in memory of Noah...

[ratcreature]

Noah
28.9.2009 - 21.11.2011

Noah was euthanized this afternoon. I held him in my arms as he got the injection and petted and cuddled him to the end. Much of the weekend I offered him his favorite foods, because the extra tasty special treats were the only stuff he was still eating (he still lost another 13g from Friday to today though). So he got cooked egg, cream of wheat pudding, whipped cream, small pieces of chocolate with hazelnuts... and I tried to cuddle a bit with him too, but he was always anxious to get back into the cage and just wanted to hide in his favorite spots.

Noah had lived with me since he was five weeks old, and he was a great companion and sweet natured dumbo rat with a gorgeous and very soft Russian blue coat. He'd come if I called for him, of course especially for food, but also for belly scritches and getting petted. Whenever I came to the cage he'd come forward to greet me too.

Of the three rats I got together last time Noah was the shyest one at first, so I didn't get good pictures of his earliest days with me, because he was camping out in a tube


However he very soon got bolder. This is him on the left, still tiny, with his brother Leo, who early on was more adventurous:








He liked their climbing tree and also liked shoving his nose at the camera (I have lots of blurry shots of his muzzle):


He got along well with Linus and Leo most of the time


and loved snuggling with his brother in various hammocks in particular


Sometimes they scuffled of course, and Noah usually was the one to loose. Then you could see him playing dead, submissive rat for some moments like so


He was less convinced than Leo of the merits of fresh strawberry (however he liked cheese more)


and of course loved cooked rice (which is why the plate is empty)


he liked rice waffle too




This is a photo I just took this morning, where you can see how thin he had become, how his coat lost some of its beautiful shine:


However I don't want to remember him sick like that, so here is my favorite one of him, showing him as he enjoys getting a belly rub from me:

Comments

[kass]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[ratcreature]

Thanks.

[gwyn]

I'm so sorry. He looks like such a sweet little guy!

[ratcreature]

He was a very sweet rat, friendly and affectionate. I just hope Leo won't take it too hard. I mean, he's been holding on despite his pneumonia for many months now because he's a fighter and has such a strong will to live, but now he doesn't have his brother anymore.

[thefourthvine]

I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[rheanna]

That last photo especially is lovely; he looks so content. What a nice way to remember him.

[ratcreature]

Yes, it was good to look at that again, after seeing him so miserable the last days, but also a good way to remind myself of the stark contrast, and how bad he was feeling in comparison. No matter what with euthanasia I always feel this niggling doubt that maybe I could have waited longer, but even if he maybe he could have held on a few more days, he was feeling very badly.

[busaikko]

((hugs you very hard))

I am so sorry for your loss. He looks so loving and sweet in the pictures.

[ratcreature]

He really was like that. Even the vets commented how friendly he was, and he did not like going there. *hugs back*

[bayleaf]

He looks like such a sweet guy! And clearly, from the photo essay, he had a great life with you. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[ratcreature]

Thank you. I'm happy for the time I had with him. He was a good rat.

[less_star]

Aw, that's sad, honey! He's so cute in the pic where he's getting his belly rubbed!

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[bluemeridian]

Oh that last picture is very adorable. *hugs and sniffles* You have sympathies. :(

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[astridv]

I'm sorry. He was a pretty one. Very cute, too. He looks so content in the one where you rub his belly.

[ratcreature]

Thank you. I hope he was as happy as possible. (I mean, he probably would not have minded a female rat harem...)

[lilacsigil]

He looks so happy! I'm glad he had a good life with you.

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[lampadiglobus]

I'm sorry to hear about Noah. Rats are such fragile creatures.

[ratcreature]

Thanks. I guess they rely mostly on their high reproductive rate rather than individual resilience and long life but that doesn't help at all when you're attached to a specific rat.

may you have a happy thanksgiving in his memory

[kay_mulan]

i am randomly going thru nia's dw-mutuallysubscribed at the mo. but i have two babies (cockatiels) of my own, i feel for you. i hope noah is having loads of bunches of happy times in rat-heaven. :(``

Re: may you have a happy thanksgiving in his memory

[ratcreature]

Thanks.

[sholio]

*hugs* He seems like a really sweet boy; I'm so sorry.

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[tazlet.livejournal.com]

He was a beautiful rat; I'm sorry for your loss.

[ratcreature]

Thank you. He really was very pretty, and so good natured too.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

{{{hugs}}}

[ratcreature]

*hugs back*

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

For such tiny creatures they have a huge impact on our lives. And what a wonderful, love-filled life he had. He was a gorgeous boy. I'm so sorry he's gone, but I'm so glad he had you.

[ratcreature]

Thank you. Rats are easy to love.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. What a little sweetie!

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[hsavinien.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[ratcreature]

Thanks.

[metaphortunate.livejournal.com]

Oh what a sweet little guy. I am so sorry.

[ratcreature]

Thank you.

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

[[[[[[hugs]]]]]

[ratcreature]

*hugs back*