The Rats of Something Random

Lady Kunama Pern Three

Vital Stats

Sex: Female

Date of Birth: Approx. 10th December 2003.

Date of Death: 24th September 2006.

Nicknames: Kuza, Kuzie, Kuze, Possum, Squish, Kuzapie, Kuzabear, Moo, Mooza.

Origin of Name: 'Kunama' was the name of a mare in Elyne Mitchell's 'Silver Brumby's Daughter', and it apparently means snow, and I loved the Silver Brumby books as a kid. 'Pern' after one of my favourite book series ever, Anne McCaffrey's 'Dragonriders of Pern'.

Description: Pink-Eyed White. PEW. She grew very tubby as she got older, and turned into a huge squish.

Origin: Kuza was one of my original two ratties. I got her and her sister, Arty, at a petshop on the 21st January 2004. They were a bit of a spur of the moment thing, I'd been hearing lots of good things about rats, and fell in love with their cute little faces when I saw them in their tank in the petshop.

Bio

Kuza was my baby. I cannot put into words how much this rat meant to me. She was the rat who cuddled with me every night, she was the rat who licked me patiently as I cried into her fur, she was the rat who was always up first to greet me when I got home. Even as she lay in my arms dying, this rat was bruxing and trying to lick me. She was a big, sookie tub of rat, a total Mummy's girl. She was always happy to see me, and was the most affectionate rat I've ever met. She was one of those squishes who'd just puddle up in my lap and brux her heart out.

Kuza wasn't the most adventurous of rats. She was more content to waddle around with me, and have a cuddle. She liked our nighttime reading sessions. I'd read, and she'd nibble the pages. She was also a fan of aeratted clothing, and liked 'renovating' my shirts. She had a habit of falling asleep with her head in my palm. As she got older, she became a nearly constant companion. She'd snuggle up in an old jumper of mine and just hang around the house with me. She never wanted to be with anyone else. Her priorities in life were cuddles, sleep, and food. She was a simple rat, but she was darling.

Kuzie had always had a bit of a weight problem. My vet said it was probably a thyroid problem, but she was a delightful squish. She also had a few myco flare ups. As she reached two, she started to lose her sight, and by the time she died was nearly entirely blind. I spent two agonizing hours with her the morning she died. She was very old and getting weak by then, but was still trying to lick me. She'd also developed head tilt and was having awful breathing difficulties. In the end I made the decision to take her to the vet to have her put down. I couldn't bear to see her suffering. I was utterly heartbroken. I would never have thought losing an animal could have hurt so much, but Kuza was my darling baby girl. I love her more than I can possibly say.

Tales

Kuza vs Cookie
Kuza loves food. I usually share everything with her - rats don't live long, I spoil them while I can. One particular day, I was eating a cookie, and being a horrible mum, I was keeping it all for myself! Well, we couldn\t have that. Kuza comes waddling up to my face, and grabs the cookie! A tug-o-war commenced - a determined little rat on one side, and me on the other. She won.

On the subject of girth
I'm not sure how this rat got so large. Maybe she just doesn't get enough exercise. But it's becoming a problem for us. She keeps trying to sleep in my cleavage and she just doesn't fit anymore!

The Little House
When I first got my ratlets, the pet store recommended this little white cage. It came with a food bowl and a little house and so on. It was actually better suited for mice, but I didn't know better at the time. They outgrew the cage pretty quick, but they loved the little house. Kuza in particular adored it. Everytime I tried to take it away, she would pine horribly. Now, as a two year old fattie, she doesn't even fit into it anymore. The roof was chewed off and she climbs in, but bits of her overflow the sides!