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I’ve Spent Years Photographing Rats To Break The Negative Image Of Rats By Taking Cute Pics Of Them
I have been taking pictures of pet rats for years hoping to break the negative image that is often associated with these lovely animals.
Here are some of these photographs, both of my rats and of my friends' rats and, as you may see, they are far from being dirty nasty little monsters! They are actually highly intelligent social beings that love interacting with each other and their favorite humans. They are very friendly, smart, playful, they love cuddles and are very clean: many rat owners agree to compare them to tiny dogs.
I made all the little accessories (except for the little black hat) so these wouldn't constrain the rats: they could remove them very easily, although they didn't bother most of the time as they were quite cool and relaxed. No animals were harmed during the making of these pictures, the ladybug was also alive and well and flew away soon after the photo shooting.
If you ever want to adopt pet rats, please consider contacting your local pet shelter as there are many rats awaiting for a forever home. You must also adopt at least two rats of the same sex, rats absolutely need to have a friend from their own species.
More info: dianeozdamar.myportfolio.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Herjan And His Fancy Hat (Herjan)
Final score:
267points
Allana Rose 8 years ago
I agree that rats do make great friendly pets. I had two boys when I was in middle school and I named them Ernie and Bert. They love to come out of their cage to play with our cat. Surprisingly enough, our cat didnt see them as food but playmates and they all had a great time, chasing each other around the living room.
Heather Crawford 8 years ago
aaaaaaaawwww I miss my pet rat so much. They are so loving, affectionate & intelligent.
RELATED:
#2
The Sweetest Pillow (Herjan)
Final score:
247points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
He was absolutely real :D And his nephew looked even more like a plushie... ;) DelliSweet...917cd6.jpg 
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
He sure was :) A lazy fluffy and chubby potato... and he was the sweetest rat ever! Thank you!
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#3
Brothers Enjoying A Snack (Izumi, Lysander And Kaelan)
Final score:
238points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Rats are very smart indeed :) (though, to be honest, they looked a bit dumb on this picture imho :D )
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Janine Bignell 8 years ago
Too adorable! I used to keep rats and absolutely loved them. Each had their own personalities <3
lunanoir69 8 years ago
I adore rats! I just wish they lived longer. They are so intelligent and lovable!
Laura Gray 8 years ago
@Merilyn Horton - they look intelligent because they really are. I cannot begin to tell you all the tricks my daughters have taught their rats to do, but I am always more impressed when I see how well they play with my 8 yr old grandson. They are always patient and sweet with him and can easily occupy the evening of this boy with ADHD!
#4
There's No Rabbit In The Hat... (Heimdall)
Final score:
236points
Allana Rose 8 years ago
I've heard of a Cat in the Hat, but never a Rat in the Hat *L* So sweet!
#5
Yaaaaawn (Arkanys)
Final score:
219points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Haha, I wish I could bring him back to life, not sure I would share, though :)
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Sally Thomas 8 years ago
I enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your article. I have had pet rats in the past and found them to be smart, cute, fun and friendly pets, Thank you for shedding light on your experiences and posting such cute photos of these cute pets.
#6
Polka Dots (Kjalarr)
Final score:
215points
Pattie Kelly 8 years ago
My day will be filled with luck now that a lady bug landed on me. YEAHHHHHHHHHH
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
I think he didn't even notice he had a hitchhiker ladybug on his face as he was obsessing about getting his favorite treats (pumpkin seeds) I usually gave him during photoshoots xD
Load More Replies... Allana Rose 8 years ago
Ladybugs are good luck where I come from. We even have a little song about them :)
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Short story behind this picture: my rats were roaming free in the living room, the windows were open and a ladybug landed on Kjalarr (not on his head though). I always had my mini-studio set up so I just turned the lights on, grabbed the red paper with polka dots and put Kjalarr there, moving the ladybug inbetween his eyes, taking a couple of shots, then the ladybug decided it was enough and flew away while Kjalarr was still standing there, looking at me and begging for treats :D
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#7
What's This? (Thjazi)
Final score:
211points
TheRubyFalcon 8 years ago
I can visualize the next moment, after he touches it and it pops on his nose. xD
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
I have been quite lucky since the bubble popped right after I pressed the shutter button ^^ He enjoyed that photo shooting very much, chasing bubbles and trying to catch them all... He was a funny little guy :)
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Cherie 8 years ago
Both my sister and DiL are ratters, and I learned from them. The only thing I don't like about rats is that they don't have long lives.
