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If you’re living in a part of the world where you’re at risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder and you’re sick of logging time in front of a light box (especially since your fungal infection is cured), maybe it’s time for a change.
Maybe it’s time to cash in on the psychological benefits of adopting a pet. But for those who don’t want to give up on being an iconoclast just yet, maybe it’s time for an unlikely pet. Maybe it’s time to adopt a rodent.
Also, now that the word is out about the neurosis-inducing parasite present in many cats, maybe it’s time to break the fourth wall and consider rats as equally suitable domestic companions. 
Rats, like felines, are OCD when it comes to hygiene, and tongue-bathe several times a day. They’re affectionate and playful, and will prove it by licking, nuzzling, and bruxing.
If you’re still hedging, here are some famous rat owners & their rats:
Beatrix Potter & Sammy
And for when you hit the timeshare this spring…rat hammocks
Rats are bad-ass, and I’ve been trying to convince my wife of this for years. I really want my son to get to have a rat as a pet, at least once.
I’ve had, let’s see… 4 rats total as pets in my life, from elementary school through college. I would drive to school with one (in its cage!) in the back of my VW bus and bring him into class.
I was a drama major, so nobody really did double-take.
Rats are playful, affectionate, and very rewarding. Just don’t let them near anything of any value. They’ll chew it until it doesn’t work anymore. I lost two Atari 2600s this way.
posted by drew lanning on 2-9-2007 at 4:10 pm
In my high school biology class, we were assigned partners and were supposed to keep something alive in the classroom all year. A lot of people had plants, but my partner and I got a rat (my partner’s idea). At first I was not too keen on the idea of a rat, but Gina (my lab partner also picked the name) was awesome. I had her for a long time after the class was over. She knew her name, was very friendly, and was good friends with my parents’ dog (a black lab mix).
Drew is right about the chewing, though. We’d let Gina out to run around on a spare bed, and once we forgot about her. Two hours later, a sweatshirt that was on the bed was riddled with holes.
posted by Molly on 2-9-2007 at 4:37 pm
I wasn’t too sure about having rats as pets either, but my roommate got 2 rats and I fell in love. I really love all of our girls we have 5 rats now.
posted by Michelle on 2-9-2007 at 7:53 pm
Amen to that! I have for girlies and they’re the love of my life. Rats are the best pets anyone can have. At the end of the day, when I get home from class - all my girls are waiting for me to open the cage, and when I do they all come tumbling out grinding their teeth and all happy to see me. =) Great pets.
posted by Genevieve on 2-9-2007 at 7:56 pm
I had a pet rat when I was about 15. His name was Socrates. Very freindly and affectionate. He loved to sit on my shoulder and climb around my ears.
We got him from my sister’ High School psych class before they fed him to the boa constrictor.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 2-10-2007 at 12:35 am
Can someone explain to me what the woman ironing is watching or standing in front of? Is it a TV, a computer monitor, or a sunlamp or what?
By the way, I loved the rat pictures, and having looked after some rats, I think they make good pets for considerate children and sensible adults.
posted by Mary McClavey on 2-10-2007 at 1:54 pm
Rats are fantastic pets! They’re clean, intelligent, and incredibly friendly.
Nothing beats a rat snorgling in your ear after it decides that you need to be cleaned.
posted by Marci on 2-11-2007 at 1:32 pm
We have been blessed to discover ratties after moving from that rat free province Alberta (Canada). I had never seen a live rat in my life before and went in to the pet store looking for a hamster after my rabbit died. The lady in the pet store introduced us to two sisters and when she told us what they were, we nearly freaked but after about 10 minutes, we were sold and now have 5 (the last 3 being rescues, one destined to be snake food). There is so much to say about these little critters but all I really can say is that I will own (or they will own me) rats for the rest of my life (even if I do go back to Alberta… SHHHHHH don’t tell them…) Clean, friendly, smart, cuddly and sociable. My husband calls them the poor man’s dog…. Love them to death.
posted by Cindy on 2-11-2007 at 6:35 pm
(sigh) Guess it must be a lightbox.
posted by Mary McClavey on 2-11-2007 at 10:20 pm
yeah, not the best pic, but it’s a lightbox. really have to take one of those for a spin; my childhood on the tundra was pre-lightbox! and love all the great rat stories–makes me want to rent “the rats of nimh” again. dom deluise: so amazing.
posted by becky on 2-12-2007 at 1:26 am
My first pair of rats were the best. I’d take them to the beach, set them on the sand, and take a walk down the beach…and they followed me! So cute!
posted by Johnny Cat on 2-13-2007 at 10:31 am
I have had numberous pet rats over the years. They are personable and friendly and quite intelligent (more so than some of the rodents I work with). I have trained every rat I owned to come to a wistle, like any dog. I would let them wander the house and when I whistle, the come running. I didn’t even loose too many things to chewing.
The trouble is that their lives are too short. They are notoriously prone to cancer, and that is not a pleasant way to have your loved pet go. I will probably not get another one because I grew weary of saying goodbye.
posted by n2y2 on 2-14-2007 at 6:40 am
Yes, I do live in a SAD-prone area, but given that a rat in our area - somebody’s pet - recently infected a local vet with leptospirosis to the point that he was hospitalized in critical care, I think I’ll take my chances with my cats.
posted by debbalee on 2-14-2007 at 6:41 am
Both rats and Guinea pigs are great pets. They are smart, affectionate, easy to care for, and relatively hearty. Baby Guinea pigs are born with fur and their eyes are open from birth. They actually look like miniature adults. I would stay away from hamsters and gerbils, though. They are more fragile and you never know exactly where they have been (eg. Richard Gere.) ;)
posted by Gale Siegel on 2-14-2007 at 10:47 am
HEY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS SAYS IT ALL - STARRATS101, HOWEVER IT IS ASTRONOMY BASED, SPELLING STAR BACKWARDS ETC… I OR SHOULD I SAY WE (MY DAUGHTER) USED TO OWN 2 RATS AND THEY WERE VERY CLEAN AND VERY FRIENDLY. WE EVEN USED TO CARRY THEM SHOPPING WITH US CARRING THEM IN OUR FRONT SHIRT POCKETS. THEY ARE GREAT ATTENTION GETTERS.
posted by JOHN BROWN on 2-14-2007 at 3:20 pm
We used to have pet rats in the first grade, they were very fun. We’d be able to take them out of the cage sometimes.. at the beginning of the year they’d crawl through mazes we’d set up with bricks, and they’d do it relatively quickly. Once they got big enough though, they sort of just toppled them all over. It was cute.. I’ll probably get some kind of pet when I move out, although really I’m gravitating more towards dogs, I want someone to run with sometimes, and so many dogs have tons of energy… I’ll probably get a medium sized dog.
posted by Michele on 2-15-2007 at 9:24 pm