Question about recurring pets passing and mental health

[Coderedfield47]

Wooo boy...

I'm in tears about my rescue rat baby again right now. Just out of curiosity is is there research around saying repeat pet owners who just go through the cycle repeatedly? Is it healthy to experience these tears, and is it somehow strengthening, cathartic and liberating to let us experience these things time and again?

FYI Perturabo is doing great. I'm going to employ the playpen soon.

 

[Maz]

So sorry to hear this. It can get you when you don't expect it. In the Uk, the Blue Cross have a brilliant pet bereavement service by email. It really helps - I had to use it once. I'm sure there must be something similar in the US. The only thing I can suggest right now though is to try and distract yourself and do something creative or hands on and do some deep breathing and try to think about something pleasant to help yourself out of it. Breathing meditations are good as they mentally take you somewhere else and relax you. You can usually find some online. Grief is horrible - I'm so sorry. But you need to look after yourself.

 

[Coderedfield47]

So sorry to hear this. It can get you when you don't expect it. In the Uk, the Blue Cross have a brilliant pet bereavement service by email. It really helps - I had to use it once. I'm sure there must be something similar in the US. The only thing I can suggest right now though is to try and distract yourself and do something creative or hands on and do some deep breathing and try to think about something pleasant to help yourself out of it. Breathing meditations are good as they mentally take you somewhere else and relax you. You can usually find some online. Grief is horrible - I'm so sorry. But you need to look after yourself.

No its not like that I just plan on getting more rats. Families of them even.

 

[Maz]

Sorry if I misunderstood! I wouldn't get wild rats. They do carry certain diseases that can be harmful for hamsters. Do you mean pet/domesticated rats? They need quite big cages and yes they do need to live in groups rather than alone.

 

[Coderedfield47]

Sorry if I misunderstood! I wouldn't get wild rats. They do carry certain diseases that can be harmful for hamsters. Do you mean pet/domesticated rats? They need quite big cages and yes they do need to live in groups rather than alone.

I know the rat specs are different from hamster requirements because rats are ammonia pissers, yeah.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I think you have had a very traumatic experience with loosing your past rattie and I would wait before considering getting more. I can understand the need to replace the hole they left behind but I fear you are going to set yourself up for more trauma. Rats are very prone to cancer and unfortunately it can be difficult to have rats without needing multiple vet visits. This is going to be very upsetting for you not to mention expensive.

Perhaps you could put this aside for now and concentrate on getting to know Perturabo? He will not have settled in just yet and it is going to be so much fun getting to know his personality.

 

[Maz]

Rats are also very prone to respiratory problems - much more so than hamsters. I think Rainbow's suggestion of waiting a bit is a good idea. Then work out if you have the space. Rats need really big cages but they tend to be taller, floor standing ones.