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#8
Bloody Strawberry (Lysander)
Final score:
202points
Cerys Dunbar 8 years ago
not to ruin your joke just thought id teach you but strawberries arent berries but bananas are WHHHAAA-
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Fran Lawren 8 years ago
When given a strawberry, one of my daughter's rats nibbled each seed off the outside before he ate the rest!
Yashica Sadam 8 years ago
Oh god, when I scrolled down, I couldn't see the strawberry right away and I thought the red on the whiskers was blood and I literally yelped. How creepy would vampire rats be? *shudder*
Lahoma Graham 8 years ago
I had a white rat named Minnie and she was one of the sweetest animals I ever had ! She got her teeth brushed every nite and a bath every week and she loved it !
#9
Two Brothers (Semtex And Toutatis)
Final score:
174points
Pattie Kelly 8 years ago
Black is black I want my baby back. You didn't know we knew how to sing did ya?
#10
Spring Time (Tjall)
Final score:
148points
Veronica Goddard 8 years ago
Just love the hands. And the noses and the eyes.....
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Dianne Clement 8 years ago
I love pet rats and the pics are great try living with wild rats, in your walls and coming up the heat vent by your bed and in your crawl space and your patio , crapping on your belongings - wild rats are a health hazard and dam annoying
Pattie Kelly 8 years ago
Dandelions I think they are in the food group. I eat them all the time and have seen a few humans eat them too.
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
They indeed are :) I went picking some dandelions for my rats from time to time (they quite enjoyed eating the leaves) and the flowers can be used to make some delicious honey substitute (it's kind of dandelion flower jam and it tastes like honey)
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TheCuteOrpington 8 years ago
"Grandma, the witches turned me into a mouse now I'm on boredpanda!!!"
Grant Pearse 8 years ago
As nice and cute as this all is, when your shed, or house has been invaded by rats, the only thing to do is to exterminate them. Sorry, I know this is all nicey nicey, but rats are clever, greedy, dirty and disease ridden.
#11
Tiny Boat (Taz)
Final score:
123points
Allana Rose 8 years ago
I wonder what breed these rats are. My rats had different shaped ears that were higher up on them. Is there even different breeds of rats?
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Dumbo rats :) They are exactly the same species but many genetic mutations occurred over the centuries and people bred these rats to keep their special features. These mutations include coat variations (standard, rex, double-rex, satin, harley -I wish these were called angorats, lol-, hairless...), two different ear sets (dumbo and standard), different eye colors ranging from pink to black, fur colors (agouti, black, beige, cinnamon, lilac, lavender, mink, mock, american blue, russian blue, fawn, amber, champagne, etc.), markings (hooded, berkshire, variegated, etc.) and dilutes (siamese, himalayan, marten, burmese, albino...), there is also some genes that cause the color to fade over time (roan) or to be ticked... ;) They aren't really different breeds such as dogs are but variants of the same breed :)
Load More Replies... #12
Fragile (Feirefiz)
Final score:
108points
#13
Christmas Nap Time (Feirefiz)
Final score:
107points
#14
May I Eat All The Grapes Now? (Hepha)
Final score:
103points
#15
The Winter Fairy (Lysander)
Final score:
97points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Cuddles, treats, cuddles and treats ^^ Just copy and paste this link, you'll see how well it worked xD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ1SjHjhS3E&t=87s
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marj gorrell72 3 years ago
bit of a stretch the winter fairy idnt. it? Beautiful photography tho:!
#16
Trust Me, I'm A Daisy (Tjall)
Final score:
97points
#17
Ho Ho Ho! (Fenrir)
Final score:
91points
#18
Valentine's Day (Arkanys And Lorich)
Final score:
91points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Yup, and I must say that I had biiiig troubles making them stand still long enough so their tails would remain heart shaped :) Fortunately, lots of treats and cuddles did the trick as they almost fell asleep...
Load More Replies... Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Siamese rat indeed :) There are many genes dilutions, colors, markings, coats, eyes colors, etc. in rats. And their behavior is quite similar to cats', though they are also very similar to dogs (they spend their time grooming themselves like cats, they come when called/learn tricks/lick their owner's hands like dogs...)
