Examine individual changes

'{{About|pet brown rats|pet Gambian pouched rats|Gambian pouched rat|pet black rats|Black rat}} [[File:Ratte-Vache.jpeg|thumb|A common capped mismarked fancy rat]] The '''fancy rat''' is a [[domestication|domesticated]] brown rat (''[[Rattus norvegicus]]''), which is the most common type of '''pet rat'''.<ref name="langton-history">{{cite book | title = Rat: How the World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top | first = Jerry | last = Langton | chapter = Entertainer, Test Subject, and Family Friend | chapterurl = http://books.google.com/books?id=n488n52-wYUC&pg=PA87&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0 | publisher = Macmillan | accessdate=8 January 2009 | year = 2007 | isbn = 0-312-36384-2}}</ref> The name ''fancy rat'' derives from the idea of [[animal fancy]] or the phrase "to fancy" (to like, or appreciate).<ref name="MMratdoc"/> Fancy rats have their origins as the targets for [[blood sport]] in 18th and 19th century Europe. Specially bred as pets since then, fancy rats now come in a wide variety of colours and coat types and there exists several rat fancy groups worldwide. Fancy rats are commonly sold as pets in stores and by breeders. In fiction, pet brown rats are often depicted as ''tamed'' rather than ''domesticated'', akin to when a character befriends a [[wolf]]. As tamed pets, they have been portrayed in roles that vary from evil to ambiguous to lovable.<ref name="ebert">{{cite book|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Roger Ebert's Four-Star Reviews 1967-2007|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2008|pages=637|isbn=0-7407-7179-5|quote=Remy, the earnest little rat who is its hero, is such a lovable, determined, gifted rodent that I want to know what happens to him next, now that he has conquered the summit of French cuisine.|url=http://books.google.com/?id=v43dJNPMJIkC&pg=PA637}}</ref> Domesticated rats are physiologically and psychologically different from their wild relatives, and, when acquired from reliable sources (such as a breeder), they pose no more of a [[zoonosis|health risk]] than other common pets.<ref>{{cite book|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Zoonoses:Introduction|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/220100.htm|chapter=Table on Global Zoonoses|year=2008|publisher=Merck and Co., Inc|accessdate=11 January 2009|chapter-url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/tzns01.htm}}</ref> For example, domesticated brown rats are not considered a plague threat,<ref name="JAVMA">{{cite journal|last=Orloski|first=Kathleen A.|coauthors=Sarah L. Lathrop|date=February 15, 2003|title=Plague: a veterinary perspective|journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|volume=222|issue=4|pages=444–448|url=http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.2003.222.444|doi=10.2460/javma.2003.222.444|pmid=12597416}}</ref> though exposure to wild rat populations could introduce pathogens like ''Salmonella'' into the home.<ref name="merck-general">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171547.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Generalized Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> Fancy rats experience different health risks from their wild counterparts, and as such, are less likely to succumb to the same illnesses as wild rats. == History == [[File:Rat-baiting6.jpg|thumb|left|The blood sport of rat-baiting is an unlikely antecedent for the practice of keeping rats as pets.]] [[File:Jack Black.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jack Black (rat catcher)|Jack Black]] made his living not only from catching rats, but also from selling them for use in [[dog-baiting|baiting]].]] The origin of the modern fancy rat begins with the [[rat-catcher]]s of the 18th and 19th centuries who trapped rats throughout Europe.<ref name="langton-history" /> These rat-catchers would then either kill the rats, or, more likely, ''sell'' the rats to be used in bloodsport.<ref name="krinke">{{cite book | last = Krinke | first = George J. | others = Gillian R. Bullock (series ed.), Tracie Bunton (series ed.) | title = The Laboratory Rat (Handbook of Experimental Animals) | publisher = Academic Press | date = 15 June 2000 | pages = 3–16 | chapter = History, Strains and Models | isbn = 0-12-426400-X}}</ref> [[Rat-baiting]] was a popular sport until the beginning of the 20th century. It involved filling a pit with several rats and then placing bets on how long it would take a [[terrier]] to kill them all. It is believed that both rat-catchers and sportsmen began to keep certain, odd-colored rats during the height of the sport, eventually breeding them and then selling them as pets.