About the Rat
The Plague
Sadly, rats get a bad rap. They are considered dirty, diseased and dangerous (how’s that for alliteration?), and one of the main reasons for this misconception is the bubonic plague. When asked how the plague began, most people either point the finger at rats or admit to not knowing.
Many rat lovers will defend their pets to the end: “the rats didn’t do it!” Although it is true that the main culprit was the rat flea, it is important to note that rats carried the flea. Because the rats carrying the fleas boarded ships and vessels bound for different countries such as China, Turkey, Egypt, North America, Greece, Russia, South America, and southern Africa, the plague spread rapidly.
However, it is true that the Oriental Rat Flea was the main villain in the Black Plague saga. The bubonic plague bacteria killed rats and infected their fleas. In fleas, the bacteria multiplied and blocked the stomach, causing an insatiable hunger. Because the fleas were starving and their hosts were dead, they were forced to find new hosts. The disease spread to humans when the infected fleas began feeding on people. During the feeding process, the flea would regurgitate some of the bacteria into the open wound of the human, thus beginning the infection.
The bubonic plague, or “Black Death,” was one of the worse natural disasters in world history, killing more than twenty-five million people. This was approximately one-forth of Europe’s entire population during the 1300’s.
For more information on the bubonic plague, visit the links section under “More About the Rat.”
Rats in other Countries
Despite the negative Western view about rats, they are actually quite well-regarded in other countries. In Japan, rats are a sign of wealth, and at the new year, rice cakes are set out for the rats. A good harvest is fortold if a rat nibbles on the cakes. The rat is considered a sign of prosperity in China, as well. As you probably know, there are many different “years” in the Chinese Zodiac, and the first one is the rat. According to Chinese folklore, the rat comes first because of its intelligence and cunning. In Deshnoke, India, there is a temple dedicated to rats. They are often fed milk, and the people drink the same milk the people do. Inside the temple, the rats are protected and socialize with humans. They are only aggressive when cornered; in the temple, however, the rats are considered sacred and are protected. Also in India there is a park for rats (in Calcutta), where the wild rats are fed.
Throughout history, rats have been symbols in various cultures and religions. In Ancient Rome, they were considered a good luck symbol, and Egyptians worshipped them. In addition, the Hindu god “Ganesha” is often riding on the back of a rat.
For more information about the worship of rats in India, visit the links section under “More About the Rat.”
A Little Bit about the Wild Rat
Wild rats live in small colonies. Female rats usually live in burrows with up to six other females. Each has her own nest chamber, but they may raise their offspring together. When the young are weaned, the young males leave the nest.
When there are few males in a rat population, a male rat will monopolize an entire burrow full of females. He claims a certain amount of territory as his, and keeps other males from entering that territory. He mates only with the females in his burrow. If there are many males in a rat population, however, the male can no longer defend his territory adequately; there are too many invaders for one rat to handle. In these situations, males do not “claim” certain burrows. Rather, there is a social heirarchy among males: one male is dominant. When a female comes into heat she mates with many males, most dominant first.
The lifespan of wild rats is much lower than domesticated rats, with most rats living less than one year.
For more information about the wild rat, visit the links section under “More About the Rat.”
The Beginning of the Domesticated Rat
Rats first began to be bred in captivity in the 1800’s, for a sport called “ratting.” Dogs were put in pits filled with rats and trained to kill as many as possible. Thousands of wild rats were captured for the pits, until someone had the genius idea to breed them soley for the purpose of this “sport.”
A rat catcher called Jack Black was the first person thought to breed rats and sell them as pets. Much later the idea for rats as pets began to catch on; however, the rat was still only considered a suitable pet for children. They appeared in many children’s books and fairytales, such as “Cinderella”, “The Pied Piper”, many Beatrix Potter books, “The Rats of Nimh”, and more.
Rats became popular as pets in the 1990’s.
on August 18th, 2006 at 8:43 am
You have an awesome website. Very informative. I learn alot about rats because I love them and would have a few but at the moment is not the right time for me to do so, but I have had in the past and enjoyed their company very much so!
Nina
on August 18th, 2006 at 8:43 am
You have an awesome website. Very informative. I learn alot about rats because I love them and would have a few but at the moment is not the right time for me to do so, but I have had in the past and enjoyed their company very much so!
Nina
on September 16th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
HELP!!!
Ilove pet rat but,I have a problem with some wild
rats in my home! How do find and free these things???
We woke this moring to find our couch riped up and a food stash under the rocker/recliner chair!!!! HELP WHAT DO WE DO ???
Can someone help us????
Denise
on December 25th, 2006 at 11:35 pm
i love the idea of pet rats..
on January 18th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I really really want rats but my mum hates them.What can i do?I have enough money for the cage, supplies and the ratties themselves. enough pocket money for maitenence.I would love rats,but cant think of anything to change my mums mind. Please help?Rats are so adorable and i would give them a loving home but my mum doesn’t think im reliable….Please Help?What can i do to change her mind?
on February 8th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
how i got my mom to let me get a rat wa i borrowed my friends rat just saing i was taking care of it and i let the rat crawl on her and it fell asleep on her lap now when im at school my mom gos in to my room and sleeps on the couch with my rat:P lol
on March 21st, 2007 at 4:56 am
i got a rat for my birthday in september last yr nd a week ago i bort anotha 1.
…sept i only found out yesday she was actually pregnant…i was really suprised…she gave birth to 6 babies while i was at skool today…i woz a bit worried as this is the first litter my rats hav had nd i wasnt expectin the birth…just wonderin if theres any info on helpin 2 look afta the babies that could help me at all…thnx
on August 18th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
This is the best website ever. i sugest rats because they are simple and intellegent.
on October 20th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
World’s History at Culture Club…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
on January 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi we have had rats since July. I got 1 at first then read up on sites like yours that they are better with 2 or more. So a week later i got another rat. (both girls) ! Pebbles, 1 snowball. They are the sweetest animals they really are. I enjoy having them. more recently i have got a male. (he is in a different cage).I have allowed one of the females to mate with the male.( the one and only time she will do this.) I love them so much and i am looking forward to her having babies. If homes cant be found for her babies. I will look after them and buy bigger cages to accommodate them. they are so sweet. your site has been so informative and i look forward to telling you of the new arrivals.
on January 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
what do you do when a rats nails get to long.
on January 20th, 2008 at 1:23 am
awsome website! theres a lot of information about rats on here and how to take care of them i love this website!
on February 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I love your site!!!! I have been raising ratties for the last 7 years since I was 13. I just absolutly love them. We have had 350 litters of rat pups!! We now have 450 rats as our personal pets. I woul dnot know what to do with out them.
on February 25th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
It is such a shame that many people think rats are disgusting and would never own one. But that’s o.k. because I know that’s not true and I have the two most loveable rats named Igby (female) and Gus Gus (male) which are soon to have babies. I can not wait to watch the arrival and growth of them and be an important part in the raising of them so maybe I could give them to good homes and change a few peoples’ perspectives. I’ve already changed my boyfriends perspective on rats. He thought they were nasty until I came home with Igby. And after a few days of him playing with her he fell in love and know likes her best out of all the animals we have!!!!