- Rats have poor vision. To compensate for this, a red or pink eyed
rat will often weave its head side to side to add "motion"
to see better. They also don't see in color.
- Rats normally prefer to have cage mates. It is possible to group
female or male rats together, though care should be taken when introducing
a new rat.
- While it's great to have both female and male rats, be wary of letting
them play together; rats can complete the courting ritual and the whole
romantic relationship in about two seconds.
- Generally speaking, male rats make better "lap" pets, preferring
to sit and have their ears scratched by an attentive human friend. Female
rats are very curious, and love to explore and play games. Both genders
make great companions.
- Rats can eat chocolate.
- Rats can also eat smaller pets. Rats are omnivores, and have enough
predatory instinct left in them to consider birds, fish and even some
smaller rodents as "snacks."
- Rats don't have canine teeth.
- Rats don't have thumbs.
- The oils in cedar and pine are toxic to rats, and should not be used
in their bedding materials.
- A rat's temperature is regulated though its tail (assuming it has
one). A really hot rat will lay on its back so that it can "sweat"
through the soles of its feet.
- A group of rats is called a mischief.
- Red discharge from a rat's nose or eyes is usually porphyrin, not
blood. Unlike blood, porphyrin is flourescent under UV light. It is
produced in glands behind the rat's eyes. Overproduction of this discharge
can be caused by stress or illness.
- A rat's jawbone isn't fused in the middle like ours, so it can make
it looks as though the lower incisors have wiggled apart a bit.
- Rats bathe themselves, usually six times a day or more. A rat's saliva
has some pink pigmentation, which can cause a light-colored rat to look
discolored. A warm washcloth with baby shampoo is great for those trouble
spots.
- Rats have bellybuttons.
- Rats don't have gallbladders.
- Rats don't have tonsils.
- A rat's fur smells like grape soda.
- Rats can be trained to do simple tricks.
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