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Rats make good pets

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

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