Rofl I came close to having this happen on his second attempted feeding after bringing him home. I was still trying the separate feeding box (didn't work and he eats in his tank now) so I had given up for the night and set the box, with the rat still in it, on the floor by the tank. I put Shesha back and went to put away the tongs and such, and came back about 20 minutes later to clean up the tank area. I looked down and the box was right where I left, the rat was nowhere to be found. It dawned on me at this point that I have cats. Fortunately the guest that was over that night walked down the hall to see what I was doing frantically digging under the bed and I had to admit that there was a missing rat somewhere in the house. She mentioned that she thought there was something on the carpet in the living room that looked odd and sure enough there it was. I lucked out but for a second there I was just having visions of rotting rat under the bed, in the blankets, and a whole slew of other distasteful places. *Shudder* We learn by experience I guess, I never leave rats unattended anymore.