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.
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?
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?
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
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)
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Thanks for sharing your story, Meagann. I, too, lost a rat just after neutering, but to hemorrhage rather than heart attack. I felt guilty and angry too. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
My young female rat had 9 babies and over a matter of 3 weeks all the babys died.Does anybody know why,I cant find an answer?????
I agree, it helps to bring closure in some way to the animals, with their senses I’m sure they can smell the chemical change, and see the “life force” is no longer with the other animal… I really believe it’s essential, tho almost heartbreaking, to allow companions of any species be it dog, rat, cat, or human to view and expierence the body of their dead friend to “get” what’s happened and not just be lost in the mysterious process.
I have found that it is better for guinea pigs and rats alike to have closure, when they like us are able to say goodbye it helps them emotionally to move on and accept what happened.
I”m a new rat lover, my daughter got ouur first blue rat 2wks ago, but unfortunately we got a playmate for her after 7 days, put them together in a New cage to get friendly, everything was good until today 5 days later the new one died (?) my husband felt so bad he went an got a another one also a blue from pet supplies plus, she seems very shy, any suggustions on warmin her up? its only day 1 should i just wait an see? how long? do i cut thier nails or shoud the vet?
rats will eat the dead as a deffence mechanism
in the wild the smell of a rotting body would attract predotors to their den
i’d advise that you let them see the body but not leave it in their cage un attended
In a similar situation to Robyn i found yesterday when i woke up in the morning that one of my rats had died (Frankiee) and my other had started to eat her face(Gee). I was very shocked and upset and but i also understand the reasons etc but i have no idea what to do next. Gee seems quite down and lonely already and she was crying in her sleep last night. i want to introduce another rat, but im scared that the same thing will happen again and is it safe to indroduce more than one rat to my remaning one? im lost at the minuite but i just want the best for Gee,i would be very grateful for any advice x
Last January, my first rat Fuzzy, a hairless dumbo, died at just over three years old. Her best bud, Shay, was in the cage when she died, and I came home from work at Shay came right out to me, as they always come to greet me at the door of the cage, and Fuzzy didn’t come out. She was curled up in their house, but Shay hadn’t touched her or tried to eat her or anything. I carried Shay around the rest of the night to comfort her, but she was still frantic for a long time after that, searching the cage especially at night and trying to find Fuzzy everywhere.
I decided she needed company, and got two more black hooded girls - Bella and Scribbles. She wanted them in the cage, so after the quarantine period I put them in, but then they fought alot, and I was afraid because Shay was old that they’d hurt her (even though now I realize she’s the boss, even though Fuzzy was the boss when she was alive), so I put the new girls in a cage right next to her, so she could have company but not be bothered. Finally, a four story cage was the perfect solution. Now, Shay is getting really old (almost 4) and at a stage where I think she may not last much longer, and you should see the way the other two take care of her! They bring her food into the house and clean her and everything… I’m so going to miss Shay!
Thanks for having this post. My rat Doppler turned 2 a couple of months ago, and over the past 4-5 weeks, it’s been like her warranty had just expired. Her spine started to degrade about then and her back legs have gradually stopped working. I had started getting her out for a few minutes before her cage-mates at night so I could feed her a little extra since she wasn’t able to compete for lab pellets as well. Her little eyes and nose seemed to be going too, she would nibble about 3 fingers before managing to find the pellet I was holding. She was still grooming herself and trying to get into trouble, so I figured she wasn’t too bothered, although she was a little worse every day.
I left my rats with the sitter for 4 days, during which time the sitter sent me a couple of text messages saying that Doppler wasn’t looking so good and they were giving her softer food and soaking bread to get her moisture, but I thought the sitter was just talking about the paralysis. She was in bad shape when I picked her up. She was hardly moving and was chewing on her little hand until it bled. Her back legs weren’t working much at all, and her little toes were bloody - I’m still not sure how she managed that. She would bite you hard if you tried to move her, but wouldn’t move from where you set her.