<ref name="langton-history"/><ref name="rmca-history">{{cite web | url = http://www.rmca.org/Articles/domestication.htm | title = The Domestication of the Rat | last = Hilscher-Conklin | first = Caryl | publisher=Rat & Mouse Club of America | accessdate = 10 November 2008}}</ref> The two men thought to have formed the basis of rat fancy are [[Jack Black (rat catcher)|Jack Black]], rat-catcher to [[Queen Victoria]], and [[Jemmy Shaw|Jimmy Shaw]], manager of one of the largest sporting public houses in London. These two men are responsible for beginning many of the color varieties present today.<ref name="langton-history"/><ref name="afrma-history">{{cite web | url = http://afrma.org/rminfo4a.htm | title = The History of Fancy Rats | publisher = American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association | accessdate = 10 November 2008}}</ref> Black, specifically, was known for taming the “prettier” rats of unusual color, decorating them with ribbons, and selling them as pets. It was not uncommon in upper circles of Victorian England to see a lady with her pet rat on a short monkey leash sitting on her lap, grandly festooned with ribbons.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} Rat fancy as a formal, organized hobby began when a woman named Mary Douglas asked for permission to bring her pet rats to an exhibition of the National Mouse Club at the [[Aylesbury]] Town Show in England on October 24, 1901. Her black-and-white hooded rat won "Best in Show" and ignited interest in the area. After Douglas' death in 1921, rat fancy soon began to fall back out of fashion. The original hobby formally lasted from 1912 to 1929 or 1931, as part of the National Mouse and ''Rat'' Club, at which point ''Rat'' was dropped from the name, returning it to the original National Mouse Club. The hobby was revived in 1976 with the formation of the English [[National Fancy Rat Society]] (NFRS).<ref name="langton-history"/><ref name="afrma-history"/> Pet rats are now commonly available in stores and from breeders, and there exist several rat fancy groups worldwide. == Differences from wild rats == {{See also|Brown rat#Biology and behavior|l1=Brown rat|Laboratory rat}} While domesticated rats are not removed enough from their wild counterparts to justify a distinct subspecies (compare ''[[Canis lupus familiaris]]''), there are significant differences that set them apart; the most apparent is coloring. Random color [[mutation]]s may occur in the wild, but these are rare. Most wild ''R. norvegicus'' are a dark brown color, and fancy rats may be anything from [[#Varieties|white to cinnamon to blue]].<ref>Refer to specific information in the [[#Varieties|Varieties]] section</ref> Behaviorally, domesticated pet rats are [[taming|tamer]] than those in the wild.<ref>{{cite book|last=Knight|first=John|title=Animals in Person: Cultural Perspectives on Human-animal Intimacy|publisher=Berg Publishers|year=2005|pages=131|url=http://books.google.com/?id=UTycF9esNdIC&pg=PA131|isbn=1-85973-733-1|accessdate=10 January 2009}}</ref> They are more comfortable around humans, known to seek out their owners while roaming freely. They have decreased reactions to light and sound, are less wary of new foods, and have better tolerance to overcrowding. Fancy rats are shown to mate earlier, more readily, and for a longer period of time over their lifespan.<ref name="barnett">{{cite book|last=Barnett|first=S. Anthony|title=The Story of Rats: Their Impact on Us, and Our Impact on Them|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Australia|date=April 1, 2002|pages=21–23|chapter=Naming and Taming|isbn=978-1-86508-519-7|chapterurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=WSHVlTr-PpsC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA21,M1}}</ref> Also, domesticated rats exhibit different behaviors when fighting with each other; while wild rats almost always flee a lost battle, caged rats spend protracted amounts of time in a belly-up or boxing position.