Sigrunn - My best girl

I have owned many pets throughout my life. My family often moved around due to the nature of my fathers job. Due to the constant uprooting of homes and friendships my parents were inclined to provide their three daughters with animals as a form of companionship. We had owned dogs, cats, birds, fish, mice, rabbits and at one stage even chickens. I loved every single one and decided quickly that in the future I would never live without at least one pet.

Fast forward to when I have gotten a job and left home to move out on my own the question became which kind of animal should be my first pet, I was at this point extremely partial to dogs however I judged I had a personality better suited to taking care of cats and there was one other large issue effecting the decision making process. The place where I stayed banned certain kinds of animals. Basically the occupants could only own fish or reptiles all other forms of pet were banned. I tried desperately to follow the rules, I purchased a Siamese fighting fish as a form of companionship. As amusing and gorgeous as he, (LID was his name), was I decided I needed something a little more interactive. I finally after much thinking decided that I would purchase a mouse. I figured that if I cleaned the cage diligently and hid it during the room inspections everyone would be none the wiser. And so I went to the pet store to purchase a tiny friend. I may discuss the mice I owned another time as they are deserving of their own stories but they are not the focus of this particular recount. Long story short over the span of two years I owned a few mice and the reoccurring problem was their mortality, mice were not robust and do not live very long. They were with me for a good time, not a long time and I found it upsetting. So, after discussing animals with a few of the girls at work (most of them knew I was keeping pets in the room but never said anything, for which I am grateful still.) One of the girls was talking about her pet rat. After discussing the topic a little further I decided that a rat may be a viable option for me to keep. I did some research into their basic needs and what was required to keep them happy and healthy and then when I was ready I ventured to the pet store. That's where I met Sigrunn.

Sigrunn (or Siggy as my partner and I often referred to her) was sitting by herself in a glass pen in the rodent area of the pet store. When I came over to look at her the first thing I noticed was her fearlessness at my approach. She came up to the glass and stared at me, that's when I noticed the second thing, she was missing an eye. I called over one of the store employees and asked what had happened to her. She informed me that Siggy had been given to the store by her original owners, they were moving interstate and couldn't take her with them or so they said. I asked to hold her, deciding then to take her with me.

To say that was one of the best decisions I ever made was an understatement. As soon as she was released from the shoe box she had been contained in she was making her way around my small studio as if she owned the place. I learned very quickly that Sigrunn was extremely inquisitive and a good problem solver. I was aware that rats were intelligent animals but I was unprepared for how quickly they learn things. Siggy would come to her name after only a day or so, though she was small I allowed her to walk on the ground as I noticed that she was aware of my movements and never got underfoot. She learnt how to climb and scale every surface in the small space (including me), save for the kitchen for which I am grateful as I have no doubt she would have found a way to access the food. The other thing that really shocked me was how affectionate she was. After coming home from work I would release her from her cage hidden in the cupboard and allow her to roam free. She would follow me around the room, including into the shower! I can recall with great fondness many times I would be washing my hair while Sigrunn sat watching me in the shallow puddle of water gathering around my feet. No matter what I was doing Siggy was always about, she would sleep in my dressing gown while I played on the PS4, she would be eating next to me while I read a good book in bed. A few times I even woke up after a weekend nap and would find her asleep on my chest. She was without a doubt my best friend at that point. I took lots of photos and film of her daily antics. Nothing ever held her back she was always relentless in her pursuits to get a bite of food, find out what I doing, steal tea bags out of empty tea cups and on the odd occasion get into the used clothes pile and chew holes in the underwear (I don't know what that was about.) In all honestly having Sigrunn was like having a small dog with all the good parts and none of the bad. Her cage was easy to maintain, she was happy to be held and petted, she was fun to watch and easy to teach. Time moves on however. A few months after I bought her I met my partner and a few months after that we moved in together. That year was a whirl, we eventually bought another rat to go with Sigrunn, a little brown and white girl called Malady. My partner built a rat mansion for the two of them and time went on. My household went from two to six in the space of a few months (my partner came with two cats.) Though I welcomed the change I occasionally turn my memory with fondness back to the times when it was Sig ang I. It has been three years. Sigrunn has passed now, before writing this I was watching my two Girls Vesper and Lolita as they sleep huddled together in their cage by the kitchen. I often look at them and think to myself ... Of all the animals we had as kids why did our parents never consider rats?

This is something that I still find odd. In all of the experience I have had owning animals rats are by far one of the easiest and most pleasant pets to keep. I believe what holds people back from owning rats in fear due to their reputations for being dirty (which is so far from true), and carrying diseases. I know some people don't like the way they look and some people say they are "creepy" but I honestly think this is due to poor representation in shows and media. If you live in a small apartment and want a pet to keep you company then you are missing out if you don't consider owning a rat. In all honesty, they are compact dogs without the massive time commitment and maintenance. If your kid wants a dog as a first pet, get them a rat instead they are worth it.