i totally like rats. i used to have one but became allergic to it and animal bedding. one day i emptied the bedding into the trash and a cloud of wood dust came up at me and burned my face like a sun burn. this was strange sence id had wood bedding w/reptiles for yrs and i had the rat for about a year already. i gave the rat away and tried again a couple years later useing corn cob bedding but i got goopy eyes after just a couple of days. anyway, i wish i could have a rat but cant, you guys are so lucky!