die in the cage unexpectedly. It seemed to me that when Piglet died, Roxy (her cagemate) understood what had happened.
Based on these experiences, I think it’s better if cagemates can see the deceased rat’s body, so they understand that their friend has passed away. If I were to take a rat to get euthanized again, I would put the body back in the cage so the other cagemates could examine it. It might be difficult for me, but I think it would really help the surviving rat(s). Thanks for asking this. It is a little morbid, but it’s a fact of life.
on August 7th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
I had two sets of sisters together and Aero (one of the older sisters) died suddenly the two days ago while we were at work. When my fiance was came home and found her the other three (including her sister) were disposing of her (sorry, I can’t bare to actually say it) the best way a rat knows how. It was horrifying for me and very sad, but I know it is animal nature. It’s just very hard to think of my poor girl being treated this way by her cage mates. Has anyone else experienced this?
on October 13th, 2006 at 10:48 am
I used to have 2 rats, called Pepsi and Tango, both about a year and 3 months old. Tango developed severe pnaumonia in August and I’ve been trying to keep her going ever since. They haven’t been in the same cage because I was giving Tango antibiotics, but they still saw each other when they came out. Tango died on Monday. Pepsi hasn’t seen the body, as they werent in the same cage, but I think she understands what’s happened because she was in the same room. She’s acting like she’s depressed, not gripping my shoulder properly etc. and she keeps sort of crying in her sleep. There’s also what looks like blood on her bedding and round her nose. I know they often get this when overexcited, but is it just because she’s distressed or might she have pneumonia too? Do rats actually cry?
on April 18th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Sarah, I believe it is possible for rats to get depressed, and lonely. I had a pair of beautiful berkshire minks - Fiskas and Onion. We lost poor Fiskas mid last year after fighting through a kidney disorder, two strokes and pneumonia. (She wouldn’t let any of it get her down!)
Onion went with us when we had to have Fiskas put to sleep at the end, and I will always remember her reaction on “viewing” the body - she sniffed at her sister, nudged her with her nose, then went and curled up in Fiskas’ nesting box.
She went rapidly down into a depressive cycle after that. She lost a lot of weight, refused to groom herself, and spent a lot of time just curled up next to me. I would go as far as saying it was actively killing her.
We got a pair of chocolate and cream hoods late last year, and even though they were in quarantine, as soon as they were in the house, Onion knew. She perked up, started grooming herself and eating everything in sight, and was incredibly eager to get out of the cage and had to be dissuaded on more than one occasion from trying to get into the other half of the house where the babies were situated. After the quarantine period was over, the introductions went insanely well - well enough that within a week they were sharing a cage. They still are, and Onion is a royal whiskering bruxer with her two compatriots
on November 5th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
i use to have 16 rats (lil friggers wouldnt use condoms), but when one of the old ones die, they bury their own dead. i remember coming home from work and there was a huge mound in the corner of the cage. i reached in and Whiskey (mom rat) was in there. then a year later, another passed away and the same thing happened. i think it’s best to keep the body there so they can immediatley understand what happened to mom or their buddy. but, some rats (out of respect) will chew the side of their companion, so please if you see this coming, try to stop it….my friend went through that, and it was a mess. (the respect thing came out of a book…cant remember the name though)
on November 12th, 2007 at 12:19 am
My friend had to rats, I had one and they shared a cage, my friends rats are called lucky and nibbler, my rat was called Holly. One day my sister let my rat out and she ranaway, I was soooooooooo depressed,sad and angry. I couldn’t cope, we tried to find her but we didn’t, lucky and nibbler her cage mates were very stressed, they didn’t know what had happened, they sat in the corner together and looked so sad. It killed my friend and I to see only to rats instead of one. Eventually after a week, lucky and nibbler started playing more, and then I got a new rat, Petal, and she has made lucky and nibbler very happy.
From Erin
on November 27th, 2007 at 11:48 am
today my rat mischief died i am sooo upset its tearing me appart . he was hanging upside down in his cage with blood dripping down from his nose. there was plenty of food/water. i just cant understand and the worst part in 2 weeks was his(and his bros) birthday what shal i do shall i get a new rat to be his companion and if so how do i quarantine a rat pl
s tell me its tearing me up inside he was my best friend 1 year old in 2 weeks booo hooo
on February 6th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Excessive Exercise and Eating Disorders…
In our society, the perceived perfect image of women falls right in line with the slenderness of girls 10 to 12 years old. This unrealistic perception spawned by the supermodels seen today in ads for popular clothing and undergarment makers such as Vic…
on March 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
To Robyn: I have had the same experience twice! First with a pair of little mice…when one died, the other nibbled on it. And again, with our gerbils…the one passed away and within the hour (I was out) the other one started doing the same thing. I don’t know WHY they do this, but it was very disturbing to me. I say to take them out of the cage right away, just so you don’t have to witness this among your pets.
on April 25th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Homer and Monkey had been visiting the vets for 6wks to have treatment on skin problems and were starting to get all fluffy again but Homer had also developed abscesses on front of both ears…
I had to let my baby Homer go yesterday,although he had been acting normal,eating,drinking and generally being cheeky JipRat,he was at the vets this time going under anesthetic so they could be cleaned out properly,the vet discovered that one had gone through to his ear canal(more than likely to happen on other side as well) and that it would be kinder if we let him go to sleep……My poor little baby,the thought that he was in ANY kind of pain kills me !!!!!!!!
I brought Homer home so Monkey could say goodbye,Monkey did come over and sniff the body,sat on it for a second before going and curling up under their blanket on my chair,when offered treats he’s taken them and he ate all his food last night but i will be keeping an eye out for any change in his behaviour !!!
R.I.P
Homer AKA HomeyHomes.
01-06-06 - 24-04-08
Much loved by Monkey,Ryn n Jay xxx
on April 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Today our rat, Remy died. We have (had
) two of them, Remy and Emile. I took them in this morning to be neutered. I received a call saying they went through the surgery well and were ready to be picked up in a couple hours, but then, I got there a few hours later and Doc said Remy had passed with a heart attack. ( WTF?!??!??!?!??) We’re (me and my partner) both very, very sad. Im angry and of course feel guilty for the neutering. Boooo.
Thanks to the above however, I think getting another friend (or brother) for our little survivor might be a good idea. Blessings to all.
on July 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I currently have three girls that I love to death, but this isn’t about them. Two days ago, I discovered a wild baby rat in my garage. He was still alive, even though his eyes were still closed (2 weeks old by my estimate). I took him in, gave him a warm box to sleep in, and nursed him with baby formula and cared for him for the last two days. He seemed to be doing well, but this morning he left me unexpectedly. I know I’ve only had him for two days, but I can’t seem to get over him (he was so small). I feel that it’s my fault for his passing even though I know he wouldn’t have survived for the two days that he did without me. I’ve been spending lots of time with my girls, but every couple of hours I start of thinking about him and break down. Hopefully sharing this will help but I don’t think so.