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

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.

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Sorry to hear it :-( Sounds like he got a lot of love, at least.

Poor Monte.

*hugs* for you & the lovely lady.

All my sympathy.

I'm glad you were there for him when he died. A recurrent nightmare at the moment for me is coming home from work to discover my elderly cat died alone while I was out.

Thank you for you kind words. Monte certainly wanted me to be there. I was fortunate that I'd decided to take the day off. I hope you can be there for your old cat, lovely critters that they are.

Aw, poor old guy. At least he went the way he wanted to, with you to be there.

Hugs to you both - poor old Monte. He was a sweetie - I'm sure he appreciated the lovely pampered life he had with you.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that.

Sound as though he lived a comfy and well-loved life, though.

Monte, my old friend, you will be missed even though I've only had the privileged of meeting you once!

I'm sorry, darlin. It's an occupational hazard of being a rat slave though. We have to say goodbye to them muchly too soon.

But think of it this way.

People who own dogs can't have 10 dogs at one time. We could have 10 rats.
So in the course of our lifetime, we get to know SO MANY different rats who touch us and teach us in many ways. How boring would it be to be stuck with the same old personalities day in day out for 15 years? Please. heh.

Anyhow.. I'm sorry.. I probably wasn't much help.

Assuming I live for another thirty or so years, and I have two rats every three years, that's another twenty rats personalities I can be introduced to... Quite a few!

It is grossly unfair that such intelligent creatures have such short lives.

(OT: And Joh Bjelke-Petersen lived on and on and on...)

My condolences to the two of you, especially

caseopaya

Yeah, she takes the loss pretty hard :/

It matters.

I'm so sorry.

The poor little things aren't really built for long lifespans.

Sounds like he wanted his last moments to be with someone he trusted and felt safe with, at a time when he felt his most vulnerable.

He might be another dead rat. But he was a rat who cared about you and you cared about. Nothing "just" or inconsequential in that.

Sounds like he wanted his last moments to be with someone he trusted and felt safe with, at a time when he felt his most vulnerable.

It seems so. In many ways it was such a great honour to be the recipient of his insistence.

He 'knew' it was time and wanted to be close. I'm sorry.

*Hugs* to you both.

So sorry to hear that! We still haven't gotten copies to you of the pictures of them at our wedding - must find the right files!

That would be lovely if you could find the pictures.

My sympathies.

*random hug alternative*

You obituary makes him sound like an old, but not beat, cowboy... I'm going to be visualising rats in stetsons and sixguns all day now, and it will be your fault.

For what it's worth, the cute little fella will be missed.

Thanks Loki, that made me smile. Monte had a bit of a Neil Young attitude I think. Better to burn out than to rust.

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lokicarbis.livejournal.com - 2005-05-19 04:28 (UTC) - Expand

Rats can be as affectionate as any other pet, but their lifespans are always so short...

*Sympathies*

That would be tuff to take i am not sure how i would handle one of the kittyboys passing away. It was good that you were able to comfort him and also say goodbye to your obviously much loved companion. My symapthies.

sorry to hear it. know how it feels too. when i get back to oz chances are ill have to get my cat put down ( skin cancer )

moo. sucks when pets die.

( ooh im chock-full of eloquence this morning *cough )

when i get back to oz chances are ill have to get my cat put down ( skin cancer )

Ouch. That sucks. But it all depends of quality of life, and dignity - and, of course, in the case of humans, their express will.

It's hard making that choice for pets.

Oh, that's so sad to hear. Hopefully off in ratty heaven playing with Harle. If only I wasn't a humanist and i could truly believe it.

All things must come to an end, so new things can start.

Even as a humanist you can hope it and appreciate the idea for its aesthetic qualities.

Funny thing was several minutes before he died he climbed on to my knee (with assistance) to seemingly stare/sniff at something else in the room.

Terry Pratchet would appreciate that. SQUEAK!

I'm very sorry to hear about Monte's demise. It sounds like you loved him very much, and vice versa.

I'm going to miss him too. I wish I could have been there.

At least you were there for him while he raged "against the dying of the light".

Thanks for posting the picture of him.

I'm so so sorry to hear this.
My thoughts are with the both of you.

No matter how long they are with us. it's never long enough.
*hugs*

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tcpip.livejournal.com - 2005-05-19 04:31 (UTC) - Expand

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caseopaya.livejournal.com - 2005-05-19 04:38 (UTC) - Expand

:(
Sympathies to you.

gosh i'm sorry to hera about it... :( poor ol' rat. :(

Sorry to hear that mate, real bummer when a pet dies...

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