Gone but not forgotten - Siggy October 8, 2007

Siggy came with her sister, Albie, as babies from a petstore with the sales inducing comment of being the "ugliest rats I have ever seen". We disagreed wholeheartedly finding hairless rats to be incredible and gorgeous.

Siggy didn't have the bossy personality of her sister but was an alpha in her own way, deferring only to her sister. Comparatively, she was shy and fussy, taking treats, putting them neatly in a corner and running up to get more only to take them to the pile and come back. She would not start eating a treat until I left the cage area, seemingly wanting to make sure that no more were forthcoming. When we would have our outside the cage sessions, she would get agitated at being away from the cage, only being comfortable hiding in my shirt or in a fold of the blanket that was used. Unlike her sister, she was content to sit with me quietly and enjoy being petted.

There's something somewhat fragile about hairless rats. While a lot of rats can live over two years and good stock (well bred by careful breeders) can live for three and sometimes the odd occasion four years, out of the four rats we have had, I don't think any lived over two years. It won't be a disincentive to having hairless but just something to always keep in mind - they are with us for an even shorter period of time.

Siggy was a robust and healthy girl but did get a lump a few months before her death with a successful removal. Then, pretty much immediately after fully healing, she started growing another. This was shortly after her sister died. Then, as I was watching it and debating on when to take her in, she started to lose a little weight and get a bit of a squinty eye. She also seemed to be having a little trouble walking - like the others had when they had had a small stroke.

We decided to take her in to the vet to have it checked out. I wasn't sure if she had a head tilt (ear infection) or a bit of a stroke/tumor. The vet was concerned about a tumor and gave us some antibiotics and other meds to give her. If it was an infection, then it should clear up and then we could think about getting the lump removed. If it was a tumor, then it wouldn't clear up and just be a matter of time. She did okay taking the medicine and didn't look to be worsening. Two days after the vet visit, we found her dead in the cage, in one of the tubes that she liked to hide in with a treat on her.

We will miss our Siggy baby but we are so happy that she will be with her sister again at the bridge.