![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
RIP Axel 17.2.18 - 19.1.20
My beloved rat Axel died this morning. He was with me and I was able to comfort him to some degree. I don't know what was wrong as it was internal and not evident; no wheezing or lumps or anything, only lethargy. The vet wasn't able to find anything so all I could do was give him antibiotics, which may have helped for a little but not for long.
Axel, with his five brothers and four sisters (from memory) was the surprise child of a rescue rat, the litter born not long after the mother came into my friend Lizzy's care. Axel's brother Kirby was another of my rats but he died young, last year.
The lifespan of a rat is always short, usually between two and three years, but they make good use of their time and leave a huge gap in their absence.
This leaves two and a half year old Fergus as last man standing. I'm sure he will miss Axel. Sort of. The original idea was that the older brother pair would die off first, leaving the younger two, so neither would be alone for too long. However, I then lost one from each pair and ended up with the Odd Couple, who divided up the cage into two territories and maintained a sort of guarded neutrality.
RIP Axel. I'll miss you.
Axel, with his five brothers and four sisters (from memory) was the surprise child of a rescue rat, the litter born not long after the mother came into my friend Lizzy's care. Axel's brother Kirby was another of my rats but he died young, last year.
The lifespan of a rat is always short, usually between two and three years, but they make good use of their time and leave a huge gap in their absence.
This leaves two and a half year old Fergus as last man standing. I'm sure he will miss Axel. Sort of. The original idea was that the older brother pair would die off first, leaving the younger two, so neither would be alone for too long. However, I then lost one from each pair and ended up with the Odd Couple, who divided up the cage into two territories and maintained a sort of guarded neutrality.
RIP Axel. I'll miss you.
no subject
no subject
In a weird way I'm glad Fergus and Axel weren't terribly close; it makes things easier for Fergus.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject