I love rats!! I rescued one that might have been snake food (I know they need to eat, too, but the snake wasn't interested in the baby rat he was given). My friend asked if I'd take him. I held out my hand for him, and he ran up my arm, sat on my shoulder, and stuck his cute little nose in my ear... it was so ticklish and made me laugh. 

I was a college freshman at the time and had a promotional poster of Ferris Bueller's Day off on the wall above my bed. I put the baby rat on my bed, he ran up my pillows and sniffed the word, "FERRIS"... hehe... Guess what I named him?? That's right, Ferris! He was the greatest rat. He loved to eat peas.. he'd throw the skins aside and eat the centers. It was so much fun watching him eat. 

My dad thought I was so strange but ended up falling in love with little Ferris... my dad subsequently had about a dozen pet rats after that. 

A friend of mine calls rats "little heartaches"... The one terrible thing about them is that they don't live very long. They are so smart and affectionate and make super companions.. but it's so sad to only have 2 or 3 years with them. 

xoxo

To anyone who thinks that rats are gross... before my first experience with the one I rescued, perhaps I thought the same thing. My dad also thought they were gross and thought I was an absolute freak  until I went away to the beach for a week and asked if he'd feed Ferris and give him some attention. I came home, and my dad was calling himself "grandpa" to my pet rat. THAT is how misunderstood these animals are... My dad fell in love with Ferris after realizing how smart and social and sweet he was. 

I think the thing that grosses people out about rats are their tails... but I love their tails!! hehe

I heard this story on NPR awhile ago... Rats laugh when you tickle them!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-admRGFVNM

I LOVE rats!  They are my absolute favorite animal.  I have two female pet rats right now and they are the furry little lights of my life :)

Starflower - Your rats names make me smile!!!  I'm a Buffy fan too :)

My rats are named Sookie Stackhouse and Alice Cullen, so their names are vampire inspired as well.

I love rats!! I've taken care of many as pets...they are so great. Sweet, and friendly, and curious....Mine have since passed away and I miss them immensely! 

Thank yu so much for this post Alicia!!!

Mu boyfriend has a rat when he was a teenager and he's always telling how he would love another one. I've always thought they were disgusting and wouldn't allow it but after reading this and everyone elses comments  they do seem pretty sweet. I think I'll get him one for his birthday next year!!! Thanks again everyone! xoxox

I agree. Thank you Alicia for taking the time to write about rats. I'm playing with my pet rats right now and have had many pets over the years. Rats are like a mix between a dog and a cat. Super affectionate and loyal like a dog and playful little groomers like cats. They are the best!