Depressed rat

Question
My girls are worried about a friend's rat.  The sister rat died recently at 3 1/2 yrs old and the remaining rat is very depressed.  She is not eating well, sleeping where her sister died and not acting herself.  My girls would like to help so we were wondering if you have any advice.

Answer
This is so very sweet of your girls. Unfortunately, Natasha, this rat is probably going to die soon herself. If they were sisters, and the other one was 3 1/2 years old, they are about the equivalent of a 90 yr old person. Rats rarely live past 3 years old.

I really don't know what they could do except play with her and handle her a lot. That might help her get past this. I am not sure if getting her another rat would hurt or help at this point.  

I really don't know, maybe it would cheer her up as long as it was a young female. I have only had one rat at a time, so I am not much help I am afraid.

Please brace these wonderful girls of yours to expect that this rat might not be around much longer herself. That is about all you can do at this point.

thanks for writing.