I rescued Spliff (he was already called that) from my ex and his house mate as they didn't look after him at all.
Sometimes i would go there and his water bottle would be completely dry, and no food at all.
I bought him a new cage and looked after him myself, even going to my ex's house (I was still with him then though) just to check on the rat .
I didn't like him at first, he was white with bright red eyes and really fat, but he started to squeak at me by the cage door when I entered the house, and eventually I grew to trust he wasn't going to bite me!

I moved him to my house when me and the ex split up, and although my parents weren't happy at all my mum grew to think he was cute, although would still never hold him.

When i came into my room he would squeak until i put him on my shoulder, where he'd nestle up in my hair and sleep, sometimes he preferred the sleeve of my dressing gown, I fell asleep once with the cage door open, and when i woke up he was fast asleep snuggled into me.


After I'd had him at my house for about a year, he developed big painful bleeding cysts on the back of his back 2 legs, I thought it might be "bumble foot" which is caused my many things but mainly wrong bedding, wrong cage covering and not been cleaned out enough, even though i already used everything I was meant too, and cleaned him out every other day.
When taken back to the vets after his first dose of antibiotics not working, the vet told me i had a choice - i could have him put to sleep (the cysts by this point were enormous and spliff couldn't walk properly) or have them operate and try remove them.
I went for the operation as the vet told me there was a 40% chance the problem wouldn't arise again.

It did.

After a couple of weeks the cysts came back with a vengeance and the vet told me that they were cancerous, all I could do was have him put to sleep.

I was absolutely devastated, I still am.

I know most people think "ugh rats are vile" but the truth is - closed minded ignorant people think that.
Did you know that humans give rats more diseases than they give us, a human cold can kill a rat.

Spliff was lovely, very smart, loving, loyal and sweet.

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I'm so sorry about your ratty
It sounds like you made the right decision to let him go. You'd done all you could for him.

Sleep tight Spliff xx

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'Girl you know I hate to see you go, but the sunlight follows you right down the road'

Zozie & Tiger, 1996 - 2008
Petra, 1996 - 2009

so sorry to hear spliff died, at least he died having been loved and you did the best thing in letting him go,

Rats are great i have five but not everyone understands, its jus as painful to lose a rat as it is any animal.

spliff be happy at rainbow bridge until your owner meets you again x

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Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet

aww RIP Spliff

I think rats are brilliant, we have 5 of them at college and when we go in their enclosure, they climb all over us and lick us and stuff, they're great

I hate it when people say they're disgusting, because they really aren't! They're beautiful, intelligent, sociable little creatures and you and him were very lucky to have each other

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Sorry about The ratty
You tried your hardest to give him the best quality of life and im sure he was really happy with you, it was just his time.
And he will be waiting happily painfree at the bridge.
Hugs.
Run free xx

Chloe x

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I think the only thing I dont like about rats is their tails because I'm fine with hamsters

I'm really sorry to hear about Spliff tho. He was quite a cutie and congrats on rescuing him and giving him a better life then he had

R.I.P Spliff xx

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Thanks guys, lovely words

xxx

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So sorry for your loss, he sounds like a lovely rat. Cuddling up to you is so sweet you must miss that.
RIP Spliff

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RIP Rose, Harriet, Bella, Cassidy, Louis, Lacey and Timmy forever in my heart xxx

Glitter Graphics

It sounds like Spliff was an adorable rat who was very loved, I'm sorry you had to make that horrible decision, run free at the bridge little Spliff.

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sorry for your lose...sleep well...

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I love my new blue boy MJ xxxx