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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.
Herjan And His Fancy Hat (Herjan)
Brothers Enjoying A Snack (Izumi, Lysander And Kaelan)
Rats are very smart indeed :) (though, to be honest, they looked a bit dumb on this picture imho :D )
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Too adorable! I used to keep rats and absolutely loved them. Each had their own personalities <3
I adore rats! I just wish they lived longer. They are so intelligent and lovable!
@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!
Hi, Diane, Could I use this wonderful picture for my annual Chinese New Year email? It's the cutest image for the Year of the Rat I have run across. With proper attribution, of course.
They all looks like they are eating Munster cheese!! Right? They are so cute love it!!!
they look like they're planning their next heist and you caught them. now you must go... and get more crackers and cheese
Wait a minute guys there are three of us and only two snacks what about me?
There's No Rabbit In The Hat... (Heimdall)
What's This? (Thjazi)
I can visualize the next moment, after he touches it and it pops on his nose. xD
Bloody Strawberry (Lysander)
Two Brothers (Semtex And Toutatis)
Spring Time (Tjall)
Tiny Boat (Taz)
Fragile (Feirefiz)
Christmas Nap Time (Feirefiz)
The Winter Fairy (Lysander)
Trust Me, I'm A Daisy (Tjall)
Ho Ho Ho! (Fenrir)
Valentine's Day (Arkanys And Lorich)
Kiwi Or Strawberry? That Is The Question... (Blue Suede Shoes)
The Cheesiest Picture Ever (Bobillot)
Breakfast Time! (Pagello, Feirefiz And Inoa)
The Ballerina (Fenrir)
My Apple, Not Yours! (Lysander)
That must be a really tiny apple... Or a big rat! I guess a bigger rat means more furry surface area.
Warm Summer Day (Peach)
Jingle Bells! (Caprice)
Brothers Snuggling (Wait For It, Tasty Cool And Lillebjörn)
The Hazelnut Thief (Grimnir)
Yummm, Kiwi! (I Can't Remember Her Name... Sorry About That!)
They are adorable! I love rats. They're so nice and intelligent. I used to work in a pet food and accessories store and someone abandoned a rat by the door once (we didn't sell animals). We kept him as a store mascot and he would quietly hang out on my shoulders while I worked. Someone complained once and we were prohibited from taking him out of his cage while there were customers, so he grew restless. We had to give him away, and he never really settled in his new home :(
Aww what a sweet (yet sad) story, I am sorry that you had to give him away... maybe he had some hormonal issues (which happens quite often with rescue male rats, especially when they have been raised alone), which would explain his behavior... They are very smart and sweet indeed!
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I know right? They almost look like human hands...
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they are so lovely! I really like how you put them, they look beyond adorable!
They are just like micro doggies, can be trained and super friendly if socialized properly.
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.
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.
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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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!
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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Not that the pics arent adorable, because they are, but i already thought they were cute, credits to Ratatouille😊
I love this movie! Many people went over their fear (or disgust) of rats thanks to Ratatouille :)
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Aww, thanks for your sweet comment!
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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!
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. ♥
Thank you very much! They are indeed amazing little creatures :)
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Diane I'm so happy these darling rats have a champion in you. I've had many pets since age two (horses, dogs, Parrots, bumble bees and other little boys and girls). I can vouch for the fact that rats are highly intelligent and very loving. My "Squeaky" used to come when I called him, hung out on my shoulder, crawled underneath my sleeve and took naps, lovingly licked me with his little pink tongue. And, yes, they are super-clean. I wish people would stop hating them (and snakes). BTW, your photography is top-flight! Cordially: Christie Wagner-Starley
Thank you so much! Squeaky is a great name for a rat :D
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Precious babies! I used to have two ratties and they made amazing pets! The only thing that breaks my heart is how short they live. They are just as intelligent and affectionate as dogs, which makes it devastating to lose them so soon!
Really great photos, thank you for sharing. I use to catch field mice in our local pool in the fall and have them as pets. Always had a liking for mice, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs but have never had a rat as a pet. Hmmm?