<ref name="fighting">{{cite journal|title=Aggressive behavior in the rat|doi=10.1016/S0091-6773(77)90308-X|year=1977|author=Blanchard, R|journal=Behavioral Biology|volume=21|issue=2|pages=197–224|pmid=562152|last2=Carolineblanchard|first2=D}}</ref> These behavioral traits are thought to be [[Nature versus nurture|products of environment as opposed to genetics]]. However, it is also accepted that there are certain underlying biological reasons for why some members of a wild species are more receptive to domestication than others, and that these differences are then passed down to offspring (compare [[Domesticated silver fox]]).<ref name="barnett"/><ref name="price">{{cite book|last=Price|first=Edward O.|title=Animal Domestication and Behavior|publisher=CABI Publishing|year=2003|isbn=0-85199-597-7}}</ref> Domesticated rats have a longer lifespan than that of wild rats. Because domesticated rats are protected from predators and have ready access to food, water, shelter, and medical care, their average lifespan is around 2 years, in contrast to wild ''R. norvegicus'' which average a lifespan of less than one year.<ref name="langton-lifespan">{{cite book|page=168|chapter=Second Only to Us|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0312363842|title=Rat: How the World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top |date=26 June 2007|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=0-312-36384-2|accessdate=13 November 2008|first=Jerry|last=Langton}}</ref> However, wild rats generally have larger brains, hearts, livers, kidneys, and adrenal glands than laboratory rats.<ref name="barnett"/> The fancy rat and wild rat also both face a multitude of differing [[#Health|health concerns]]; the former is at risk of developing a [[pneumococcal infection]] from exposure to humans, while the latter may harbor tapeworms after coming in contact with [[vector (epidemiology)|carriers]] like cockroaches and fleas.<ref>Refer to specific information in the [[#Health|Health]] section.</ref> ==Social behavior== {{seealso|Brown rat#Social behavior|label 1=Social behavior in the brown rat}} [[Image:Rats_young.jpg|thumb|Baby Rats]] Particularly with males, there can be some fighting in the beginning, but once an alpha rat has been determined, the rats should get along well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Domestic Fancy Rats|url=http://www.altpet.net/rodents/rats/rf13.html|work=Can 2 male rats co-exist in one cage?|accessdate=9/2/2011}}</ref> Within a week or two, the rats will most likely have adjusted and become friendlier with each other. Rats are generally very friendly to other cage mates, particularly with females. They will even sometimes help or take care of other sick rats. == Fancy Rats as Pets == As pets, fancy rats are the most intelligent, affectionate and responsive of all the small rodents. They are great as pets for children and are extremely social. In fact, fancy rats do better in same sex pairs than on their own, and because of that, it is recommended that you invest in at least two rats, rather than one. Opposite sex rats will mate and leave the owner with many kittens. Though they are quite social, fancy rats usually don’t do well with other pets such as cats or dogs, though there are definitely some exceptions. They enjoy exploring new environments and chewing, so the owner must make sure areas are “rat-proof” before letting their pet roam. Fancy rats’ lifespan is usually about 2 years, but they are prone to respiratory infections that can cause health problems throughout their lives. Fancy rats can also develop scabs, abscesses, tumors and deformed teeth. A few veterinary visits may be required and owners should watch out for strange behavior or any other signs of health issues. Besides potential veterinary costs, rat care and maintenance costs should not be too high. A large cage, bedding, rat food and chew toys are the only requirements. <ref>{{cite web|title=Keeping Pet Rats: A Short Guide|url=http://www.nfrs.org/shortinfo.html|publisher=National Fancy Rat Society|accessdate=21 April 2013}}</ref> == Varieties == <!-- Before changing COLOUR to COLOR please refer to WP:ENGVAR, the Fancy rat originated in England so it is fitting to keep British spellings in this article. --> [[File:Americanblue.jpg|thumb|left|The American Blue is one of several standardized coat colors.]] As in other pet species, a variety of colors, [[coat (animal)|coat]] types, and other features that do not appear in the wild have either been [[selective breeding|developed]], or have appeared spontaneously. Any individual rat may be defined one or more ways by its color, coat, marking, and non-standard body type. This allows for very specific classifications such as a ruby-eyed cinnamon berkshire rex dumbo.