Goodbye Alfie

Our Alfie, the smartest, stubbornest and most irrepressible rat we've had the honour of knowing, passed away on Friday afternoon.

He was approximately 2 and a half years old, and had been battling through bumblefoot, kidney disease and a large abscess. I brought him to the vet that morning to have the abscess lanced, successfully, but perhaps it was all a bit too much because that afternoon, when I came home from work, we found him passed away, halfway through climbing out of one of his favourite nestboxes.

I wish so much that I'd stayed at home with him and I hate that he isn't with us anymore, but I think he'd had enough and was ready to go.

Alfie was a really great rat. I could have sworn at times that he understood, or at least guessed correctly at everything we said. He was so smart, he figured everything out, even how to open the yoggie jar, and then he taught Monty how. He was an adult rescue, and had never been a pet rattie, so he was pretty aloof and never really cared toooo much for cuddles and such, but he listened to us, and was friendly to us, and I think he appreciated all that we tried to do for him. In the last couple of weeks, he had to take this horribly yuckky tasting medicine and even though we mixed it with yummy peanut butter ice cream, he still didn't like it, but we told him it was important and so he took it. Twice a day. He was a really great rat.

Here is my favourite video of Alfie, when we used to give him a yoggie to distract him from getting his bumblefoot treated. He asserts his dislike for being put on his back but realises in the end that he might as well just sit it out and eat his yoggie. The sound lags behind by about a second. Not sure why it does that:



Here is another one of Alfie enjoying a rub:


And a blurry one of Alfie being cute (he was incredibly cute) but then squirmy:


I'm glad we took Alfie in - he's testament that even the most frightened, unsocialised, bitey rescue ratties can become great friends, and it was also amazing to see how much they bloom with the right care and love.

We miss you Alfie! We miss you so much!

Remember our love and take care. Stay comfy my love.