Rats are absolutely amazing. If you ever plan to adopt rats, please adopt at least two of the same sex, though. No rat should ever live alone, they really need a companion to have a happy life :)
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i loved my rat stu. i lost him ten months ago. i miss him a lot 1425981684...c8721d.jpg 
You made me want rats. Will have to wait though. My two cats are master huntresses. They intimidate our dogs:)
If you get guinee pigs instead, they may chase the cats :')
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I used to have quite a few little rats they were amazing little pets very intelligent very kind and very clean. Of course if you get a male they do have a musky odor as do many unneutered male animals I suppose you could probably get one neutered but I don't know. That can be easily taken care of by giving it water to bathe in. My rat Bella I used to carry her in a canvas little backpack with plenty of air holes and we would go out to the beach at night. I would let her out of the bag if she would run around the beach she wouldn't go too far from me. When I clapped she would immediately run back and get in her bag and get ready to go. They are incredibly intelligent and gentle animals. In fact a rat is a much better pet for small children than a hamster or a gerbil because both hamsters and gerbils have much more tendency to bite. Not that there's anything wrong with hamsters and gerbils but you have to be extra cautious with them around small children while a rat will hesitate to bite
That sounds fun. I wanted to have rats but I somehow ended up with my degus(just as adorable as rats but not so trainable).
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How many times am I allowed to upvote this post??? :) Ratty recognition well done!
I don't like rats but boy you really made me look differently at them now, I have to say that they didn't look so evil as I have always thought they were! Wonderful job of making people see them in a different light! 🐾
Oh, they can be evil, some cases are known when a rat protected their owners with teeth and claws or were vindictive, but that only shows what complicated and intelligent little beasties they are. :)
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These are so precious! There should be photo shoots like this for snakes and spiders, too. I have two snakes and some people hate them :(
I love them too :) I never had the opportunity to take pictures of them, though... (but I took many photos of spiders, this was the best therapy to overcome my arachnophobia ^^)
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I've always been afraid of their size and been specially afraid of darker shaded rats. I do know that they are very intelligent and deserve respect but I' don't think I could easily overcome my fear. The rats in these pictures look adorable and so cuddly! They are absolutely gorgeous! (both the pictures and their models)
Was never a huge fan of rats. Always wanted mice...but you've change my mind! I concede that these are cute :)
Aww thanks :) Mice are very cute too, although I'm more of a rat person :)
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Hello Diane I have been a professional photographer for some time and I have owned two rats in the past. I have to say your images are exquisite from a technical point of view and the thought and time you have obviously put into each one. I take my hat off well done keep up the good work. Allan
Thank you very much Allan! That means a lot to me, especially coming from a fellow photographer and rat enthusiast!
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Usually when a post goes over the page, I don't bother to click forward, but these superb little creatures led me right thru' to page 4. Divine pics. Thank you Diane.
Thank you SOOO much for sharing these!!! Rats are one of my FAVE beasties! Do you sell prints????
Thank you! I do not sell prints yet, however as so many people have inquired about these, I am currently looking for the best online service that could allow me to sell them. There may be some prints available soon, I am not sure when, though.
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I think that's a great and important step forward to get rats a better, a fair reputation :)
I'm really mystified by the fact that people are still afraid of rats in modern times. They say that rats are nasty horrible creatures because they've never even tried to see their cute side! Rats are loving, intelligent animals that are widely misunderstood. I have a friend who hired a plumber and that man actually tried to poison her sweet pet rats! We live in the 21st century, people! Stop displaying your prejudiced views! Saying that rats don't make pets and must be exterminated is like labeling pitbulls and bullterriers as dangerous - something that must be left in the past!
Marvelous .. If I am confronted by a rat, I'll think of these little creatures to avert hysteria. Well done
Rats are awesome! I really support this project, rats are beautiful, intelligent and sweet pets I wish more people realised!