I brought her home and left her with her cage-mates Tilly and Macchiato (Doppler’s daughter). She would eat mashed potatoes and soaked bread, but couldn’t chew a pellet. Last night, she started refusing food and wouldn’t move at all. She felt cold and her breathing was very shallow. I knew it was her time and I think the other two did too. They would come over and sniff her a little bit, but otherwise left her alone. I put them in a different cage overnight so that I could leave her special food near her without them stealing it. Also, I didn’t want to deal with a partially eaten dead rat on Christmas morning - I’m glad this blog addressed that. Tilly and Macchiato seem ok by themselves so far.
Hello, well I have a question, I had two female rats (sisters) sometimes they shared a cage and sometimes they would have to be seperated due to them fighting. But lastnight I put them in the same cage….filled up there water and food and i found them today both dead lying beside each other. they have no visible marks or blood on them…what do you think happened? I thought either poison which I cannot see happening because they have nothing to get into. or they ran themselves to death playing. is that possible. well thanks K girl
Hi. I’m having a bit of trouble. A few months ago My rat, Bonnie, lost her sister, Badger, and began to dispose of the body. Since Badger’s death Bonnie has been very weird and she is acting in really abnormal ways compared to how she used to act. The thing is, she’s gotten really violent and I’m really scared to open the cage and put my hand near her so she can even smell me to let her know it’s me. I don’t know what to do, I want to handle her again but I don’t know if itis a good idea? Help me
I swore that I wasn’t going to get another rat especially after my last remaining one got a tumor. I was wandering through a local pet store in NY and saw a cage with 3 males rats but no price on their cage. I inquired as to why they were like that and was told that a lady had left town, gave them to the pet store to sell, but stipulated that they not be sold as food.
I could see that they were well socialized, but didn’t wish to take on 3 new pets. They basically gave one to me, trusting that I would take care of him–even if it meant breaking up the trio. Well, a day or two passed and I went and got the other two. The three boyz were back together and were, well, quite happy
.
Carlos died about a year later for whatever reason, collapsing while going on his nightly run. The others didn’t miss him too much, or so I surmised. The Carlos had been the alpha male, and the two remaining ones had quite different personalities, with one, Edgar, being most decidedly at the bottom of the pecking order–very docile as well. Franklin, the middle one, was, in a word, wild. He was very much like a female rat in this regard as he would simply never sit still.
Anyway, about a year had passed since the death of the first rat, Carlos. I went to the cage to let them out for the evening to find the really docile one, Edgar, dead. He had become my favorite of the three and I was quite sad. The weird thing was that I had to work many hours for the next few days, not having much opportunity to spend with the remaining rat, Franklin, as far as giving him a lot of time to roam. I would come home, check his food and water, then go to bed.
At the end of this little run with work, about 5 days, I went to the cage to find Franklin dead. It wasn’t a coincidence–he had lost his last remaining friend and had nothing to live for.
They are living, breathing creatures and they know.
my rat is dieing right now she is about 2and a half years old she gone blind couse she cant see were she is she can only smell things
it hard for mr cuse i love my rat can any body help me and tell me what to do couse i am scared of what to do i cant face her dieing
what should i do take her to the the vets or let her die in her cage?
please tell me i need help
my rat i called her ratty (couldnt think of a good name lol)well she is about 2 and a half years old and she is dieing and i cant face it. it relly hard couse i love that rat and i dont want her to go.
what should do
should i take her to the vets and ask her
or shall i let her die in her cage but if i do my 3 year old brother might find her and i dont want that to happen
what shall i do
My little guy just died this morning. He was about 2 years old. He had been suffering some resp issues, as alot of rats do. I am still pretty emotional, but I have already noticed his little buddy looking around wondering where he is. I’ve had him all night trying to save him, but I think he knows now. I’m wondering if I should get him a new cage mate to keep him from getting depressed. Not sure how my husband would react to me bringing home another rat, since we were both VERY attached to the one that just passed, but I don’t want Jazz to get upset and start getting sick either. Any advice?
