| History has depicted them as filthy
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| | rodents. In reality, rats are very clean
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| creatures that brought about the Black
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| | creatures, grooming themselves daily. The
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| Plague of the Middle Ages. Hollywood has
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| | sign of a healthy rat is a clean,
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| shown them as vicious killers ready to
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| | well-groomed coat. They are not a low
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| attack humans at the slightest
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| | maintenance pet, but are much easier to
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| provocation. Is it any wonder most people
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| | care for than a hamster or larger pet.
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| are fearful at the mere mention of their
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| | Replacing the bedding in their cage every
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| name?How can such a small animal elicit
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| | week, and making sure they have fresh
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| such a huge reaction? But more
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| | food and water daily will go a long way
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| importantly, do they deserve their
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| | to make your furry little friend happy.
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| reputation?Before you judge rats, it
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| | I've found that rats are orderly animals.
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| might help to understand a little bit
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| | Every time Samantha's cage is cleaned she
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| about them. Everyone knows rats are
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| | rearranges it to suit her needs. She
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| rodents, but did you know a male rat is
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| | likes her house, bowls, and toys to be
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| called a buck, a female is a doe, and the
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| | where she wants them.Myth #4
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| babies are called pups or kittens? Rats
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| | Rats are not playful.Rats enjoy
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| reach puberty at an early age, between 6
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| | interaction with their human owners,
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| to 8 weeks. Their bodies are between 9
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| | requiring daily play time. They need at
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| and 11 inches long, with a tail up to 9
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| | least an hour outside of their cage every
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| inches and they come in many different
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| | day to play and socialize with their
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| colors and varieties. Rats have an
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| | family, as well as toys to play with when
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| average lifespan of 2 to 3 years and are
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| | you can't be there. The best toys I've
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| most active at night.Now that you know
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| | found are ones designed for cats. Pick
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| more about them, let's take a look at
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| | ones that can't be chewed by your rat,
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| some of the myths people believe about
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| | because they will chew. Samantha has two
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| rats as pets. Maybe you'll see them in a
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| | plastic balls with bells inside that she
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| whole new light.Myth #1
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| | plays with. You can hear her at night,
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| Rats are mindless creatures. Nothing
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| | rolling those balls around to make the
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| could be further from the truth.
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| | bells ring.Myth #5
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| Domesticated rats are intelligent with a
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| | Rats are only nocturnal creatures.While
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| natural curiosity which makes them very
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| | this is mostly true, it isn't set in
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| trainable. They can be taught simple
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| | stone. Rats will be up when they think
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| tricks with relative ease and love the
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| | you are. Yes they are up at night, but
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| interaction of learning. My son has a
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| | they are also up during the day. They
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| three year old Blue Fancy rat named
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| | will wake up if they feel that you are
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| Samantha. She quickly learned her name
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| | ready to play. Taking them out during the
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| and will come when called. She also
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| | day is a great way to train them that
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| learned to play fetch, chasing a small
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| | daytime is a good time to play. Samantha
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| plastic ball when it is rolled away from
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| | sleeps during the night and day, but she
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| her on the floor, then rolling it
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| | is always willing to come out during the
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| back.Myth #2
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| | day and spend some time with me or my
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| Rats are vicious, dangerous creatures.
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| | son.Rats can be a great first pet. They
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| Rats are very friendly, social animals.
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| | are easier to maintain than a dog or cat,
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| They are easily tamed simply by being
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| | and are friendlier than a hamster. With a
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| handled from a young age. Rats enjoy
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| | little understanding your family can reap
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| spending time with their owners; bonding
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| | the benefits of rat ownership too. Give
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| with them much as a dog bonds with a
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| | rats a chance. You'll be glad you
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| person. They love being petted and being
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| | did.Dawn Arkin is a former rat phobic who
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| close to their family. Our rat loves to
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| | discovered the joys of having a pet rat
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| sit on my shoulder while I'm writing at
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| | later in life. This article has been
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| my computer, sometimes falling asleep
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| | submitted in affiliation with which is a
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| while she is up there.Myth #3
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| | site for Pet Forums.
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| Rats are filthy, disease bringing
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