The coos are strong here. I think rats are beautiful creatures and I love how you captured that beauty, wonderful article Diane :-)
So sweet. I'm not able to have rats right now because of where I live, but I want to again some day. They are such sweet creatures.
OK, now that I look at these photos again, every one of these rats looks like it knows it's loved and safe. I think they know they hit the jackpot with the human who cares for them. They might even know that life could be a lot worse for them.
Simply stunning!! Your photos are magical! Thank you for gifting us your talent and showcasing just how incredibly precious these little creatures are.
While cute and lovely, these photos are somewhat contrived to be cute and lovely. Where are the images with their interactions, especially with people? They are social animals, in the human context, meaning that they usually go out of their way to interact with people. I kiss my rats full on their muzzles. Show something like that.
Such as this one? ;) (I have tons of them, they just aren't as "pretty looking" and I wanted to focus on rats only :) Mel_MG_980...fe6875.jpg 
Great pictures :) If I had to vote on one I'd vote on them all, so consider them voted ;) (just feeling a bit lazy right now..) I used to have a rat named Kruemel (translates as 'Crumbs') who was really well-behaved. But then I got stuck on cats and well - it doesn't work together - tried it but always was afraid for my new rat then.. I guess I'll stick to cats now but I'll always remember him fondly :)
Rats are very sweet. One major downside of rats is they don't grow very old :( I've had rats for quite some years and always ended up buying more because 1 died and I didn't want the remaining rat to be alone. That's the reason I don't have rats anymore and never will again. But I love them and love your photos.
I have pet rats and I do not like that people think bad of rats so I am so happy to find this
I am writing a book on people who use their art for compassionate purposes. I am enamored with your photos of rats and would love your permission to use one of your photos for the cover of my book! I also write and illustrate children's books......check them out at: chartreuse press.com. Please advise--Gaye Green.
They are the most adorable photos!!! Thank you so much for sharing them and for challenging the negative image rats have. We lost our beloved rat a fortnight ago and we miss him terribly :'-( He was 3 & 1/2 years old. It was lovely to see these pictures and positive story of rat's. I got so many eww/yuck/foul remarks when telling people we had a pet rat. Hopefully people's attitudes will change and people will see rats as a great option when they are considering getting a pet. I am sooooo glad we got ours. He bought our family a whole lot of joy & cuteness. It is unbelievable how much you can love something so small so much :-)
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A fantastic and important job! Thank you for showcasing these adorable creatures! You are very talented!
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OMG, adorbs overload...Love them! enough said. Definitely brought out their cuteness.
Beautiful photos. I love rats and they're far cleaner and nicer than many humans...often more intelligent and better parents too!
Not sure if the other comment went through. Too I'm not living closer to you (although I do dream of moving to Canada one day!) so you could photograph my rats. I can never get them to pose right, but they are really beautiful and I would love to show everyone around how precious, intelligent and full of character animals they are! happybdayw...b3-png.jpg 
I wish you lived closer (although I do dream of moving to Canada) to photograph my rats! I can never get them to pose but both of them are super beautiful and I would like to encourage people to see them as precious, full of character animals rather than pests... happybdayc...c5-png.jpg 
These pics make me miss my furry friends! I had pet rats several years. They where soooooooo sweet, each one of them. The only thing not having them anymore is that they dont last long. It makes me too sad having them only 3 or 4 years and then its done. I couldnt do that to my little girl, but Im sure she would love them too.
Your photos are just beautiful! Thank you for "elevating their reputation"...the pictures are wonderful. They're so innocent and adorable...and those ears!!! I would have rats if I didn't have cats! Thank you for sharing...
Nope, not the same rat ;) Hepha was a dumbo rat belonging to my friend Lucie, he was a male rat, while the other rattie on the picture with the kiwi belonged to my friend Lyka and was an old female rat (very friendly and cute one <3 )
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Your photography is amazing Diane. You've certainly succeeded in your aim, they look like amazing little characters.
Very cute pics, especially like the dumbo rats. Used to have hairless dumbo a long time ago called Uno.
