Are you looking for a new addition to the family that doesn't require the maintenance and work of a dog or cat yet returns the affection and
intelligence of larger pets? Why not a pet rat? You may think of rats as plague-spreading pests that will destroy your home along with you. But the
truth is that Fancy Rats are extremely clean and affectionate animals with many variations from their wild cousins that you may see in ditches and
drains along the street or in the subway. The modern Fancy Rat is much smaller than their wild relatives with variations in colors, tail thickness, and fur types just to name a few. A common misconception is that rats cause disease, however it was not the rat but the fleas on the rats that carried the Bubonic plague. Also the domestic Fancy Rat that you see today in pet shops, are smaller, friendlier, have softer fur, and slimmer tails than their wilder ancestors. You will soon notice the difference between males and females such as does (female) are smaller and more playful than their scent-marking male counterparts. The buck (male)is sometimes much larger, has coarse and oily fur, and is much more relaxed and enjoy lying in your lap to be rubbed while you work. The Does may be more interested in exploring your shirt, bra, head, pants, and any other area that they can squeeze themselves into.

Not to say that bucks don't like to do the same. Most of a rats day is spent grooming and licking itself to make sure that all of its hairs are in line and that their fur is clean just like other furry pets. Still it is a good idea to give them
regular baths and grooming when you are able to do so. You may also want to trim their finger nails often as one of their liabilities as a pet is sharp nails that the rat will extend to grab onto clothing if it feels insecure. Plan on trimming weekly if they are able to trim as they would in the wild by climbing, digging, and hunting. Rats will chatter as sign that they are content and happy which helps keep their ever-growing teeth from becoming too long and in need of a trimming. Their teeth may also need to be trimmed by a vet if they do not have enough toys and items to chew on. Tooth color should be an orange or yellow that darkens as the rat ages and matures. Fancy Rats can learn many simple tricks such as learning their name, coming when called, alerting you to when they are ready to leave a play spot, riding on your shoulder, and even running up and down your side until you get up and put them back. They can learn how to get in and out of their locked cages at night, taking treats from your hand or mouth if you let them. They will usually lick and kiss you as a form of grooming once you have bonded with them, much in the same way as dogs do with a member of their pack. Often times your rat may try and go inside your mouth and remove morsels from your teeth so you may need to keep a good handle on them. In the wild, rats would live in large colonies called Mischiefs. It is best to get rats in pairs so that if you can not interact with one several times during the day, it will have another to interact with until you return home from work or school. Fancy Rats will also put up with more tugging and hair pulling then some dogs will, by younger children. Rats also do not need walks but may enjoy them riding on your shoulder. Besides for a weekly cleaning, their food is much less expensive than normal dog or cat food and do not require to be taken to th vet for various shots. Most rats that you would get from a pet shop or breeder will almost never bite you unless they are scared, about to give birth, surprised or injured. This is one good reason why rats make lovable pets. While domestic rats may not live as long as dogs and cats, about two to three years is common and five is possible