Maggie and Gytha

 

On Sunday we returned home from a wonderful weekend away in Chester. When we got home and the girls saw us Gytha slinked out of their bed and came to the bars – which was incredibly strange for her. Never one for cuddles, she was always a bright spark and on the move. Petting her she felt cold, so I scooped her up and cuddled her in to my jumper to try and warm her up.

We sat like that for a while, me stroking her head until she just slipped away. By the time we realised what was happening she was gone. Incredibly peacefully, almost like she waited for me to come back.

 

Shortly after returning from the vets (we have our animals cremated, with ashes back) Maggie started to wheese horribly. Gasping for air, crackling lungs. Fine before we left on the weekend, fine when we returned – an easy assumption is stress and grief for her sister.

A return trip to the vets, where she was placed in an oxygen kennel but struggled every time she was brought out in the normal air. No way to live; and such a slim hope of survival that we made the kindest choice, the hardest choice.

It’s hard to know what to write about these two. Maggie was my constant cuddle buddy who’d put up with practically anything I’d do to her. Gytha a live wire and protector of the group who was SO SO smart.

Gytha also hoarded food. She’d take it from you and hide it at the back and come for more. I think she wished she was a hamster and could store food in her cheeks!

Gytha escaped once when we first brought her home and required around 2 hours of chasing around the living room to capture!

Both obviously full sisters (Maggie was dumbo eared, Gytha top eared) they loved and cared for each other dearly sharing an incredibly close bond.

The house feels so empty with just one rat here. We loved them so much and we’re going to miss them incredibly.

It signals the truth of a rat free future for us. At least for a while; because the pain of loosing them is just too much and too hard for us to bear.