I grew up with pet rats. We had them a while and for the most part they were all nice (except one male that we rescued who was a feeder rat he would bite and we had to keep him in a separate cage from the others).
This was most likely due to hormonal issues ;) Some male rats (and veeeery few females) become aggressive around 6 months old (it can happen a bit earlier or later, though) due to a hormonal peak that drastically turns their mellow behavior into a more aggressive one. Getting these rats spayed or neutered usually cures them so they can live with their mates again and stop biting and displaying territorial behavior. It takes up to one month and a half before they calm down, although they usually can tolerate other rats and stop acting nervous around 3 weeks after being neutered.
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My sister's rat used to sleep on her kitty, who would wash him and then rearrange his fur/tail/legs to her taste. Funny!
I should mention that he was litter-box trained, although if he got excited, he'd have an 'accident'.
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I had pet rats. I loved them. I used to give them un cooked pieces of spaghetti. They held them like a flute and chewed them down. It made me laugh.
had several rat pets for my sons all friendly cuddly shoulder friendly and Ralph the first one white would come out and sit with me after work steal ciggs out of my pack and c***s my scotch rocks and share this was in 1964
WoW They are so freaking. Cute I can't stop watching over and over again 😍😍😍😍😍
I love rats SOOOOO much, and these photos are just so beautiful!! <3 <3 <3
You've certainly convinced me that rats are cute. I love these photographs, now I just need a rat.
I love your photos, just beautiful! Thank you for showing rats in their true light. Adorable, clean intelligent and much maligned.
I love every single one of these pictures. All of your rats are so adorable and extremely photogenic! And you're a talented photographer. It's hard to get still photos of animals, nevermind the props and composition. Well done and thanks for posting. This healthy dose of adorable brightened up my day.
Beautiful pictures! I had two pet rats as a child (one albino and one black and white) and they were the best pets to have, so affectionate and fun to play with. One used to sit on the back of my neck nuzzled under my hair and sleep. These photos are lovely and it's great to see someone showing them for the adorable friends they can be.
rats are sweetest pets ever, i had them for years and can confirm they are smart, fast learning and cuddly (of of mine loved sleeping inside my shirt while other would always climb up my lap). such sweet pictures :)
Marvelous .. If I am confronted by a rat, I'll think of these little creatures to avert hysteria. Well done!! Eloise
I kept rats for pets for years, and they're some of the best pets you could ever have. Thank you for the pictures. They're adorable!
Same species (Rattus norvegicus) but these ones are indeed domestic rats ;) I have seen plenty wild ones though, the so-called sewer rats. They are equally beautiful (they actually are pretty cute when they are neither sick nor frightened), though I wouldn't want them near my food since they can carry diseases, which pet ones don't. The point here was to help people realize pet rats are nothing like the wild ones. You'd be surprised to know how many people are actually afraid of domestic rats, thinking they are dirty nasty pests due to the bad reputation of their wild siblings :)
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They are adorable! I love rats. They're so nice and intelligent. I used to work in a pet food and accessories store and someone abandoned a rat by the door once (we didn't sell animals). We kept him as a store mascot and he would quietly hang out on my shoulders while I worked. Someone complained once and we were prohibited from taking him out of his cage while there were customers, so he grew restless. We had to give him away, and he never really settled in his new home :(
Aww what a sweet (yet sad) story, I am sorry that you had to give him away... maybe he had some hormonal issues (which happens quite often with rescue male rats, especially when they have been raised alone), which would explain his behavior... They are very smart and sweet indeed!
Load More Replies... I know right? They almost look like human hands...
Load More Replies... they are so lovely! I really like how you put them, they look beyond adorable!
They are just like micro doggies, can be trained and super friendly if socialized properly.
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.
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.
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... 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!
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... Not that the pics arent adorable, because they are, but i already thought they were cute, credits to Ratatouille😊
I love this movie! Many people went over their fear (or disgust) of rats thanks to Ratatouille :)
Load More Replies... Aww, thanks for your sweet comment!
Load More Replies... 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!
