50 Adorable Pics That Might Convince You That You Need A Pet Rat (New Pics)

Rats tend to (unfairly) get a bad reputation. They’re often associated with unclean areas of cities where they can be seen scavenging for food in train stations, scurrying down the street holding a slice of pizza or attempting to find a way into our homes to seek warmth or steal food. But the rats you see out in the wild (or running along subway tracks) are not the same rats that are commonly kept as pets. Those rats certainly shouldn’t be shamed either, but rats bred to be household pets are incredibly cute.

One reason rats don’t always get the positive press that they deserve is because they aren’t an extremely common pet. Of all the animal owners in the United States, only about 4% of them own a small animal. From there, only about 6% own a rat or a mouse, well behind guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. But rats might just be the ideal rodent pets. Veterinarian Cory Basset, who specializes in exotic pet care, told The Washington Post that most pet rodents are prone to biting their owners, as they are bred for quantity rather than personality. But rats, on the other hand, tend to be much more calm and bond emotionally with their cage mates and owners. 

“Rats are a misunderstood pet,” Bassett told The Washington Post. “People think of them as vermin and pests. People who think they are a really gross pet just don’t realize what they have to offer. If you are looking for a rodent pet that you are going to have a personal connection with, I would recommend a rat.” Rats are also quite intelligent and might have more in common with you than you ever realized. 

Studies suggest that rats dream when they sleep, giggle when they’re tickled, and grind their teeth out of pleasure when they are pet, similar to how cats purr. They have also been known to display empathy, by working hard to help a fellow rat that’s been trapped and by turning down rewards when it means another rat will be harmed. “Rats will help other rats, and that is pretty amazing,” said Peggy Mason, who conducted a study on empathy and pro-social behavior in rats. “They were doing it because they not only recognized that another rat was in distress, but they actually felt that another rat was in distress.”

If you’re considering getting a rat of your own, or you weren’t previously but these heartwarming photos are giving you ideas, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time. First of all, rats make excellent pets due to their intelligence and emotional capacity. They will recognize your voice and, as long as they’re appropriately socialized, they’ll want to spend lots of time with you. Rats also love to play, so it’s important to get them some “toys”, which can be as simple as a feather on a string or a ball they can run around in.