<ref name="MMratdoc">{{cite episode|title=Rats|url=http://www.tv.com/modern-marvels/rats/episode/1195778/summary.html?tag=episode_tabs;overview|series=[[Modern Marvels]]|credits=Writer: Kaylan Eggert Narrator: Max Raphael|network=History Channel}}</ref> === Coloring === While some pet rats retain the "[[agouti gene|agouti]]" coloring of the wild brown rat (three tones on the same hair), others may be black-based colors (a single color on each hair). Agouti-based colors include agouti, cinnamon, and fawn. Black-based colors include black, beige, and chocolate.<ref name="ratgen"/> Additionally, eye color is considered a subset of coloring, and coat color definitions often include standards for the eyes as many genes which control eye color will also affect the coat color. The [[American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association]] (AFRMA) lists black, pink, ruby, and odd-eyed (two different colored eyes) as possible eye colors depending on the variety of rat shown.<ref name=afrma-std/> ''Ruby'' refers to eyes which at a glance appear black but which are on closer observation a deep, dark red. Color names can vary for more vague varieties, like lilac and fawn,<ref name="ratgen">{{cite web|url=http://afrma.org/ratgenpart3.htm|title=Rat Genetics, part 3|first=Nichole|last=Royer|publisher=AFRMA|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> while the interpretations of standards can fluctuate between (and even within) different countries or clubs.<ref name=afrma-std>{{cite web|url=http://afrma.org/fancyrm.htm|title=American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association standards|publisher=AFRMA|accessdate=21 November 2006}}</ref><ref name=carol>{{cite book|title=Rats|last=Daly|first=Carol H.|url=http://books.google.com/?id=7aNn84hsNs8C&pg=PA15&dq=international+rat+standard#PPA15,M1|publisher=Barron's Educational Series|year=2002|isbn=0-7641-2012-3|edition=2|page=15}}</ref><ref name=nfrs-std>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfrs.org/varieties.html|title=National Fancy Rat Society standards|publisher=NFRS|accessdate=21 November 2006}}</ref> {{-}} === Markings === [[File:Rat siamese.JPG|thumb|<!-- Do not change to siamese, the picture is misnamed -->Himalayan rats have a unique color and marking variation.]] Further dividing the varieties of fancy rats are the many different markings. Pet rats can appear in any combination of color and marking. The markings are typically in reference to the patterns and ratios of colored hair versus white hair. Two extremes would be a self (completely solid, non-white color) and a Himalayan (completely white with a gradual blend of coloring toward its nose and feet, called "points", as in a Siamese cat's markings).<ref name="rsa-standards">{{cite web|url=http://ratsocietyofamerica.org/standards2.html|title=Standards|publisher=Rat Society of America|accessdate=3 February 2009}}</ref> Markings have a strict standard for showing in fancy pet rat shows. For example, in the case of hooded rats, the stripe or "saddle" should be a single, unbroken line that runs down the spine and possibly partly down the tail.<ref name=nfrs-std/> However, many domestic rats are not bred to a colour standard such as those found in pet shops, and as such, will have "mismarkings", which are defined as variations in markings that are not recognized as "standard" by rat fancy clubs. Commonly recognized standards include: * Berkshire – coloured top, white belly * Hooded – colour runs from full head down spine * Capped – colour on full head only * Variegated – a blaze, or short white strip on the forehead, with a fully coloured head and splotches or flecks of colour run down the back only * Irish or English Irish – In England the Irish is standardized by the NFRS as an [[equilateral triangle]] of white with a side that begins at the chest, or between the front legs, and where the point ends mid length.<ref name=nfrs-std/> In the United States and elsewhere, clubs like the AFRMA distinguish this marking as the English Irish and allow for another standard Irish in which the rat may have white of an even or symmetrical nature anywhere along its underside.<ref name=afrma-std/><ref name="fox">{{cite book|last=Fox|first=Susan|title=The Guide to Owning a Rat|publisher=TFH Publications|date=1997-08|page=12|isbn=0-7938-2157-6}}</ref> Other marking varieties include [[dalmatian (dog)|Dalmatian]]-like spotting, blazes, masks, and Siamese (typically a [[gradient]] of colour along the body, darkest at the base of the tail and nose as in Siamese cats), and "[[Downunder rat|downunders]]" (an Australian variety which has a solid colour stripe on the belly or a colour marking that corresponds to markings on top).