I currently have 9 rats. I am not planning on getting any more. When they die at 2 years old it is too hard on me and therefore from now on I am only getting animals with longer life expectancies.

Anyway, I have kept rats for 8 years and I have had alot of experiences with them. First of all they love their cage and while they do like to explore their cage is their nest and they want to go back to it.

Rats are such sweet animals. I have never owned a nippy rat. Rats love their owners and attention. Plus they'll do anything for a treat.

I know that lots of people have a rodent phobia. That's ok with me as long as they don't treat me or my animals with disrespect. I don't talk about my rats to strangers but once while I was at the vets with two obviously very sick rats a woman came up to me and asked what they were. When I answered "rats" she freaked out at me and called me a nutcase. She walked away saying "Why would you ever have a RAT". Now this was in a vet hospital. She knew that I was having problems with the rats or they wouldn't be there let alone the LOUD WHEEZING. I just responded to her by saying "You know rats make very good pets". She just walked away. I wanted to scream at her but I kept it in. I don't like people who aren't respectful of other peoples choices in pets. If people keep an open mind but decide that that another persons pet is not the animal for them then that's great!