Chloe passed away, wrapped in a towel in my arms about 10:30am Monday. I was talking to her in my croaky voice all through the journey. She was just looking up at me as I talked. Her eyes were open and still are; I don't know exactly when she died. I look at the little eyes peering out from the towel wrapper and hope they will at least blink. I haven't got a stethoscope so I'll wait for rigor mortis to set in before I bury her.

Two weeks ago she stopped eating so I knew something was wrong. The rat was ill. It was 4 yrs old, way beyond its life expectancy. I also really got to like the rat despite the fact it was a thief (collected all my loose change, especially $2 coins and even a bank cheque in her hiding spot under the lining of my couch). The rat was also a social animal unlike a cat. She liked watching the wrestling with me on TV and we barracked for the same opponents. She ate crispy chips with me from the same packet whilst we intensively watched. She even patted her little paws.

Social animals need re-assurance as they pass away. I'm so glad I was there for her.

Now though I'm an atheist, coincidently I end up being at home due to a virus/bacterial infection and didn’t go to work. How appropriate. So what's the explanation?

• There is a god, it planned it so I’d be there at Chloe’s passing by giving me a nasty throat infection.
• My subconscious new the inevitable and disabled the immune system so I could be with the rodent, most likely explanation.
• It’s just pure coincidence.

Whatever explanation I'm glad I was there and she couldn't of have a better passing away curled up in my arms.

Chloe's cage will not be sold on eBay. Chloe was a free-range white rat. Her cage door was always kept open. She was toilet trained and only entered her cage to deposit rat pooh and urine in those absorbent substances you buy from the pet shop.

She may have been just a rat but all life is precious. Next time you eat that steak …