<ref name="rmfe">{{cite journal|last=Hemberg|first=Yvette|coauthors=Cindy Sautchuk|year=2000|title=A New Rat Variety Down Under|journal=Rat and Mouse Fancy Report|publisher=Rat and Mouse Fanciers for Excellence (RMFE)|volume=1|issue=1|url=http://rodentfancy.com/pets/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/downundr.pdf|format=PDF}}</ref> {{-}} === Body type === [[File:Velvet small.jpg|thumb|right|A male "Dumbo" rat, a variety with ears placed lower on the head. Named for resemblance to [[Dumbo]] the elephant.]] Two of the most prominent (and thus standardized) physical changes applied to rats through selective breeding are the development of the Manx and Dumbo. The Dumbo, whose origins are in the United States, is characterized by having large, low, round ears on the sides of its head, while the Manx rat shares both its name and mutation with tailless [[Manx cat]]s.<ref name=afrma-std /> === Coat types === There is a relatively small variety of coats in relation to the number of colours and markings, and not all are internationally standardized. The most common type is the Normal or "Standard," which is allowed variance in coarseness between the sexes; males have a coarse, thick, rough coat, while females' coats are softer and finer.<ref name=afrma-std/><ref name=nfrs-std/> Other standardized coats include: Rex, in which all the hairs are curly, even the [[vibrissae|whiskers]]; Velveteen, a softer variation on the Rex; Satin or Silky coats, which are extra soft and fine with a sheen; and Harley, characterized by whispy long straight hairs.<ref name=afrma-std/><ref name=nfrs-std/><ref name=ratspacnw-std>{{cite web|url=http://www.ratspacnw.org/rat%20standards.htm|title=Rats PacNW standards|publisher=RatsPacNW Rat Fanciers Club|accessdate=12 January 2009}}</ref> Remaining coat types are not defined by the hair itself, but rather by the lack of it, such as hairless rats. ==== Hairless rats ==== [[File:Hairless rat Lhassa.jpg|thumb|Even though this rat is hairless, [[pigmentation]] indicates that it is a hooded rat.]] {{See also|Laboratory rat#Hairless rats|l1=Hairless laboratory rats}} Hairless rats are a coat variety characterized by varying levels of hair loss. Hairless rats, bred from curly-coated Rexes, range from having areas of very short fur to being completely bare. Hairless rats are genetically produced by breeding different combinations of the genes that cause Rex coats. Since Rex is a [[dominant trait]], there only needs to be one Rex parent to produce curly Rex-coated offspring. However, when two copies of the trait are present, by breeding two Rexes together, the coat is affected differently—causing hairlessness, and earning the colloquial name, "Double-rex". One subset of semi-hairless rats, Patchwork rats, constantly lose hair and regrow it in different "patches" several times throughout their life.<ref name=afrma-std/><ref name=nfrs-std/> === Ethics of selective breeding === There is controversy among rat fanciers in regard to selective breeding.<ref name="nfrs-breeding">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfrs.org/geninfo.html|title=General Information - Advice for the Novice Breeder|date=3 May 2008|publisher=National Fancy Rat Society|accessdate=14 November 2008}}</ref><ref name="rmca-breeding">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmca.org/Articles/breeding.htm|title=Breeding: Can YOU Live With It?|last=Isaksen|first=Mary Ann|date=January 1999|work=Rat & Mouse Gazette|publisher=Rat & Mouse Club of America|accessdate=14 November 2008}}</ref> On one hand, breeding rats to "conform" to a specific standard or to develop a new one is a large part of [[#History|what the fancy was founded on]]. On the other hand, the process results in many rats who do not "conform", and are then either given away, sold as food, or killed—referred to as ''[[culling]]''. <!-- Commenting out instructional text during discussion, see talk page If a person is in search of a fancy rat of certain colour or type for a pet, an attempt should be made to deal with reputable breeders, who do not over-breed their animals without "reserved" homes ready and in place for expected babies. Reputable breeders do not practice culling, or "feeder breeding", as most large commercial pet shops do with the exception of Pet Smart (a pet supply company located in the continental United States), which is known for its attempt to treat its sale animals ethically, even going so far as to provide veterinary medical support if your pet rat should become ill within 3 days after purchase. Reputable fancy pet rat breeders which specialize in unusual colours, markings and coats are easily found online and on reference through fancier clubs.