What do we really know about rats? We have the heartfelt song of the then 13 year old Michael Jackson’s song “Ben.”

Our recollections of various rats we have encountered, whether they are the one(s) we spot scurrying quickly outside when we pass a garbage heap on the sidewalk or the one(s) in a cage in our biology class, what do we really know about them? In the right circumstance they have provided many clues to scientist performing studies on medicines to help mankind, or clues to behavior, in the wrong environment they cause us fear. In some parts of the world rats are actually worshiped.

While residing in New York, I read about a new breed of rat called the Super rat because he/she no longer died from ingesting warfarin but actually seemed to be thriving and getting fatter from it. An article written in Time, Nov. 29, 1971, “The Super-Rats Are Coming” offers a short chronology of the rat, its trips to various countries by ship, and our efforts to eradicate them. In ancient days we used simple methods, such as cats, and then we tried more sophisticated methods such as potent poisons like strychnine and zinc phosphide, which unfortunately killed humans as well. Then in 1947, we armed ourselves with an anticoagulant called warfarin. For about 25 years we were successfully conquering the rat infestation, but soon they again took the upper hand.

The average female rat produces up to twelve litters a year with an average of ten young rats. The babies are born blind, naked and helpless. A young female can start breeding at 5 weeks of age. She goes into heat every 4 to 5 days and remains that way for 24 hours. She may seem a little more agitated or restless during this time.

Pictured here is the brown “house” rat (rattus norvegicus) referred to in the article as the “Super-Rat”. The (WHO) World Health Organization reported the brown rats found in Holland, Denmark, West Germany and the U.S. have now become immune and states “The world is facing up to an international menace.”

It is not just the rat, but also its parasites which carry bubonic plague, murine typhus, trichinosis, leptospirosis and other diseases. They bite man and eat and have killed infants when hungry. They have spoiled millions of tons of cereals, and grains either by eating them outright or contaminating them with droppings.

“In India encouraging people to eat rats will have positive effects on two fronts. It will provide extra food for the people and cut down on the dependence on rice and further reduce rat numbers. It is estimated that more than fifty percent of India’s grain in fields and warehouses is eaten by rats.” Louie Jerome wrote in her article published on Newsflavor, Aug 20, 2008 How to Remove Rats.

The rat makes a good and protective mother. If her nest is disturbed, she will quickly remove the babies one by one to a safer place.

While we realize rats pose a hazard to our health, it seems the danger is one of environment more than the rat itself because the plagues they are blamed for were actually caused by the fleas they carried. It is not that they do not groom, but the situations and environments in which they live cause them to come across disease ridden parasites.

• The Bubonic plague epidemic of 1347 or Black Death killed 75 million worldwide.
• In 1775 we had a second episode, called the Great Plague and lost several more.
• A third outbreak took place around 1850 starting in China, spreading to India, Hong Kong, Hawaii and San Francisco killing about 120 million more.

While we realize rats pose a hazard to our health, we also respect their intelligence and have enlisted their help in many studies regarding the sciences of medicine and behavior.

Once they are removed from the dangerous environment which life thrusts them in, they pose less risk to our health and safety, and can in fact make a friendly, intelligent and affectionate pet. Read Rats: A Perfect First Pet Published by Cache Ecrivain on Gomestic, Nov 08, 2007 for more reasons to take a rat home for a pet.

• A healthy rat can be found at your pet store, animal shelter, or rat breeder.
• Do not try to domesticate a wild rat.
• Rats should be handled quite frequently so they are comfortable with humans, and exercised daily.
• They do require daily time and attention.

Tips for Choosing the Right Rat

The staff at the pet store or the individual who breeds rats can answer your questions about many of the concerns that you may have. Rats require their own home (they can get lost in your home if you are not careful to watch them) and enjoy a wide array of toys. They are active, social, and intelligent and will supply you with much entertainment and company. They do best when kept with another rat. Pick one from the same sex and litter (preferably), unless you want to start your own rattery.

Do Not Feed Them Meat

I read warnings at a few of the sites which advise not to feed your pet rat meat as it may make him aggressive and even vicious. They like lettuce, carrots, table scraps, fruit, vegetables, grains, and have specially marketed food created for rats sold at your local pet food store.

Rats Have Many Enemies

They are preyed upon by cats, dogs, foxes, birds, snakes, humans, and other carnivores. We are a rat’s worst enemy. We lay traps and poisons, and even capture rats to conduct studies on.

There are Many Kinds

What are the Different Species of Rats? Written by Swapna P for Purpleslinky. “It was noticed that after nuclear tests, the rats in the area seemed the fittest and healthiest.” This comment reminds us that the resilience of the rat has contributed to its ability to thrive in the worst of situations.

According to the authors of Scary Creatures Rats, Dr. Gerald Legg, Mark Bergin and Bob Hershey over 135 types of rodents are called rats, many not resembling one another. They range from 0.2 ounces (6 grams) to the 176 lb. (80 kilograms) capybara.

The capybara lives in South America and considered to be the largest rodent alive. There are over 570 different forms of Rattus.

The giant jumping rat (votsotsa) is actually an endangered species. It is found in Madagascar, and resembles a rabbit more than a rat.

Being Safe from Hantavirus Infection

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers tips for preventing the Hantavirus infection from attacking your family while advising that it is not commonly caused by domesticated rats. Owning one as a pet presents little or no significant threats to humans. It is only if you notice that you have a rat infestation near your home, that you may want to take precaution.

• When cleaning one’s barn, garage, shed or home open all windows one and one half hour prior and allow proper air circulation.
• Wear rubber gloves. Spray all feces, nesting, and urine infected areas thoroughly with a cleaning product labeled as a disinfectant, or with a solution of 1 ½ cups of chlorine bleach to every gallon of water.
• Do not sweep up the droppings or vacuum prior to spraying with disinfectant as this can cause the germs to become airborne and cause more danger of it being inhaled.
• Double bag the droppings and nesting after cleaning.
• Throw away, burn or bury the remains.
• Call CDC if you have any questions @ 1-877-232-3322.

Some Rat Facts

• Female rats are pregnant for 22 days.
• After birthing they eat the placenta and umbilical cord. The babies squeak to remind “Mom” not to eat them too.
• One pair of brown rats can produce 15,000 descendants a year.
• In Victorian England rats were caught to provide entertainment. A terrier named Billy set a record by killing 5,000 rats in less than six minutes.
• The monkey-footed rat can grasp and climb trees with its monkey like feet.
• Each year babies are attacked and killed by rats.
• Chinchilla rats which inhabit the Andes have thick warm fur.
• The province of Alberta, Canada is completely free of rats.
• Rats can survive for two days swimming in open water and have been known to swim for an entire mile.
• The Flores giant rat can grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) long, and an additional 15 inches (37 cm.), if you include its tail.
• Their teeth self sharpen.
• The first recorded rat poison was used 3,500 years ago in the Mediterranean region, made from the plant called red squill.
• Before humans travelled into space, the French sent a rat named Hector into outer space. He returned safely in 1961.
• A stick-nest rat can build a nest up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. These rats live in Australia.

The information available on rats is overwhelming, but I want to thank my sources profoundly for their assistance.