Bacon was going to be a name for one of the rats to keep the theme, but he specifically got the name for the stripe over his face, giving it the appearance of a strip of bacon. All three rats were shy by nature but would open up in their own way. Bacon was the most energetic of the three brothers, he was always the first to greet you at the cage and loved into the hammock, he would almost look disappointed when I would take it down to be replaced, but once the new one was up, he'd leap right in and get cozy.

Because of the shy nature of all three rats, Bacon and his brothers did not explore much, even with a new playpen they preferred to huddle in a shelter and loved their cage a little too much. I would often bring them downstairs to play on the couches, but they preferred the cat bed but from time to time Bacon would wander around on the bed staying close to my lap and liked hanging out on the top of my office chair while I was working on the computer. One thing all three rats had in common is they loved belly tickles. I could playfully flip each rat on their backs and tickle their bellies and each one would come back for more. Bacon would eventually get the idea of the playpen and explore more often, and it would later get to the point he would leap out and become more eager to explore more outside the cage.

In mid November Bacon and Toast began to show early signs of rat lice, which came from a contaminated batch of bedding. Waffle did not appear to have any, but I brought all three to the vet to get them weighed and treated. The staff and fellow pet-parents were amused with the names of the rats, and they were then dubbed ‘The Breakfast Bunch’. The rats got a clean bill of health and the lice was gone in a few days.

After Waffle's passing, Bacon and Toast carried on, at first they did not seem to notice Waffle's absence, at least not at first. Shortly after New year both rats began to lose weight and began to show their age, they also stopped grooming parts of themselves causing them to smell especially after soiling themselves while sleeping in the hammock, I had to bathe both rats to keep them clean and take down the hammock. Both rats slowed down and became far more affectionate. Toast wanted to cuddle more and would be more eager to come out of the cage and wasn't excited to go back in like he used to. Both Toast and Bacon became more affectionate and very clingy. In the middle of January both Toast and Bacon would stop exploring and just cuddle with me, they would lay on me in a blanket and rest for hours, enoying pets and slee

At the end of January I was preparing for my winter vacation, while I was only going away for a week, I can't help but wonder if the two boys were aware that I was leaving. Both wanted to be out with me all the time and I would have both rats out with me, one in each hand and I would sooth them against my chest like little babies, and they both enjoyed it. If I had to place them back in the cage to take care of something, Bacon and Toast would be at the cage door as though to be asking to come back out with me, which I would in order to keep them comfortable.

Both rats had lost a lot of weight and have slowed down. I gave my friend who was petsitting instructions and made her aware of their health status. I had a feeling that both rats would not be there when I came home, so I gave them lots of cuddles and kisses before leaving. I left for my trip on January 25th. On the 26th, my friend informed me of Toast's passing, he was found laying on the floor of the cage. On the 27th, I was informed of Bacon's passing, it appeared that he was just sleeping in his box as normal but my friend noticed that he was too still and tried to pet him, but he was cold... Bacon literally passed as he was asleep.

While I knew that both rats would not be around much longer, I wondered if they would have lasted another week or so if I was around, because their sudden clinginess would caused them saddness if I wasn't around. I will never know, but seeing as they both passed only one day apart, I know they met up on the Rainbow Bridge and were greeted by Waffle. Fly high Breakfast Bunch!