DEAR TICKLE

Dear Tickle,

I knew you since you were a baby. I still remember the first day I got you home, you were so frighten. Before this you were living together with your brothers and sisters, but there were only you and one of your brother left in the cage when I bought you from the pet store. You were a feeder rat back then. You didn’t like me touching you and always hide yourself from me. It was such a miracle moment to me the first time you took the piece of kua chi from my hand. I spend most of the time worrying about you. You were always the delicate one to me. Your home, your food and your sister were all specially picked for you. I only sung to you so that you could sleep soundly. I am the one who named you Tickle, because you like to run over you daddy and me and tickle us.

A week after getting you, we went to look for a sister for you, and that’s how we got Milo home. I still remember the first time you met Milo. She was so much tinier than you and you just didn’t care much. You jumped on her and started tickling her. After a short wrestling session, you two became good friends. You used to hug her to sleep and gave her your food and always protecting her. Milo grew up strong and active, and turned out to be Milo was the one keep giving us the headache, and you, as always, being nice and always contented at what you had.

I miss seeing you guys chasing at each other around and around the cage. You look so healthy and happy back then. You and Milo are two smart rats. You remember me teaching you your names, how to stand, and you will always know what it means when I open a plastic bag - **that’s our secret**. I always feel guilty for not being able to let you two out from the cage that often because I’m afraid that you two might bite holes on your daddy’s clothes. You must have been very angry at me huh. Although I did not fulfil my promise of bring you guy out for shopping, I hope you enjoy our trip to Taiping together, and I hope you are happy for meeting so many people in your live. To be honest, I am very pound of you and your sister. You two have changed so many people’s thinking and make them fall in love with rats.

I am sorry for not being able to take good care of you and protect you at all times. I shouldn’t have left you at the living room those days and let you inhale second hand smoke or attacked by cats. I am so sorry that I did not give you a bigger cage for you to run around, and I am sorry for not providing you the best quality food and health care so that you can live long and healthy.

I couldn’t do much at the final days when your health deteriorate. I can only hug you in my arms and hope that it will make you feel better. And you never disappoint me and always show me that you were okay by grinding your teeth. You were always there for me, happy and sad times, but I wasn’t there for you when you really needed me. I even made you promised that you can never leave me when I’m not around, but I guess you hung on there for too long.

I just wish you could stay longer. There are still so many things I wanna tell you. I can no longer call Tickle & Milo anymore. Can no longer say good night to you and see you first thing in the morning. You rest in peace baby Tickle. Mommy will take good care of Milo and promise to protect her like you do. I love you Tickle. Milo loves you. Daddy loves you too. Good night forever. We miss you. I'd give anything for you to come back. I cannot stop crying now, but don’t worry.. I will stop when the time comes.

Love you forever and ever,
Mommy

SHOW THEM YOUR LOVE

Ask any rat keeper in this world and they will tell you the same thing - rats are the sweetest creature ever. Rats are loyal and affectionate. They will always notice your every single movement and hoping that you'd come over and check on them. For us, we have so many things in our lives to care about and we have things that will keep us entertained, schools, work, friends, family, movies, shopping mall, etc...; but for the rats, they only have one thing in their life to look forward for, which is us. So it is our responsibility as an owner to ensure that they receive the deserving attention from you. Show them that you love them too by petting, rubbing, massaging, scratching, kissing, cuddling, grooming, fondling, tickling them. These are some healthier ways to make your rats feel happy beside giving them treats. But bear in mind that, all rats are individuals and what one rat likes may not be what another rat likes. My Milo loves me scratching her back and would stay still for hours for me to scratch and eventually fall asleep. Tickle however loves petting and cuddling. She'd let me hug her in my arms and pet her for hours and if I've pet her long enough, she'd grind her teeth and slowly falls asleep.

RIP Blacky

Our extraordinarily smart Blacky passed away yesterday (5th August 2009) on a rainy day. He was the smartest rat. He knew his name without us teaching him and he liked to walk with his hide legs all the time. He has a pair of huge ears and very good in escaping. We will always remember you Blacky. Love you so much. Rest in peace. I believe that you are in good hands now.