R.I.P. Socrates

Where'd Socrates go? Oh look, he's in the treats!


Uh oh, he knows he's been spotted.

My little rat friend, Mr. Socrates, passed away today from old age (which, for a rat, is around 3 years). Usually his friend, Ben (a big fat brown Dumbo rat) spends his evenings bobbing for edamame and running amok in my bedroom. Last night, however, he stayed in their little house cuddling and grooming Socrates all night. He also kept him warm under his layers of dumbo rat blubber.

Socrates was a little black and white "fancy rat" who was the sweetest, smartest little rat friend I've ever had. I adopted him and Ben in October of 2007 from a friend who wasn't able to give them the attention and time they deserved.

Despite my efforts to teach Socrates to NOT sleep in my bed, every morning I'd wake up to find him cuddled up next to me. I was terrified that I'd squish him in my sleep and wake up to rolling over and off of his lifeless body. Since he wouldn't give up I ultimately decided that, since he was so hellbent and determined to cuddle and it made him so happy, if the above scenario did transpire, he'd at least go happy.

And he did. He was covered in oodles of cuddles and pets until the end and he died cupped in my hands, laying on my chest, looking up at me. He didn't suffer.

Ben misses him. He hasn't left their little house since last night and is acting really strange, confused, and withdrawn. Socrates and he have been best friends since they were little babies. Every night I'd fall asleep listening to the two of them wrestling, splashing around in the kitty's Drink Well and building huts together.

They're such social little guys - rats. I hate it when a little friend passes and someone's left alone. He'll be okay, though. I'll give him lots of forced lovins and will make sure there's plenty of edamame in the Drink Well tonight.

The Dapper Rat: Showing the world just how charming rats are!