I’m so glad to have found this posting. One of my girls, Pixie, died this morning and I found Dobby eating her. It was incredibley devistating to find them like that and I was so upset wondering if I didnt feed them enough or something. I was almost a little angry at the living girl for doing that to her sister. I feel better knowing that it’s natural. Not a pretty sight, though. I still cant get the image out of my head. I miss her a lot already
yer when your rat dies it best if u got a rat in the same cage to leave it until the other rat knows it dead other whys the other rat might try to ecaspe e.g bite to get out of your hand, it u leave him run around then he might try to find a way out.
I have three adult rats and two babies. My adult girls are Snitch and Zipper and My adult male is Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean is the son of Zipper. Zipper had a litter of babies on accident by her son and she only had four babies. I still have two left, both males, Cornflake and Pudge. The other two I gave away to a girl. One was a runt with not much hair. He was healthy so I decided to let him go to a home. Well today I saw the girl who took them and she told me that she came home and the bigger male rat was eating the smaller runt. They are siblings and she thinks it killed the smaller rat. I told her I wasn’t sure but if it was straving it may be possible. But I just don’t know. I have been raising rats for four years and never have seen this happen. Any Answers
ive jus had a phone call from my ex to tell me that my rat had died, hewas only 5 months old so i have no idea what had happened, there w nothin wrong with him she said he was fine in the morning b4 she went to work bu came home to find him layin on the top tier all cuddled up as if he was asleep,the other rat was ontop of the water bottle near it and when my ex put her hand in to get my rat the other one (nugget) went for her and he was never viscious, im absolutly gutted i miss my lil boy he was calld peakaboo bt we called him peaka coz he was nervous when we first got him, any ideas as to why or how he died coz i am absolutly stunned!!
rip peakboo ill always love you
2009-2009
I’m so confused.
My boy,Rico died some time yesterday (he was fine in the morning,by evening we found him lying dead at the front of the cage) and his brother,Nico seems fine?
He’s eating (more than usual,if anything!) and drinking and apart from seeming a little more exited than usual and being a bit wary of us,seems himself?
Is it possible for them to NOT grieve/get on well afterwards?
I have Owned several rats in the past but I currently had 5 rats. All females,: Adults(assumed 3 years or more)Mimu and Minge…And the babied who are assumed to be about 1 and a half years named Stinky, Peanut, and Giffy… For the past month and a half Giffy has had pnuemonia, bronchitis, and mycoplasmosis(they all have). Drastically she lost weight, NEVER ate, barely drank, and couldn’t move, just layed their staring, breathing very hard. In the last 2 weeks, she down spriraled instantly to the point of her mouth gasping open as wide as it can to get a breathe of air. This erratic, loud breathing broke out into panic attacks from not be able to get air and would run frantically around the bed scared shitless….. I’ve never felt so helpless…She would run on me or my bf as we lay on the bed with her..trying to comfort her as she struggled. In the past 3 days…I knew it…It was so bad at this point..She could hardely breath. She weighted nothing. The doctor told me it was a waiting game…and it was…Last night I cam home and layed with her as she struggled and her panic attacks were now as frequent as every 20 mins…for about 10 minutes a peice. She would leap into the air scared… Finally I fell asleep(trying to stay up with her) Then at about 2:45 A.M my bf woke up and said he hadn’t seen giff giff b/c she usually woke him up when she would run frantically over him while sleeping and wake him. He woke me up and I saw him in the corner of the bed looking under the pillow giff giff always went under…She was dead….I’ve never cried so hard in my life..I’ve been so depressed and can’t eat or anything. My rats are my babies, my life. And i cannot bare to do this again… let alone 4 more times… I left her body and took out her 2 other cage mates one by one and put them by the body…He sister Peanut sniffed her for a minute..then after I took the body away she sniffed the area giff giff was laying…She knew…I could tell…Stinky(not sister but still cage mate) quickly sniffed then went away…but she has ear infection which makes her verry hyper active and does not hold still.Should I have put the body in the cage..They are on my bed wayyy more then the cage so I brought the girls to see her dead on the bed…oh my god, i feel soooo giulty for not doing more for my geef geef.It seems i will never get over this….ever….i havn’t slept in 2 days b/c i was upo with her…then when i fall asleep…she passes away……oh my god….my poor baby….
I have (had :() two males. I called them hannity and colmbes, because, I’m into politics and I thought it was funny to name the docile one after a liberal commentator (being a liberal myself). Anyway, about a month a go, Mr. Hannity lost the use of his back legs, I had given them a can of peanuts (almost empty of course), but I stupidly left it in a spot where one could be hurt if they fell on it. He broke his back, but he is still frisky and likes to play and loves getting out of the cage, since he got hurt, I give him a daily bath so he doesn’t get an infection. Last night, I took them both out of the cage one at a time, like always, and they played and ate out of my hand like the always do. When I came home this afternoon, Colmes was dead in the cage, he was curled up in the sleep position, but had been dead since at least sometime last night (he was stiff).
Hannity didn’t start eating the body, or anything like that, he was actually cuddling with it when I came home. I just have no idea why the rat that was in better shape would have just dropped dead?
Now Hannity seems depressed, and since he hasn’t been well, I know it’s only going to be a matter of a few days before he leaves me, too. Any advice?
Stephanie…the one who wrote on Jan.16th/2010.
Why would you let that poor rat go on like that? Ever heard of a vet?
I don’t wanna be mean spirited, but, I read that about your rat and then I re-read it to my girlfriend and we both were appalled that you would let poor poor poor Giffy continue on in such a horrible terrible state until she passed away.
A vet!!?? Did you take her to one? Did she have meds?!
….if you had a child, would you let her suffer like that?!
Like, wow! Giffy, shoulda been to a vet and then medicated and if that wasn’t enough, put the poor creature down so she can be at peace. Which it sounds like the last of her life was anything but.
I would never ever, EVER just let my rat deteriorate to such a state.
Poor Giffy…..not ever close. Tragic is more like it.
I am a rat owner and could never watch my rat go through anything like that….gasping for air….freaking out with panic attacks because of it.
I am getting so upset thinking about what you let your little creature(s) go through.
If you own a rat, dog, any animal…..for crying out loud! Take care of them as you would a new born. And don’t watch something suffer without doing every last thing you can. If you love something, that’s what you do.
I don’t think you should own anything else till you “get” that.
I do apologise for going off, I just read your blurb and my heart goes out to Giffy. Thank her lucky stars she is finally passed away. But too bad it was in such a terrible way.
i had a very traumatic incident last week. one of my 8 week old rats had managed to get under a couch cushion. without knowing it i sat down on her and she was killed. i kept calling her and she would not answer so i went looking for her. i found her smashed down to one inch under the cushion. i was hysterical, crying and hyperventilating. i had to call my mom at 2 in the morning. she managed to calm me down enough to dispose of the body. i was severely traumatized and have not recovered. i can’t eat, i cry on and off during the day when i remember how she looked when i found her. i can hardly give my other rats attention and find it difficult to bond with the new one. please everyone remember that rats are very curious and can squeeze into the smallest places unnoticed. don’t let this happen to you because the quilt and the sorrow you feel is very real and painful.
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Kudra,
I am very sorry to hear that you lost one of your Ratties. The main thing to remember is that you didn’t do this on purpose, how were you to know that she was under the cushion. Just know that it was very quick I know that’s not a lot of help but at least she did not suffer. It sounds like you love your rats very much and I hope that you are doing better.
Meg
Thank you for writing your stories here. I was relived to know that our rat did not kill and eat his brother. My daughter woke up and found one of her young boys(pecos bill) dead and partially eaten. It was very gruesom, I couldn’t understand why his brother would kill and eat him. I now know he must have passed away and his brother was doing what rats do. We will miss our little pecos bill he was only 7 months old. We will have to decide if Huckleberry will get a new friend. He has never been alone
thank you again for explaining this, it makes it easier to deal with.
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