"You have a pet what???"
"Those things carry the plague!"
"I heard that they eat human babies..."
All rat owners have heard comments like these before, and most of them have learned that many people are set in their ways and refuse to believe anything else. This really makes me mad, because I think that if people are going to choose to hate something, they should know why they hate it. If you or someone you know has been "dissing" rats, here are some facts:
Rats are as smart or smarter than dogs. They can learn to come when their name is called, do tricks, and I'm sure if they were about four times larger they would be great seeing-eye animals.
Fleas that were carried by rats were responsible for the spread of the bubonic plague, (14th century) also known as the black death that plagued (no pun intended) Europe and killed approximately one-fourth of the population.
Humans were at least partly responsible for that outbreak by creating unsanitary conditions in which rodents and insects thrived. Need details? People would throw their garbage and contents of their chamber pots into the streets, and if someone were to die back then that person would often be left to rot in the streets.
Still not convinced?
The reason rats are often used in medical and scientific experiments is that they are quick to learn and very adaptable.
The Renaissance was considered a time of rebirth, when the pace of life slowed considerably and allowed more time for scientific research and art. After one-fourth of the population of Europe died, there was property and jobs for everybody. Some of the worlds most famous paintings and poems were created during that time. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and William Shakespeare were some of the more well-known artists that flourished during the Renaissance.
Whew! Now that that's off my back, we can get back to the important stuff....like Why Rats Make Great Pets!
Allergies
My dad and sister are allergic to cats and dogs, so we've never had any. Rats are perfect in this case, because if kept in clean conditions they should not cause allergic reactions. If their cage or living area goes uncleaned for too long, the small amount of fur they shed can make people sneeze, and their long nails can scratch human hands causing itchy welts to spring up. However, like I said, this problem can be avoided. Long nails can be clipped, and if the fur and dander really starts to get to you, you can bathe your rat (under careful observation!).
Space
Many people who live in apartments or small houses are not allowed or aren't able to keep a larger pet, making rats the perfect pets for these people. Rats require a minumum amount of space: their cage must be big enough for them to romp and play in while you're not there. 10 gallon tanks are not suitable for an adult rat as a permanent house; they are good for temporary housing for a single rat, but THAT'S IT. Habitrail cages or Sam cages for hamsters are simply not large enough for rats, and also do not allow for enough ventilation. A wire cage with dimensions 12"x24"x12" is perfect for a lone adult, yet more space than that is required for more than one rat. For about an hour every day rats should be able to play outside their cage. You can let them roam on a bed or large table (watch for spots that rats call fall off of!) or you can seal off a room for a rat to have the run of. Beware of cracks in a floor or wall that your rat could dissapear into, or wires for it to chew on. Rats love to gnaw, some more than others, so it's best not to have good furniture in this room. Rats don't need to be taken for walks, and with rats there is no need for a backyard.
Children
Rats are naturally very docile creatures. Most pet rats will not bite unless they are mistreated or not handled very often. They are good pets for kids, as long as a few rules are made very clear, such as: no squeezing, no tail pulling, no teasing, and no feeding through the bars of their cage. Children should be supervised when handling rats, but that's mainly because kids can get excited and a little rough. The reason rats should not be fed through the bars is that after awhile they'll assume whatever comes through the bars is food, and they tend to bite fingers without checking first.
Costs
Rats are not expensive to take care of, but you should be prepared to spend money if your rat gets sick. Rats need to be taken to a vet just like larger pets. Here are some basic necessities to provide your rat with:
a cage spacious enough for your rat to live in
a water bottle with either a wire hanger for wire cages or a metal holder for aquariums
a ceramic food dish (ceramic because they are heavier than plastic, and rats love to tip things over)
a toy or two to keep your rat entertained while you are away.
I have found that most rats will not use wheels or hamster balls to run in, and that is mainly because rat vertebraes are shaped vaguely like an upside down "U," and therefore some rats are not physically able to. If rats are introduced to a wheel when they are young, they might choose to use it, but even then only certain kinds of wheels should be used. Wodent Wheel Description.
Be prepared to take your rat to the vet if it gets sick, and vet bills can be rather costly. Many people don't think they need to bring such a small (or cheap) animal to a vet, but rats are animals just like cats, dogs, and ferrets, and they get sick too.
In general, rats make great pets. If you would like to use any of the information above in a report or otherwise, I'm not sure what kind of info you have to give in a bibliography, but if you have questions or comments you can e-mail me. Thank you for visiting this page!
