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| Icky |
| Sunday 11 March 2001 marks the passing of my favourite pet, Icky. Icky was a part of our little family. Admittedly he didn't always get along with everyone he met, but that was all part of his charm. For three years Icky was there to cheer me up and keep me company when I needed it. I loved him from the moment we took him home from the pet store. He was always willing to stay by my side or let me cuddle him. We learnt so much from having him around, and not just that he liked bananas, rice, nibbling on fingers that smell like food, and licking your face. There was an unmistakable bond between Icky and my family. We all had a soft spot for him and could spend tireless hours with him whether he was ill or in good health. Sometimes I could lie him on his back on my lap and he wouldn't budge. He'd just lie there and let me rub his tummy. We had all gained his trust and affection. Which for some rats is very difficult to achieve I assure you. |
| Many a time it felt like Icky thought he was one of us, and in some ways we believed it too. He'd always want to try whatever we were eating, watch what we were getting up to, cause trouble and generally be...Icky. He had a personality - which we loved to see shine through. When he was especially excited or happy he'd actually twitch his tail, and if he was sad or bored, he'd just lie still and stare off into the distance. I recall a few times where he'd be mad at us and he'd try to ignore us by turning away from our touch. Unlike my other rats, Icky was not a water rat. He loathed baths and would squeek with fear from the sound of running water. He also loathed the shampoo we'd use on him, perhaps it was the smell. As a consequence, after we'd dried him off and put him back in his cage, he'd frantically try and groom himself to get rid of the smell. Being a male, Icky also had a bit of a territorial attitude and a provokable nature. Just ask Joe, he'd tell you. But then again, if you were stuck in a cage and another male came along and started taunting you through the bars and there was no way of getting back, wouldnt you want revenge? All that aside, I must say that I will really really miss him. The pain I feel in losing him seems to be proportional to the love and care I felt for him. My heart weeps at his departure, I have lost a friend... |
| ^above^ Icky taking a drink from a water spout. Admittedly he was obese, but he was loved. |
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| Rats |
| Despite the bad reputation rats have [created and exaggerated by movies], rats are a social species of animals, are extremely clean [one would call them neat freaks] and they have loving personalities. I was fortunate enough to have 3 at one time. My family bought Icky [initially named Ickus, after a character from Ahh! Real Monsters! -it's a cartoon-] back in '98 as a little one. He was extremely large in comparison to the mice in the pet store. Immediately a lot more cuddly :) I'm not exactly sure how the pet store owner convinced us to get him, but I don't regret it one bit. About a year later we bought 2 female rats. We named them Auggie [as in August, 'cause we bought them in that month] and Sable [she's blonde]. Read about Auggie and Sable. |
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