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. ♥
Thank you very much! They are indeed amazing little creatures :)
Load More Replies... Diane I'm so happy these darling rats have a champion in you. I've had many pets since age two (horses, dogs, Parrots, bumble bees and other little boys and girls). I can vouch for the fact that rats are highly intelligent and very loving. My "Squeaky" used to come when I called him, hung out on my shoulder, crawled underneath my sleeve and took naps, lovingly licked me with his little pink tongue. And, yes, they are super-clean. I wish people would stop hating them (and snakes). BTW, your photography is top-flight! Cordially: Christie Wagner-Starley
Thank you so much! Squeaky is a great name for a rat :D
Load More Replies... Precious babies! I used to have two ratties and they made amazing pets! The only thing that breaks my heart is how short they live. They are just as intelligent and affectionate as dogs, which makes it devastating to lose them so soon!
Really great photos, thank you for sharing. I use to catch field mice in our local pool in the fall and have them as pets. Always had a liking for mice, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs but have never had a rat as a pet. Hmmm?
Rats are absolutely amazing. If you ever plan to adopt rats, please adopt at least two of the same sex, though. No rat should ever live alone, they really need a companion to have a happy life :)
Load More Replies... i loved my rat stu. i lost him ten months ago. i miss him a lot 1425981684...c8721d.jpg
You made me want rats. Will have to wait though. My two cats are master huntresses. They intimidate our dogs:)
If you get guinee pigs instead, they may chase the cats :')
Load More Replies... I used to have quite a few little rats they were amazing little pets very intelligent very kind and very clean. Of course if you get a male they do have a musky odor as do many unneutered male animals I suppose you could probably get one neutered but I don't know. That can be easily taken care of by giving it water to bathe in. My rat Bella I used to carry her in a canvas little backpack with plenty of air holes and we would go out to the beach at night. I would let her out of the bag if she would run around the beach she wouldn't go too far from me. When I clapped she would immediately run back and get in her bag and get ready to go. They are incredibly intelligent and gentle animals. In fact a rat is a much better pet for small children than a hamster or a gerbil because both hamsters and gerbils have much more tendency to bite. Not that there's anything wrong with hamsters and gerbils but you have to be extra cautious with them around small children while a rat will hesitate to bite
That sounds fun. I wanted to have rats but I somehow ended up with my degus(just as adorable as rats but not so trainable).
Load More Replies... How many times am I allowed to upvote this post??? :) Ratty recognition well done!
I don't like rats but boy you really made me look differently at them now, I have to say that they didn't look so evil as I have always thought they were! Wonderful job of making people see them in a different light! 🐾
Oh, they can be evil, some cases are known when a rat protected their owners with teeth and claws or were vindictive, but that only shows what complicated and intelligent little beasties they are. :)
Load More Replies... These are so precious! There should be photo shoots like this for snakes and spiders, too. I have two snakes and some people hate them :(
I love them too :) I never had the opportunity to take pictures of them, though... (but I took many photos of spiders, this was the best therapy to overcome my arachnophobia ^^)
Load More Replies... I've always been afraid of their size and been specially afraid of darker shaded rats. I do know that they are very intelligent and deserve respect but I' don't think I could easily overcome my fear. The rats in these pictures look adorable and so cuddly! They are absolutely gorgeous! (both the pictures and their models)
Was never a huge fan of rats. Always wanted mice...but you've change my mind! I concede that these are cute :)
Aww thanks :) Mice are very cute too, although I'm more of a rat person :)
Load More Replies... Hello Diane I have been a professional photographer for some time and I have owned two rats in the past. I have to say your images are exquisite from a technical point of view and the thought and time you have obviously put into each one. I take my hat off well done keep up the good work. Allan
Thank you very much Allan! That means a lot to me, especially coming from a fellow photographer and rat enthusiast!
Load More Replies... Usually when a post goes over the page, I don't bother to click forward, but these superb little creatures led me right thru' to page 4. Divine pics. Thank you Diane.
