Cucumbers are one of Ronnie and Derek’s favourite food and I grew some plants which have been fruiting over the summer. The photos below show Ronnie waiting impatiently for them to grow, with them both enjoying the resulting product!
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Derek trying to get out of the tunnel with Ronnie on top of him, Feb 2020. (Click thumbnail to enlarge image.)
Sadly, lovely little Ronnie was put to sleep yesterday. He’d been unwell with a respiratory infection for a few days and the vet suspected there may have been other complications, such as cancer, as he wasn’t responding well to any treatment. Letting him go was a very sad, difficult decision, but the right one to ensure he didn’t suffer.
He was a wonderful, funny rat who gave a lot of love and joy to his humans. There are plenty of memories, photos and videos of Ronnie and he’ll never be forgotten.
Derek will no doubt miss Ronnie, but he’s a strong little rat who enjoys human company and he’ll be fine.
Watch Ronnie and Derek trying to nibble on the crust of a baguette which I put on top of their cage! Have a look at more crust activity here.
A featured photo, selected randomly from the Photos page. There’ll be another in a couple of days!
Derek and his pumpkin, Oct 2019. (Click thumbnail to enlarge image.)
Derek’s been enjoying a home-grown pumpkin for Halloween. It’s rather small as the plant didn’t grow well, but it’s a good size for Derek!
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A featured photo, selected randomly from the Photos page. There’ll be another in a couple of days!
Derek exploring a mint plant, Apr 2019. (Click thumbnail to enlarge image.)
A featured photo, selected randomly from the Photos page. There’ll be another in a couple of days!
Possibly praying, Apr 2019. (Click thumbnail to enlarge image.)
I’m pleased to say Derek’s been coping well since Ronnie passed away on Wednesday. He’s been getting extra treats and cuddles from his humans and he seems to be his usual self.
If you own rats, it’d be great if you could fill in the Rat Ownership Survey which is being conducted by researchers at Bristol Veterinary School. The aim of the survey is to better understand the UK’s pet rat population and it shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes to complete.
The survey is available here.
All content hosted on this website, including text and visual materials, is Copyright © David Watts 2019 - 2026. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the copyright holder. All information provided on this website is based on experience of caring for our pet rats. Whilst the information will hopefully be useful to those interested in caring for rats, it must not be treated as a defintive care guide. If in doubt regarding the health and well-being of your rat(s), be safe by contacting your vet.
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