After Dorian passed on Saturday, the signs of separation anxiety set in really quickly for his surviving cage mate, Marco. He would do nothing but cling to the cage walls, wanting to be cuddled and played with, or groom himself incessantly (his fur actually started to thin in a few places, in only three days!). When I would fill his food dish for dinner time, he wouldn't touch it for a few minutes, missing Dorian's part in their "hide-the-food" ritual, and was leaving half the portion in the bowl, as if Dorian would be coming back to eat it. I realized that, though I really didn't feel ready to get a new rat, it wasn't fair for Marco, who had never been alone in his entire life, to be left alone for up to 15 hours a day, sometimes 4 or 5 days a week.
So, I took advantage of knowing that the pet store had a couple of adolescent male rats (four months old), and made a trip there tonight. Marco's new companion's name is Puck, because they have only been getting to know each other for about 3 and a half hours now, and Puck is already being mischievous but lovable. He's set to work playing a few tricks on Marco, luring him through a tube that is just a bit too small for him to fit through and he gets stuck. But then Puck goes around to Marco and grooms him. I really wish my camera battery was charged. I'd have gotten some video of it. ^_^
I feel somewhat guilty getting a new rat so soon after Dorian's death. It almost feels like a betrayal. But I really couldn't justify assuaging my own feelings of guilt by neglecting Marco's well-being. I was just surprised to see this level of anxiety so quickly.
I hope I did the right thing. It just doesn't sit right with the part of me that still half-expects to see Dorian at the cage door when I wake up in the morning.
*sigh* Nothing I can do now, Marco and Puck seem to be getting along famously... which was the point after-all. And I can't help but think the new little guy is rather charming.
dAndy1288 · Wed Feb 06, 2008 @ 05:15am · 0 Comments |