Load More Replies... #19
Tasty Raspberry (Louis)
Final score:
86points
#20
Kiwi Or Strawberry? That Is The Question... (Blue Suede Shoes)
Final score:
85points
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Haha, thank you and enjoy your smoothie! :D
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Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
All credits go to her owner, who always gave her rats the best names ("Roll the Dice" was also one of hers)
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#21
I Want A Treat (Chlamy)
Final score:
78points
#22
The Cheesiest Picture Ever (Bobillot)
Final score:
78points
Cathy b 8 years ago
Looks like a pix from those calendars the french post office used to sell 😺
Peak25500 8 years ago
I'm french and didn't know those calendars were so popular :-D
Load More Replies... Jessica Sosa 8 years ago
How old is your rat here? Seems like a new born awwww this pics really make me want to get one and cuddle with it
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
He was about 2 weeks and a half old there :) Newborn rats are hairless, they look like tiny sausages with snouts and paws x)
Load More Replies... #23
Breakfast Time! (Pagello, Feirefiz And Inoa)
Final score:
78points
Suzanne Chesshire 6 years ago
All the photos are wonderful. Rats are such sweeties. If people only knew how cute and smart they are...
#24
The Ballerina (Fenrir)
Final score:
78points
Shubham Marathe 8 years ago
Fenrir? Isn't he this evil wolf dude? Can't imagine a wolf doing ballet.
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
Yup, his name didn't fit him very well (but I loved the sound of it ^^)
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Tina Risinger 8 years ago
Yes. They are kind of like wire haired terriers. They are called Rex coats when it's curly/kinky.
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#25
This Is Halloween (Feirefiz)
Final score:
77points
#26
Pumpkin Killer (Arkanys)
Final score:
77points
#27
My Apple, Not Yours! (Lysander)
Final score:
76points
TheRubyFalcon 8 years ago
That must be a really tiny apple... Or a big rat! I guess a bigger rat means more furry surface area.
Diane Özdamar (Submission author) 8 years ago
A big rat it is ;) The apple was quite average, I guess. Lysander was huge! He weighed about 1kg (around 980g actually) despite not being obese. Biggest / tallest rat I have ever had (and one of the sweetest as well! He would lay on his back so I can scratch his belly and fall asleep in that position)
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Flora Polvado 8 years ago
National Geographic published a really good article on rat tickling on November 10, 2016
#28
Welcome To Grapeland (Svölnir And Grimnir)
Final score:
73points
#29
Fancy Hat For A Fancy Rat (Roll The Dice)
Final score:
72points
#30
Autumn Leaves (Lillebjörn)
Final score:
71points
#31
Warm Summer Day (Peach)
Final score:
70points
#32
Jingle Bells! (Caprice)
Final score:
67points
#33
Brothers Snuggling (Wait For It, Tasty Cool And Lillebjörn)
Final score:
67points
Ellen Prince 8 years ago
they seem to have very dry or wirey coats? my rats had soft shiny coats, I didn't even realise until now there were different ones haha. I am loving these photos :)
#34
The Hazelnut Thief (Grimnir)
Final score:
66points
#35
Yummm, Kiwi! (I Can't Remember Her Name... Sorry About That!)
Final score:
61points
Robert Davis 8 years ago
Diane, my wife and I have had boyz and girlz for many years and they have always been the, "SCHVEEETEST of the SVEEE-DY"!!! We LUV them so much. We have to boyz at the present, Duke and Goudy-Boy, very robust, healthy and handsome
Alice Lawrence 4 years ago
They're all gorgeous! Have you ever thought of doing a rat calendar to sell?
Alice Lawrence 4 years ago
They're all gorgeous! Have you ever thought of doing a rat calendar to sell?
Jacqueline van Weelden 8 years ago
Sweet Diane.... my compliments for all the great pics of those cute rats, I love them all <3
In an effort to transform the perception of rats, my photographs showcase their intelligence and social nature. These rodents are often misunderstood, much like the photographer in another detailed project, who demonstrated that their behavior in natural settings can be quite charming.
In particular, you might be interested in how rats can be depicted in surprisingly endearing ways despite prevalent negative stereotypes.
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What do you think ?
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I know right? They almost look like human hands...
Load More Replies... Adriana E. Henricy 8 years ago
they are so lovely! I really like how you put them, they look beyond adorable!
