She was only 16 months old...
Maya and Tikal her sister were my guilty secret rats. I was off to the local HS to pick up 2 PEW girls that had lived their entire 1 year of life there, and with some bad treatment had become biters. When I got to the shelter they were having an All Adoption Fees Waived weekend which made most of us rat owners cringe, and there were these two 5 month old pretty girls in a cage. Technically I should’ve left them behind, because they would most likely get adopted, but after looking at those faces I couldn’t leave them to a possible bad home or worse since the small domestic interview was laughable. So all 4 came home with me then.
Maya has had some health issues and the one before this one I thought I was going to lose her. She was skinny and she had severe dypsnea (laboured breathing). We finally found the combo of drugs that helped her recover albeit slowly…she was back to full health until this last event in her life.
Maya turned out to be one of the sweetest rats I have known. Very gentle with me, liked to be stroked but especially looooved to lick and groom me. I would get gentle facials, and lickings…she was a real doll. This tiny little feminine girl was actually the alpha of her cage of 4 including the much bigger difficult bully Moth who I was finally able to get back in with other rats. I am a bit worried about her sister Tikal now (they were really bonded) and Moth. I am hoping without Maya there they turn to each other instead.
Sadly Maya developed PT and only lived for a week longer.
Her case history is on the ratguide.com
http://ratguide.com/health/figures/pituitary_tumor_figure_1.php
I will always remember you sweetheart, you taught me grit and sweetness all rolled up into one beautiful package. You can breathe easy now Maya, no more suffering and please come lick me anytime…I’ll be waiting. :’(
Maya and her potato
In the middle of the ratpile with her new friends
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