Toast was the first rat to peek out to meet me while bringing the boys home from the petshop, he was either the bravest or the most curious, but regarless of either, he often played along with the other rats once they settled in. All three rats were shy by nature but would open up in their own way. Toast loved to cuddle with his brothers, especially in anything enclosed like the hammock or a box. When taken out for free roam time he'd often seek out enclosed areas like under a blanket or pillow. He'd snuggle with me eventually, but it was typically if I had a blanket with me to hide under.

Because of the shy nature of all three rats, Toast 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 Toast 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. Toast always loved his treats, and would be the first to react to the Froot Loop bag being rustled and would grab his share. He and Bacon would often fight over crackers.

In mid November Toast and Bacon 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, Toast and Bacon 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. Poor Toast really missed hammok, he contiuned to look for it after it was taken down. 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 sleeps.

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, Toast and Bacon 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!