Kane Cheung 8 years ago
They are just like micro doggies, can be trained and super friendly if socialized properly.
Rieschelle Roberts 8 years ago
It just takes one a*****e to ruin a good thing. Mr. Rat seemed happy being the mascot and riding on the shoulders of the employee.
Paul K. Johnson 8 years ago
Rats are awesome - all animals are.* Animals that get a bad rap get it through no fault of their own. The only animals that aren't awesome are houseflies, horseflies and mosquitoes.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
I really hate them too, but as an amateur zoologist I constantly remind myself (through gritted teeth) that they are part of the food chains and their extinction would mean a whole host of other lovely animals gone as well.
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Marloes 8 years ago
This is so incredibly beautiful. Well done! I photograph my guinea pigs very often and that's hard sometimes, I can imagine rats being much faster than piggies. These photographs are truely outstanding! Very well done!
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I have had the opportunity to photograph a lot of guinea pigs too and rats are indeed much faster than piggies but I eventually learnt how to anticipate their movements and how to make them feel so comfy they would slow down a tiny bit :) Both are equally adorable, by the way. I adore piggies' large noses and funny little ears. Thank you very much!
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June Pixeld 8 years ago
Not that the pics arent adorable, because they are, but i already thought they were cute, credits to Ratatouille😊
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I love this movie! Many people went over their fear (or disgust) of rats thanks to Ratatouille :)
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Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
Aww, thanks for your sweet comment!
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Rich McCormick 8 years ago
I love rats. I have a pet rat named Nick... he's was the sweetest boy ever. Even introduce clients to him that had fear of them and loved him too. Not that they went right out and got a rat as a pet but when they met him and his sweet, friendly nature they were quite smitten with Nickie! He's been gone a long time now but I'll never forget him!
Oni Sorasousha 8 years ago
Rats are my absolute favorite. They're intelligent, playful, sociable, and overall fun. I have a very gentle pair of girls and they're the best. Keep up the amazing work, I think rats need more good publicity. ♥
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much! They are indeed amazing little creatures :)
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Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I know right? They almost look like human hands...
Load More Replies... Adriana E. Henricy 8 years ago
they are so lovely! I really like how you put them, they look beyond adorable!
Kane Cheung 8 years ago
They are just like micro doggies, can be trained and super friendly if socialized properly.
Rieschelle Roberts 8 years ago
It just takes one a*****e to ruin a good thing. Mr. Rat seemed happy being the mascot and riding on the shoulders of the employee.
Paul K. Johnson 8 years ago
Rats are awesome - all animals are.* Animals that get a bad rap get it through no fault of their own. The only animals that aren't awesome are houseflies, horseflies and mosquitoes.
Zori the degu 8 years ago
I really hate them too, but as an amateur zoologist I constantly remind myself (through gritted teeth) that they are part of the food chains and their extinction would mean a whole host of other lovely animals gone as well.
Load More Replies... Marloes 8 years ago
This is so incredibly beautiful. Well done! I photograph my guinea pigs very often and that's hard sometimes, I can imagine rats being much faster than piggies. These photographs are truely outstanding! Very well done!
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I have had the opportunity to photograph a lot of guinea pigs too and rats are indeed much faster than piggies but I eventually learnt how to anticipate their movements and how to make them feel so comfy they would slow down a tiny bit :) Both are equally adorable, by the way. I adore piggies' large noses and funny little ears. Thank you very much!
Load More Replies... June Pixeld 8 years ago
Not that the pics arent adorable, because they are, but i already thought they were cute, credits to Ratatouille😊
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
I love this movie! Many people went over their fear (or disgust) of rats thanks to Ratatouille :)
Load More Replies... Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
Aww, thanks for your sweet comment!
Load More Replies... Rich McCormick 8 years ago
I love rats. I have a pet rat named Nick... he's was the sweetest boy ever. Even introduce clients to him that had fear of them and loved him too. Not that they went right out and got a rat as a pet but when they met him and his sweet, friendly nature they were quite smitten with Nickie! He's been gone a long time now but I'll never forget him!
Oni Sorasousha 8 years ago
Rats are my absolute favorite. They're intelligent, playful, sociable, and overall fun. I have a very gentle pair of girls and they're the best. Keep up the amazing work, I think rats need more good publicity. ♥
Diane Özdamar (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much! They are indeed amazing little creatures :)
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