It's just another Dead Rat. What does it matter?

Monte just died.

caseopaya and I took him him out this morning to get some sun and fresh air. He hadn't been well, losing control of a hind paw, and going almost completely blind.

On returning home, he was most insistent that I hold him, high on my chest, resting his head on my shoulder. He didn't want to go anywhere else or want anything else. So for the better part of the past hour I was holding him, closely, listening to his strained breathing.

Suddenly, he coughed up blood and started breathing in coughing fits. This lasted a couple of minutes. The tough ol' rat, he wasn't going to go quietly into the dark, he would rage against the fading of the light. I had to tell him to let it go.

Then he died.

I'm going to miss the ol' fella.