<ref name="rmca-culling">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmca.org/Articles/culling.htm|title=Alternatives to Culling|last=Isaksen|first=Mary Ann|date=January 1997|work=Rat & Mouse Gazette|publisher=Rat & Mouse Club of America|accessdate=14 November 2008}}</ref> -->Additionally, there are concerns as to whether or not breeding hairless and tailless rats is ethical. The tail is vital for rats' balance and for adjusting [[Thermoregulation|body temperature]]. Tailless rats have greater risk of [[Hyperthermia|heat exhaustion]], poor bowel and bladder control, falling from heights, and can be at risk for life-threatening deformities in the pelvic region like hind leg paralysis and [[megacolon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afrma.org/taillessrats.htm|title=Tailless Rats|last=Royer|first=Nichole|year=1998|work=AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales|publisher=American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association|accessdate=14 November 2008}}</ref> Similarly, hairless rats are less protected from scratches and the cold without their coat. Groups such as the [[National Fancy Rat Society|NFRS]] prohibit the showing of these varieties at their events and forbid advertisement through affiliated services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfrs.org/banned.html|title=Banned varieties|publisher=The National Fancy Rat Society|accessdate=11 November 2008}}</ref> {{-}} === Accessibility === Because ''[[R. norvegicus]]'' and related species are seen as pests, their intentional import into foreign countries is often regulated. For example, the importation of foreign rodents is prohibited in [[Invasive species in Australia|Australia]],<ref name="aqis">{{cite web|url=http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs/other|title=Other Pets - DAFF|publisher=Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service|accessdate=3 March 2009}}</ref> and so various coat types, colours, and varieties have been bred separately from foreign lines, or are just not obtainable within that country. In other areas, like the Canadian province of [[Alberta]], which is considered rat-free,<ref name="Bourne">{{cite web|last=Bourne|first=John|title=The History of Rat Control in Alberta|work=Agriculture and Food|publisher=Alberta Department of Agriculture|date=1 October 2002|url=http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3441|accessdate=1 December 2007}}</ref> the ownership of domestic fancy rats outside of schools, laboratories, and zoos is illegal.<ref name="Bourne"/> {{-}} == Health == {{See also|Brown rat#Diseases|l1=Diseases in the brown rat}} [[File:HPIM1922.JPG|thumb|Fancy rats of both sexes commonly develop mammary tumours as they age. These are usually benign, but multiple tumours can persist even after removal.<ref name=merck-neoplasia>{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171562.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Neoplasia|accessdate=7 January 2009}}</ref>]] Human-raised ''[[R. norvegicus]]'' are more prone to specific health risks and diseases than their wild counterparts, but they are also far less likely to succumb to certain illnesses that are prevalent in the wild. The major considerations for susceptibility include exposure, living conditions, and diet. Rats that live their entire lives indoors usually are able to avoid disease-causing bacteria such as [[Salmonellosis|''Salmonella'']] and ''[[Pseudomonas aeruginosa]]''; the latter is absent in treated water. They may also more easily avoid [[Vector (epidemiology)|vectors]] like cockroaches, beetles, and fleas who are essential for the spread of [[endemic typhus]] and intestinal parasites like the [[Hymenolepiasis|Rat tapeworm]].<ref name="merck-skin">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171546.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Skin Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref><ref name="merck-gastro">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171544.