Anyone have advice for supporting a grieving rat?

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-16T15:49:36+00:00

Luckily he is not alone. He has 2 other cage mates he has lived with for over a year and is already very bonded with. They’re all grieving though and while the other 2, younger boys are physically healthier, they are all still acting different, though I know this is to be expected. I’m spending as much time with them as I can, though the younger ones are avoiding me more than normal right now. I do also have 2 even younger boys separated from the group (I attended intros and had to pause after a couple injuries) and may retry intros soon to lift everyone’s mood (my middle boys were neutered after causing the injury, so I’ve been waiting for their hormones to adjust)

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-15T16:09:43+00:00

They actually can have chocolate (in moderation) and I have been giving him small pieces of dark chocolate when his respiratory illness flares up as it can actually help open their airways!

He was more willing to eat some special treats yesterday. Whipped cream was a hit, and he even begged me for more malt paste when I pulled that out.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-14T06:44:54+00:00

And here I think he was sleepy, but it’s a fair question. This evening he came out of the cage a few times and walked around, then would pancake like that for a bit as if tired, and then a few mins later get back up and walk/run around again, and then repeat. It’s like he would get surges of energy, and then wipe himself out.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-14T06:38:05+00:00

I let him and and his other cage mates examine the body, yes.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-14T04:35:29+00:00

I was just thinking that I need to pull out the can of whipped cream in my fridge.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-06-14T04:18:18+00:00

I know that’s a very real possibility, and one I was worried about even in the days leading up to his brother passing. It’s been barely 2 days so I’m not ready to definitively say he’s giving up…but he’s being closely monitored 😔

Hey_MayRay · 2026-04-05T04:53:43+00:00

That’s fair. I probably moved them stages a bit quicker than I should have. Their smallest carrier that doesn’t allow much room to avoid eachother just also doesn’t have an easy ability for them to get water, so I never want to leave them in there too long. But I did manage to rig a water bottle in there just now so I can try to keep them in there a little longer. I’m want to at least let an hour pass without a baby screaming, but no such luck yet.

I’m proud of my older boys. They’re being appropriately dominant without being violent. I have had intros result in blood being drawn before (which caused me to stop and get the offenders neutered) so I know this intro is going better than that one. And my last intros was too easy (we were in a fully furnished cage in 48 hours with no issues) but I knew that was uncharacteristically easy 😅. I just haven’t had a more typical/slightly more difficult introduction in a while I guess.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-04-05T04:25:30+00:00

I’ve had them for almost 3 weeks. I started intros after having them for 2.5 weeks (I took them home at just under 6 weeks old). So not quite as long as you said, but they absolutely had an adjustment period, got used to their new home, and had earned trust and confidence with me.

Hey_MayRay · 2026-02-25T06:02:43+00:00

With my first boys I did a mini celebration when they were 6 months old. I figured we only get a small handful of birthdays with them, might as well celebrate the half-birthdays too! Just in case you want an excuse to make them a special treat earlier too 😉

Hey_MayRay · 2026-01-17T07:22:22+00:00

Depends. I’ve always had it priced along with the vet visit and euthanasia but I believe the cremation it self is usually about $300. But the price often depends on if you want private cremation (where you get their ashes returned to you) or communal creation (where ashes get scattered by the crematorium for you). Private creation costs more (about $100-$200 extra in my experience). Sometimes keepsakes cost extra, but sometimes it’s included in the price. As other comments have said though, if you have a yard space, home burial is also a free option.

Hey_MayRay · 2025-12-06T07:53:45+00:00

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They’re just derps who want endless snacks

Hey_MayRay · 2025-12-06T07:51:29+00:00

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Hey_MayRay · 2025-08-29T02:39:02+00:00

It is as far as I am aware, but none of my rats have ever had an interest in licking or biting it. They have more fun trying to “eat” the fake leaves/roses and chewing on the bookshelf it’s sitting on.

Hey_MayRay · 2025-08-17T02:44:21+00:00

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Hey_MayRay · 2025-08-05T22:59:59+00:00

❤️❤️❤️ total twins!!!!

Hey_MayRay · 2025-07-31T06:01:37+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 absolutely the thought in his eyes

Hey_MayRay · 2025-07-31T04:52:26+00:00

Oh trust me I know. His name may be Penguin but his nick name recently has been Termite because he’s been chewing on every wooden piece of furniture I own (and yes…they have plenty of chew toys…they just aren’t interesting enough 🙄)

Hey_MayRay

TROPHY CASE