Saphira - Ode to a Sweet Ratty Girl

(These photos are of Saphira when she was very young.)

Saphira was our lovely Royal Brown Mink Rat. She came from a long line of great rats. She was a lovely pet that was with us for just over three years. Now, I know that many people don't understand why you would have a rat for a pet, but if you had known any of ours, you'd understand. Saphira was a great pet for many reasons:
* She was very sweet. If she heard you coming into the room she would go to the side of her cage where she could get closest to you;
* She was affectionate. She enjoyed being held once you took her out of her cage. She was good about not wandering too much;
* She was generous with her ratty purring. A happy rat does this wild teeth grinding thing that is their equivalent of a cat's purr. I loved when she did this. It meant to me that she was feeling the love I was sending her way;
* She was so soft and wonderful to pet. That is where the Mink part of her breed comes in. Her coat was amazing;
* She was a trooper who tried to comfort you when she knew you were sad. She would sit quietly and try to nuzzle your arm as a means of comforting you. She was also loving towards her cagemate, Rumpus. I am sure that Saphira became lonely when she passed away.
* She was thankful for her treats. She never complained when we ran out.

Saphira actually passed away Christmas Eve. I just could not post it around that time. The mix of the festive holidays and the eminent death of my beloved Chesterfield made it all just too much. We were sad when she died, but she had a good, extra long life. Rats are lucky if they get two years. She had three and in the end she had a terrible tumor that could not be removed since she was so old. We buried her with Chesterfield and spoke a hopeful, loving prayer for her.