Thank you SOOO much for sharing these!!! Rats are one of my FAVE beasties! Do you sell prints????
Thank you! I do not sell prints yet, however as so many people have inquired about these, I am currently looking for the best online service that could allow me to sell them. There may be some prints available soon, I am not sure when, though.
Load More Replies... I think that's a great and important step forward to get rats a better, a fair reputation :)
I'm really mystified by the fact that people are still afraid of rats in modern times. They say that rats are nasty horrible creatures because they've never even tried to see their cute side! Rats are loving, intelligent animals that are widely misunderstood. I have a friend who hired a plumber and that man actually tried to poison her sweet pet rats! We live in the 21st century, people! Stop displaying your prejudiced views! Saying that rats don't make pets and must be exterminated is like labeling pitbulls and bullterriers as dangerous - something that must be left in the past!
Marvelous .. If I am confronted by a rat, I'll think of these little creatures to avert hysteria. Well done
Rats are awesome! I really support this project, rats are beautiful, intelligent and sweet pets I wish more people realised!
The coos are strong here. I think rats are beautiful creatures and I love how you captured that beauty, wonderful article Diane :-)
So sweet. I'm not able to have rats right now because of where I live, but I want to again some day. They are such sweet creatures.
OK, now that I look at these photos again, every one of these rats looks like it knows it's loved and safe. I think they know they hit the jackpot with the human who cares for them. They might even know that life could be a lot worse for them.
Simply stunning!! Your photos are magical! Thank you for gifting us your talent and showcasing just how incredibly precious these little creatures are.
While cute and lovely, these photos are somewhat contrived to be cute and lovely. Where are the images with their interactions, especially with people? They are social animals, in the human context, meaning that they usually go out of their way to interact with people. I kiss my rats full on their muzzles. Show something like that.
Such as this one? ;) (I have tons of them, they just aren't as "pretty looking" and I wanted to focus on rats only :) Mel_MG_980...fe6875.jpg
Great pictures :) If I had to vote on one I'd vote on them all, so consider them voted ;) (just feeling a bit lazy right now..) I used to have a rat named Kruemel (translates as 'Crumbs') who was really well-behaved. But then I got stuck on cats and well - it doesn't work together - tried it but always was afraid for my new rat then.. I guess I'll stick to cats now but I'll always remember him fondly :)
Rats are very sweet. One major downside of rats is they don't grow very old :( I've had rats for quite some years and always ended up buying more because 1 died and I didn't want the remaining rat to be alone. That's the reason I don't have rats anymore and never will again. But I love them and love your photos.
I have pet rats and I do not like that people think bad of rats so I am so happy to find this
I am writing a book on people who use their art for compassionate purposes. I am enamored with your photos of rats and would love your permission to use one of your photos for the cover of my book! I also write and illustrate children's books......check them out at: chartreuse press.com. Please advise--Gaye Green.
They are the most adorable photos!!! Thank you so much for sharing them and for challenging the negative image rats have. We lost our beloved rat a fortnight ago and we miss him terribly :'-( He was 3 & 1/2 years old. It was lovely to see these pictures and positive story of rat's. I got so many eww/yuck/foul remarks when telling people we had a pet rat. Hopefully people's attitudes will change and people will see rats as a great option when they are considering getting a pet. I am sooooo glad we got ours. He bought our family a whole lot of joy & cuteness. It is unbelievable how much you can love something so small so much :-)
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A fantastic and important job! Thank you for showcasing these adorable creatures! You are very talented!
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OMG, adorbs overload...Love them! enough said. Definitely brought out their cuteness.
Beautiful photos. I love rats and they're far cleaner and nicer than many humans...often more intelligent and better parents too!