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Gastrointestinal Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> Additionally, pet or laboratory rats enjoy the intrinsic benefits of having a consistent and well-balanced diet, along with access to medical care. While living indoors decreases the risk of contracting certain diseases, living in close quarters with other rats, being unable to always seek proper protection from environmental factors (e.g. temperature, humidity, drafts), being fed an unhealthy diet, and the stresses inherently associated with living in an unnatural habitat can all adversely affect a rat's health to make them more prone to specific conditions.<ref name="merck-skin"/><ref name="merck-manage">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171543.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Management|quote=Ambient temperatures >85°F (29.4°C), high humidity levels (>80%), poor ventilation, and overcrowding predispose rodents to heat exhaustion.|accessdate=7 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171548.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Reproductive Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> Specifically, [[Tyzzer's disease]], protozoic infections (e.g. ''Giardia muris''), and pseudotuberculosis are usually seen in stressed or young rats.<ref name="merck-gastro"/><ref name="merck-resp">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171545.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Respiratory Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> Additionally, pet rats are exposed to ''[[Streptococcus pneumoniae]]'', a [[zoonotic]] disease caught from humans, not the same bacteria associated with [[strep throat]]. A human-associated fungus, ''[[Pneumocystis carinii]]'' (also found in almost all domesticated animals) is usually asymptomatic in the rat, unless the rat's [[immune system]] is compromised by illness. If this occurs the infection can develop into [[pneumonia]].<ref name="merck-resp" /> Several diseases, like Rat Coronavirus Infection (RCI), [[Sendai virus]], and Murine Respiratory Mycoplasmosis (MRM, ''[[Mycoplasma|Mycoplasma pulmonis]]''), are prevalent simply because their highly contagious natures work in tandem with the way rats are kept in laboratories, [[pet store]]s, and by breeders.<ref name="merck-gastro" /><ref name="merck-resp" /> It should be noted, however, that MRM is far less likely to occur in laboratory rats than in those kept as pets.<ref name="merck-resp" /> Pet rats can also develop [[Pituitary adenoma|pituitary tumors]] if they are given high-calorie diets,<ref name="merck-neoplasia"/> and [[ringtail (disease)|ringtail]] if they are placed in areas with low humidity, high temperatures, or drafts.<ref name="ratguide-health">{{cite web|url=http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ringtail.php|title=Health Guide- Ringtail|accessdate=24 april 2009}}</ref> ''[[Staphylococcus]]'' spp. are a mostly benign group of bacteria that commonly reside on the top of the skin, but cuts and scratches from [[social animal|social]] and hierarchal fighting can open up the pathways for them to cause [[ulcerative dermatitis]].<ref name="merck-skin"/> === Risks to owners === Keeping rats as pets can come with the stigma that rats supposedly transmit dangerous diseases to their owners. One fear is that all rats carry [[plague (disease)|plague]], when in fact ''R. norvegicus'' is not among the list of species considered a threat.<ref name="JAVMA">{{cite journal|last=Orloski|first=Kathleen A.|coauthors=Sarah L. Lathrop|date=February 15, 2003|title=Plague: a veterinary perspective|journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|volume=222|issue=4|pages=444–448|url=http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.2003.222.444|doi=10.2460/javma.2003.222.444|pmid=12597416}}</ref> In 2004, an outbreak of [[salmonella]] in the United States was connected to people who owned pet rats,<ref name="cdc">{{cite web|url=http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5417a3.htm|title=Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium Associated with Rodents Purchased at Retail Pet Stores|date=May 6, 2005|publisher=[[Center for Disease Control]]|accessdate=14 November 2008}}</ref> however it has been determined that a pet rat's initial exposure to salmonella, along with many other zoonotic rat-diseases, typically indicates exposure to ''wild'' rodent populations, either from an infestation in the owner's home, or from the pet's contaminated food, water, or bedding.<ref name="merck-general">{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171547.