rats are people too!
I recently got to play with these adorable rats on the set of Vamps! I know that they are not people in the sense that they are not of our species...but they are super cute and they are such fascinating little creatures. I love that they have five fingers like ours - five fingers on their hind legs and four on the front. They are so sweet when they lick and clean themselves! They deserve respect and should not be harmed.
The blog Vegan Peace provides some great introductory information about different species of rats and how their communities work. They are very social creatures who have important lives to lead. We should let them do that.
If you'd like to see the rest of my pictures with the rats on the set of Vamps, you can go here!
63 comments
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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!
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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
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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!
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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.
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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 :)
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I heard this story on NPR awhile ago... Rats laugh when you tickle them!! :D
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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
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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
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I love this! I had pet rats about 10 years ago (2 different ones at 2 different times), and I found them to be SO smart, affectionately, and wonderful. You can train them as you would dogs, and they will respond! Mine would come when I called them, hang out on my shoulder while I cooked, travel to the coffee house with me, and snuggle around my neck just happy to be with a human buddy. I can't say enough good things about them! Here's wishing all rats peace and harm-free lives.
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Wow wonderful pictures! I kept rats for a few years, they have great personalities, just like little dogs! They are also a great way to get rid of leftover food as they love everything. It is a shame they have such a short lifespan as its hard to let go of anyone furry and cute xxx
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Oh yea forgot to share that if you didn't know how smart rats are mine were POTTY TRAINED. Yes they had a little "litter box" in their cage and as long as it was kept clean they were trained to keep most of their mess inside! I heart ratts!
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Alicia,
I always thought rats were these mean, scary, gross little creatures until recently. A friend/coworker of mine had two super cute pet rats and found out that sadly it was the only thing he was allergic to! I decided to take the little guys in and though it was quite a bit of work keeping that cage clean i developed a bond for them. They are so loving and crave attention. They would kiss me aka lick like a dog does and it was so fun to feed them fresh veggies and watch them devour em! I have to agree with you that they are very lovin creatures that really need to be given a chance for some love! At the end, one of my little guys developed a tumor on his tummy which is very common, but the vet ensured me that he was in no pain. So i nursed him - fed him fresh apples to keep him hydrated and gave him lots of love and he lived atleast another 4 months which was amazing. Eventually the tumor spread to him brain and I had to put him to sleep but I really bonded with the little guys and was sad to see them both go! I have a newfound view of an animal that really has a bad rep. Be nice to our rat friends everyone....they deserve a chance!
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Thank you for sharing this, Alicia! Although I don't have any pet rats at the moment, I have had several throughout the last 13 years, and they are the most AWESOME little beings! The first rat I had I rescued from the Boulder, CO Humane Society, when I was going to massage school out there. I did some of my internship hours at the Humane Society, doing animal massage. One day I went in, and there she was...this adorable little black rat. I fell in love with her instantly. Did a technique called Tellington Touch on her and soon she doing the little teeth chatter they do when they are content. Went back a week later and adopted her, naming her Colette. We had this instant connection, and I've been a rat lover ever since! I had another rat named Bailey (cream colored male) who won a local paper's "Cutest Pet" contest and was also "Mr. December" in a local shelter's calendar - he was a charmer and quite photogenic! I'll put some pictures on my profile, if anyone wants to take a look. Bottom line - rats are some of the most intelligent, charming, loving, social creatures on this planet, and they really don't deserve the bad reputation and ostracizing they get. RATS ROCK!!!!
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I miss my rattie sooo much! He came when I called his name, was potty trained, rode on my shoulder, and followed me around like a puppy dog! They are great little animals.
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I have two pet girl rats, Macee and Luxe, and they are the most amazing little people I know. We actually have spent about $200 in the last month or so on Macee's vet bills because she got hurt. We love her enough to spend that money on a pet that initially cost us $10. They make you love them. Our girl got her finger caught and the tip of her middle finger fell off. We were so worried about her. Thank goodness we had a Stiptik pencil on us or she could have bleed out. They are the sweetest, kindest, most gentle and loving creatures I have ever seen. You really have to meet them to see how wonderful they truly are. They changed my life. I can't imagine a world without my girls!!
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I love the pics Alicia!
Awesome poem Heather! I have 3 dogs who would are not very tolerant of smaller animals or I would glady give a rat a home.
Rats, whatever the type may be, are not gross. They are just trying to live like everyone else.
Friday, I am sure Alicia would not be involved in any production where an animal was being mistreated. Animals being used in the entertainment industry is certainly a valid issue to be discussed. While there is certainly a case against fiilming non-domesticated animals I do think a dog or, in this case, a rat can be provided an excellent quality of life doing this type of work.
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To those who said gross and ewww you have inspired me(in a really weird way) to visit the rat adoption sanctuary in Arizona. I can clearly see how misunderstood these creatures are. By the way, any type of rat--domesticated or wild--are NOT gross. Wild rats/ wild animals in general should have that right to be left alone in the wild because that is where they are happiest. It is cruel to do otherwise. And if wild rats live behind dumpsters or in the sewer that is their home and should be respected.
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There is a uniqueness to each species. We're not all that. I'm sure if other species came from a different planet and took one look at us they would think we are weird looking and gross. Why? Simply because we look different than them? How narrow minded of them huh?
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Here are some quick fun rat facts I got online: They have excellent memories where once they learn a route they never forget it. This is more than some people I know :-)
They also recognize their names and respond when called and love to be tickled and make these chirping sounds that sound like a little laughter, (that is so cute!) They are playful by tickling your nose and play a little hide and seek with you and love attention. They form strong bonds with their little families and friends and love to sleep curled up with one another.
I would love to curl up with one. If I could ever be so lucky to get that chance. Why are some people scared of a rats tail and scared of rats themselves? Sometimes these misunderstood little creatures are sometimes more scared of us than we are of them. They need to be given a chance.
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I had rats growing up and right now my kids have three little girl rats - Buffy, Willow and Xandra. They are super sweet and friendly. The cage cleaning is kind of a pain, but then they have a huge rattie apartment complex.
There is a big difference, I think, between domesticated animals and wild ones. I wouldn't want to cuddle a feral cat much either - it could have nasty parasites, diseases, fleas... it could bite or scratch me. But no one thinks having a pet cat is gross (well, my husband, but still).
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