Not sure if the other comment went through. Too I'm not living closer to you (although I do dream of moving to Canada one day!) so you could photograph my rats. I can never get them to pose right, but they are really beautiful and I would love to show everyone around how precious, intelligent and full of character animals they are! happybdayw...b3-png.jpg
I wish you lived closer (although I do dream of moving to Canada) to photograph my rats! I can never get them to pose but both of them are super beautiful and I would like to encourage people to see them as precious, full of character animals rather than pests... happybdayc...c5-png.jpg
These pics make me miss my furry friends! I had pet rats several years. They where soooooooo sweet, each one of them. The only thing not having them anymore is that they dont last long. It makes me too sad having them only 3 or 4 years and then its done. I couldnt do that to my little girl, but Im sure she would love them too.
Your photos are just beautiful! Thank you for "elevating their reputation"...the pictures are wonderful. They're so innocent and adorable...and those ears!!! I would have rats if I didn't have cats! Thank you for sharing...
Nope, not the same rat ;) Hepha was a dumbo rat belonging to my friend Lucie, he was a male rat, while the other rattie on the picture with the kiwi belonged to my friend Lyka and was an old female rat (very friendly and cute one <3 )
Load More Replies... Your photography is amazing Diane. You've certainly succeeded in your aim, they look like amazing little characters.
Very cute pics, especially like the dumbo rats. Used to have hairless dumbo a long time ago called Uno.
I grew up with pet rats. We had them a while and for the most part they were all nice (except one male that we rescued who was a feeder rat he would bite and we had to keep him in a separate cage from the others).
This was most likely due to hormonal issues ;) Some male rats (and veeeery few females) become aggressive around 6 months old (it can happen a bit earlier or later, though) due to a hormonal peak that drastically turns their mellow behavior into a more aggressive one. Getting these rats spayed or neutered usually cures them so they can live with their mates again and stop biting and displaying territorial behavior. It takes up to one month and a half before they calm down, although they usually can tolerate other rats and stop acting nervous around 3 weeks after being neutered.
Load More Replies... My sister's rat used to sleep on her kitty, who would wash him and then rearrange his fur/tail/legs to her taste. Funny!
I should mention that he was litter-box trained, although if he got excited, he'd have an 'accident'.
Load More Replies... I had pet rats. I loved them. I used to give them un cooked pieces of spaghetti. They held them like a flute and chewed them down. It made me laugh.
had several rat pets for my sons all friendly cuddly shoulder friendly and Ralph the first one white would come out and sit with me after work steal ciggs out of my pack and c***s my scotch rocks and share this was in 1964
WoW They are so freaking. Cute I can't stop watching over and over again 😍😍😍😍😍
I love rats SOOOOO much, and these photos are just so beautiful!! <3 <3 <3
You've certainly convinced me that rats are cute. I love these photographs, now I just need a rat.
I love your photos, just beautiful! Thank you for showing rats in their true light. Adorable, clean intelligent and much maligned.
I love every single one of these pictures. All of your rats are so adorable and extremely photogenic! And you're a talented photographer. It's hard to get still photos of animals, nevermind the props and composition. Well done and thanks for posting. This healthy dose of adorable brightened up my day.
Beautiful pictures! I had two pet rats as a child (one albino and one black and white) and they were the best pets to have, so affectionate and fun to play with. One used to sit on the back of my neck nuzzled under my hair and sleep. These photos are lovely and it's great to see someone showing them for the adorable friends they can be.
rats are sweetest pets ever, i had them for years and can confirm they are smart, fast learning and cuddly (of of mine loved sleeping inside my shirt while other would always climb up my lap). such sweet pictures :)
Marvelous .. If I am confronted by a rat, I'll think of these little creatures to avert hysteria. Well done!! Eloise
I kept rats for pets for years, and they're some of the best pets you could ever have. Thank you for the pictures. They're adorable!
Same species (Rattus norvegicus) but these ones are indeed domestic rats ;) I have seen plenty wild ones though, the so-called sewer rats. They are equally beautiful (they actually are pretty cute when they are neither sick nor frightened), though I wouldn't want them near my food since they can carry diseases, which pet ones don't. The point here was to help people realize pet rats are nothing like the wild ones. You'd be surprised to know how many people are actually afraid of domestic rats, thinking they are dirty nasty pests due to the bad reputation of their wild siblings :)
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