Like I think the name gives it such a bad sound, and the movies make them sound like evil. Like if i said I own a rat my friends would tink it was gross, but if they saw one and it was called a hamster or something they would think its cool. It's really hard to explain, but do you get what i mean?
2007-02-18 05:34:37 · 15 answers · asked by Andrea S 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I know exactly what you mean. Every form of media has made the rat look like a disgusting, vermin-ridden, plague-driven, bloody-fanged, evil creature. But they are not, and if someone lets me, I can babble on all night in dispelling the myths and misinformation about wild rats.
Case in point for "larry m": When a colony of wild rats gets too big for their living space, a group breaks off to go out and colonize a new area. They do not stay together and get diseased, and die off. If rats get diseased it's because of us and our dirty habits.
The Fancy Rat makes an awesome pet and again, I could babble on about the angelic qualities of these most personable and intelligent rodents.
RAT is a four-letter word. Congures up all kinds of horror images. We in the fancy like to call rats: Ratties, Norwegian Whip-tailed Squirrels, Palm Dogs, Rittens, all in an attempt to put good images into peoples' heads.
It's funny but I've had people waiting with me in the lobby of vet clinics. If they think the animal is a hamster, gerbil, or guinea pig, they get all cutesy, wootsy with it. They even want to pet it. Then I tell them it's a rat and they jump back in disgust, shaking their hand that touched the animal, and look around for the disinfectant. It's just toooooo funny.
Respectfully, I'm known as the "Rat Lady" where I live. It's because I adore pet rats and help other rat-keepers care for their pets. I wear that title with pride. But to others I'm a crazy lady who lives with rats. It's all in your point of view.
Why this Ratty Repulsion? Summed up in 4 simple words......
* Prejudism: An opinion for or against something without adequate basis.
* Paranoia: A psychosis marked by delusions and irrational suspicion.
* Ignorance: Lacking knowledge, uneducated, unaware, uninformed.
* Stereotyping: An idea that many people have about a thing or a group and that may often be untrue, or only partially true.
It's been hard to break down the wall that people have built between themselves and rats. But I'll keep on trying.
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"My life has gone to the rats"
2007-02-18 16:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly what you mean, I use to work at a Petco and noticed a definately distain for rats as they sat in the cages next to the gerbils, guinea pigs, and hamsters. When I was asked what rodent was generally the best pet for a child in the small animals I'd get alot of shocked responses when I told them for a small child, Id say Id avoid hamsters do to their fragniless and their tendness to bit at first, Id also avoid guinea pigs, while friendly and smarter than hamster, make a big mess, and gerbils are extremely agile which could equate to lost. Rats are by far cleaner than any other rodent, smarter and friendlier than hamsters and generally amazing pets.
2007-02-18 05:51:39 · answer #2 · answered by College Guy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Andrea,
I definetly agree and understand what you mean, but I think the rat predjudice is generated more by their not-so-nice cousins, wild rats, not their name. I love rats - but hey, I am no way going to go out to some barn and pick up a real one! Gross! However, pet rats are wonderful and some of the best pets.
Maybe we should create a new breed of animal or name for them. They really are nothing like wild rats. However, I don't think their tails increase their popularity either... though I know a lady who absolutetly hated their tails at first (of my rats) and had ended up owning a rat ever since. : ) She has an amazing rat cage too. The rats win people over themselves, don't you think?
2007-02-18 05:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by sir'slady 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Rats aren't gross at all. I have three and am holding them right now. Unlike mice they don't stink and are very affectionate. They love to lick and and be held! I love my little rats so much! Hahaha, to add on to what the person below me said they are very smart. I actually did I science experiment with them for school. I put them in a maze. No I didn't hurt them. How could I? I have a manx rat. She was born with out a tail and is so cute. She is alot smaller than my other rats too. I got her from a breeder and she has papers.
2007-02-18 05:39:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well......no. I mean if it lives in the sewer, of course it will be gross...but wouldn't you? Pet mice are very cool and not gross at all. But if you don't clean the cage it will be. People say that rats smell and they are dirty. That is only true if you let them get that way.
2007-02-18 06:09:19 · answer #5 · answered by A Fire Inside 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever hear of the Bubonic plaugue. Rats are pretty dirty. They tear up and poop on everything they come accross. The results of the plaugue were as follows.
The Black Death was one of the worst natural disasters in history. In 1347 A.D., a great plague swept over Europe, ravaged cities causing widespread hysteria and death. One third of the population of Europe died. "The impact upon the future of England was greater than upon any other European country." (Cartwright, 1991) The primary culprits in transmitting this disease were oriental rat fleas carried on the back of black rats.
2007-02-18 06:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by Stormy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
rats are often assoicated with pests and not pets. if you lived in some parts of the world you have have pest hamsters living in your attic. people that own rats will tell you they are a lot more social, friendlier, and intelligent than fuzzier relatives.
2007-02-18 05:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats got there bad name from there behavior. They breed into colonies and when then it gets to full of rats it gets diseased and die off leaving just the strongest to survive,and it starts all over again. Been reported over centuries for spreading disease,such as plagues.
2007-02-18 05:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by Larry m 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
i don't think they are gross at all. to me they look like giant mice, i actually think they are cute. i've never had one, but i hear they are smart, and loyal. you're right, the name does make them sound bad, bcuz if somebody scams you, or is mean to you, most people will call them "a dirty rat".
i like them, and i might have one if i didn't already have gerbils :)
2007-02-18 05:42:44 · answer #9 · answered by ferrets4ever 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
rats are cool and smarter than hamsters.
2007-02-18 05:41:20 · answer #10 · answered by ilovewolves_animals 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