Tricks and Treats

As I discussed in an earlier post, Rats are very social and intelligent animals. They can be taught many things much like a dog can be taught to fetch or to roll over. Rats are auditory animals which means they associate with sounds more effectively than other things. Within weeks, they learn their own names and can recognize certain words or sounds that you use frequently when around them. In the beginning of your young roos life, you should call them by name as much as possible. It didn't take long for Charlie and Linus to come running down the back of the couch when I'd say their names. One of their favorite words is "treat." As soon as I utter the word, their heads pop up and their nose starts twitching. Another sound they have grown quite fond of is the rattling sound of a plastic bag, which they associate with either they're food or a cereal treat. Either way, they know they are getting something good. By using treats like this, you can teach your rat to do almost anything. Its a case of classical conditioning. Once you have showed your rat what it is you would like him to do, and he does it, you reward him with a treat. After enough practice, they will do it for nothing. The first thing we taught our rats to do was just to go through a cardboard tunnel we have for them to play in. When teaching rats, you always want to pick one word or phrase for the trick. Some other phrases Charlie recognizes are stand, jump, come here, and kisses. They are always learning and will do anything to satisfy that tummy.

Good and Evil

When I tell people I have pet rats, the response is typically negative. They cringe at the thought of holding such a disgusting creature. Often, they ask me, "how can you think THAT is cute?" Well I would have thought that before I had really interacted with one. I believe most people form their own judgements of things they haven't experienced based on what they hear in the media.

One common place to see rats are in the movies. In the movie Willard rats were portrayed as evil animals who eat human flesh. Despite what most of you would think, there are many more movies where rats are portrayed in a positive manner rather than negatively like in Willard. The first one that comes to mind is Ratatouille. In this movie the rat is actually a great chef that interacts with a boy and helps make him a famous chef. Stuart Little is another good example. In this, it is actually a little mouse that is adopted by a human family as their son.

As you can see, rats are becoming a more and more popular animal and pet to have around the house. Even the media is catching on to this and I'm glad they are beginning to portray rats in a different light. It is about time they stopped being blamed for the Bubonic Plague, and start being remembered for their intelligence and their social abilities.

Why a Rat?

Many of you have a dog, cat, or a bird at home, but what exactly makes that animal a good pet. The first answer is Love. When you have an animal that you feed and care for, more often than not, you develop a fondness for that animal due to their need for you. Some animals give affection back to you such as a dog, or cat. A cat will purr, or rub against your leg when they want attention from you. Dogs show excitement with a wag of the tail. Rats will grind their teeth together in a fast chattering motion when they are happy, this is called bruxing. Linus shows his affection by licking my hand continuously when he plays with me as well as bruxing while perched on my shoulder, nestled in my hair.

Some pets are also very good learners. Birds are a perfect example. They can be taught to mimic different sounds or even words. Dogs also learn amazingly well. They can fetch objects, and bring them back to the owner. Some are used in hunting to sniff out an animal. Well, Rats can also be taught to perform small tasks, such as standing, walking, balancing, and much more. I have already begun teaching my rats small things here and there. Using small treats, like corn flakes, raisins, or rice crispies, I have taught them to run through cylinder tubes. When I put them in their cages, they always come running back to the door to give me a kiss. I have also taught them to walk down my arm when I tell them to, and often times they will jump on command from my hands to a softer surface like the couch or bed.

Although my rats are very similar to most conventional pets when it comes to affection and learning, they are very unique. Rats love to explore small crevices. Once, Linus had climbed between the couch cushions. I thought I would never catch him. They also let their nose lead them everywhere. Food is always on their minds. Chewing is one of the downsides of owning a rat, although I have been lucky enough to have 2 well behaved rodents that rarely chew on anything.

Rats also have a very short life-span. Most dogs or cats can live anywhere from seven years to 20 years while rats only live three to five years. It is nearly impossible for a rat not to develop respiratory problems. There are things you can do to prevent/prolong these problems that involve their bedding, diet, and overall health. Tumors are also very common in female rats, which can also lead to a shorter life-span.

So "why Rats?" you may ask. Even though they do not live very long, they're affection within the time they have is amazing. Although their chewing habits can sometimes be annoying or become a problem, rats can easily learn new things from you. Rats are smart, fun, and very sociable, good for all ages. So to you I ask, "Why a dog, or a cat, or a bird? Why not a rat?"