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual - Generalized Diseases|accessdate=9 January 2009}}</ref> == Fiction == {{see also|Rat#In fiction|l1=Rat}} <!-- "great claim, needs backing up" : Since [[Eadweard Muybridge|Muybridge]]'s first films, rats have been widely used in entertainment media. --> Samantha Martin, a professional animal trainer for films, commercials, and music videos, has claimed that rats are one of the easiest animals to train due to their adaptability, intelligence, and focus.<ref name="wilson">{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Stacy Lynne|title=Animal Movies Guide|publisher=Running Free Press|date=April 20, 2007|pages=365–366|isbn=0967518539|chapter=Samantha Martin: Exclusive Interview|chapterurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=dGYzZLrBrS4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA365,M1}}</ref> Rather than portraying pet brown rats as thoroughly domesticated, they are often cast as a wild brown rat which a character tames. The [[short novel]] ''[[Ratman's Notebooks]]'' by [[Stephen Gilbert (novelist)|Stephen Gilbert]] was the basis for the films ''[[Willard (1971 film)|Willard]]'', ''[[Ben (1972 film)|Ben]]'', and a 2003 [[Willard (2003 film)|remake of the first film]]. Here, the protagonist befriends the rats found in his home and builds up a close relationship, only to have it end tragically. While these movies generally emphasize the popular perception of malevolence<ref name="clute">{{cite book|last=Clute|first=John|coauthors=John Grant|title=The Encyclopedia of Fantasy|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|date=March 15, 1999|pages=642|isbn=0312198698|quote=Rats also come into their own in supernatural fiction or dark fantasy, where they tend to represent invasive evil....}}</ref>—they kill people, cats, and ransack grocery stores—other wild rats who become pets are portrayed in more neutral to positive ways; the television show, ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', shortly featured "[[List of House characters#Minor characters|Steve McQueen]]", the pet rat of the titular character,<ref name="house">{{cite web|url=http://www.housemd-guide.com/season2/221euphoria2.php|title=HOUSE: Guide to the TV Show|work=Second Season Episodes: #221 "Euphoria Part 2"|accessdate=25 February 2009}}</ref> and the 2007 film, ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'', is about a rat described by [[Roger Ebert]] as "earnest... lovable, determined, [and] gifted" who lives with a Parisian garbage boy.<ref name="ebert">{{cite book|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Roger Ebert's Four-Star Reviews 1967-2007|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|year=2008|pages=637|isbn=0740771795|quote=Remy, the earnest little rat who is its hero, is such a lovable, determined, gifted rodent that I want to know what happens to him next, now that he has conquered the summit of French cuisine.|url=http://books.google.com/?id=v43dJNPMJIkC&pg=PA637}}</ref> In many versions of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] franchise, the master and adoptive father of the turtles is [[Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Splinter]], who was once the pet rat of [[ninja]] [[Hamato Yoshi]] and learned his martial arts skills by imitating his owner. == See also == * [[American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association]], US * [[Fancy mouse]] * [[Experimental evolution]] * [[List of fictional mice and rats]] * [[National Fancy Rat Society]], UK * [[Rat agility]] * [[Rat genome database]] * [[Working rat]] == References == {{reflist|2}} == External links == {{Commons category|Pet rats}} * [http://rodentfancy.com RodentFancy.com] – A site maintained by the former head of the defunct Rat & Mouse Fanciers for Excellence (RMFE). * [http://www.ratbehavior.org/rats.html Rat Behavior and Biology] – A website with useful referenced articles that pertain to the scientific study of the domesticated Norway Rat. * [http://ratguide.com/ Rat Guide] - An online resource with information about fancy rat health and treatment of illness === Organizations === * [http://www.afrma.org American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (USA) (AFRMA)] * [http://www.nfrs.org The National Fancy Rat Society (UK) (NFRS)] * [http://www.rmca.org Rat & Mouse Club of America (USA) (RMCA)] {{good article}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fancy Rat}} [[Category:Pet rats]]'