Amethyst_ice
12-22-2011, 02:51 AM
Those of you who have been on the forum a while will know of my rat story..for those of you who don't..it has become this amazing "blog" thread http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/miscellaneous-chat/8354-were-hopefully-having-twins-guys.html. I feel he was like one of the hammies which is why I feel it appropriate to post a memorial here.
Zell was pts in August and in my opinion this was another new start with myself and cloud. losing zell brought us closer, for cuddles, more handling and cheeky tea stealing! It has been an very hard year for me and at times this little himilayan dumbo has truely been a lifesaver to me.
I hope this does not come over bigheaded, but his story and progress has touched so many people, he is known to many and seeing his name on christmas cards etc is so touching.
I want to remember the good bits of his life. not the bad.
Cloud attended 2 hammy shows...gaining 3rd in pet class at Great Alne and Highly Commended at Kingswinford this year. He made many friends despite not being the cuddle monster to anyone other than his mummy but this was easily forgiven (he did get a brief hug with fluffymunchkins though).
The past few months, well and the start of the year saw me getting the little guy out on the sofa with me a lot...his habit..."thats my seat so I will tunnel behind the cushion and shunt you off the edge!" Never failed to make me smile!
He loved mealworms, not that great for ratties but I have a wonderful video of him just leaning into the tub helping himself, once he was annoyed i took the tub away he jumped up on it covering me in dried mealworms! *shivers*
He loved his baby food and mini roast dinners, who doesn't?! watching him tug of war with millet spray was, as mastercard says, priceless :rolleyes:
I think the reason I didn't have any intro issues was because he was craving ratty company. He realy took to stitch, both had brassy temprements they agreed to disagree. The new babies I think, although only here for a short time with him, put a spring in his step and brought out the grumpy old man in him! Last night I left him being snuggled by kimble and he was there by his side this morning.
I have a million stories but it is through the struggle to give him a new start that i have found rats and made some wonderful friends. My confidence has grown through him and it has shown me the amazing strength in animals and how they can forgive. I didn't teach cloud to trust..he taught me to. Recently he jumped on my shoulder and because we had both never experienced it both yelped and scared each other! There was a moment where we looked at each other and then he slowly came back to me and hopped back up there-
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/374718_970114268305_223407998_16342031_478257635_n .jpg
There were moments when he tried to make out he didn't like cuddles and scritches, I would force him to stay on me until he bruxed (teeth grinded, a sign of please like cat purr) and boggled (an ever bigger sign of eye bulging). He usually gave in and numerous occassions had me in tears. Lots of times I had friends over and they may sneeze or cough and he would come running to me and bury in my arms...times like these I knew he loved me really and it brought us so close.
I'm sat here with him snuggled in the first snuggie pouch i made him and zell. zell was cuddled up in it so i guess im hoping a part of his spirit remained in it and they are together. This really does feel like the end of an era, in a way i guess it is better it wasn't expected...he spent all yesterday not right and I could tell. it was myco, a horrible disease in rats but tbh i think old age set in. I got him May of last year so 1yr 7 months, i was told he was a year old which if that is the case he has really had a long life (average 2-3yrs).
To lose him just before christmas is heartbreaking...he and Indy have been 2 very special animals to me..i hope i find that bond again.
I really cant describe the journey, at times i felt like giving up...sat 4 hours in trying to coax him back into the cage or onto my lap to the end where he was beging to come out onto my lap! I used to sing him a song, as did zell, both just sat still when it was on...not the greatest of choices hehe but i consider it their song...the words are spot on..i am playing it to him now while stroking his head :')
JIVaUcE4kAM
I will leave it at that...i would like to hear peoples fave stories of him if they remember any, rest well cloud...you left a paw print on my heart that i will treasure forever
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/315509_926285860785_223407998_16039539_41656361_n. jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/76775_715595555845_223407998_13698410_6635879_n.jp g
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381457_947170887025_223407998_16219289_1561654879_ n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/28835_685945879035_223407998_12323413_2405508_n.jp g
Zell was pts in August and in my opinion this was another new start with myself and cloud. losing zell brought us closer, for cuddles, more handling and cheeky tea stealing! It has been an very hard year for me and at times this little himilayan dumbo has truely been a lifesaver to me.
I hope this does not come over bigheaded, but his story and progress has touched so many people, he is known to many and seeing his name on christmas cards etc is so touching.
I want to remember the good bits of his life. not the bad.
Cloud attended 2 hammy shows...gaining 3rd in pet class at Great Alne and Highly Commended at Kingswinford this year. He made many friends despite not being the cuddle monster to anyone other than his mummy but this was easily forgiven (he did get a brief hug with fluffymunchkins though).
The past few months, well and the start of the year saw me getting the little guy out on the sofa with me a lot...his habit..."thats my seat so I will tunnel behind the cushion and shunt you off the edge!" Never failed to make me smile!
He loved mealworms, not that great for ratties but I have a wonderful video of him just leaning into the tub helping himself, once he was annoyed i took the tub away he jumped up on it covering me in dried mealworms! *shivers*
He loved his baby food and mini roast dinners, who doesn't?! watching him tug of war with millet spray was, as mastercard says, priceless :rolleyes:
I think the reason I didn't have any intro issues was because he was craving ratty company. He realy took to stitch, both had brassy temprements they agreed to disagree. The new babies I think, although only here for a short time with him, put a spring in his step and brought out the grumpy old man in him! Last night I left him being snuggled by kimble and he was there by his side this morning.
I have a million stories but it is through the struggle to give him a new start that i have found rats and made some wonderful friends. My confidence has grown through him and it has shown me the amazing strength in animals and how they can forgive. I didn't teach cloud to trust..he taught me to. Recently he jumped on my shoulder and because we had both never experienced it both yelped and scared each other! There was a moment where we looked at each other and then he slowly came back to me and hopped back up there-
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/374718_970114268305_223407998_16342031_478257635_n .jpg
There were moments when he tried to make out he didn't like cuddles and scritches, I would force him to stay on me until he bruxed (teeth grinded, a sign of please like cat purr) and boggled (an ever bigger sign of eye bulging). He usually gave in and numerous occassions had me in tears. Lots of times I had friends over and they may sneeze or cough and he would come running to me and bury in my arms...times like these I knew he loved me really and it brought us so close.
I'm sat here with him snuggled in the first snuggie pouch i made him and zell. zell was cuddled up in it so i guess im hoping a part of his spirit remained in it and they are together. This really does feel like the end of an era, in a way i guess it is better it wasn't expected...he spent all yesterday not right and I could tell. it was myco, a horrible disease in rats but tbh i think old age set in. I got him May of last year so 1yr 7 months, i was told he was a year old which if that is the case he has really had a long life (average 2-3yrs).
To lose him just before christmas is heartbreaking...he and Indy have been 2 very special animals to me..i hope i find that bond again.
I really cant describe the journey, at times i felt like giving up...sat 4 hours in trying to coax him back into the cage or onto my lap to the end where he was beging to come out onto my lap! I used to sing him a song, as did zell, both just sat still when it was on...not the greatest of choices hehe but i consider it their song...the words are spot on..i am playing it to him now while stroking his head :')
JIVaUcE4kAM
I will leave it at that...i would like to hear peoples fave stories of him if they remember any, rest well cloud...you left a paw print on my heart that i will treasure forever
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/315509_926285860785_223407998_16039539_41656361_n. jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/76775_715595555845_223407998_13698410_6635879_n.jp g
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381457_947170887025_223407998_16219289_1561654879_ n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/28835_685945879035_223407998_12323413_2405508_n.jp g