History
Rattus rattus, the Black Rat, is believed to have arrived in Europe in the 1st century AD, hitching a ride on trade routes from the east. After spreading the bubonic plague in the middle ages, it remained dominant until the arrival of the Brown, or Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus in the 18th century. Domestic rats are all Brown Rats. Rats have been bred in captivity since Queen Victoria’s Royal Ratcatcher began breeding some of the rats he caught. Through selective breeding, their nature has altered and domestic rats today are as different from wild rats as domestic dogs are from wolves. It is recommended that you do not approach a wild rat as it may pass on disease and will almost certainly bite if cornered.

Dispelling some myths
Unless you already keep rats, the chances are that you’ve never met one, or if you have, it was a fleeting affair with both parties moving away from each other as fast as possible. Since the days of the bubonic plague, rats haven’t been the most popular of animals, and a number of myths has grown around them.

Rats carry diseases
Because they have been bred in captivity under hygienic conditions for many generations, and have no contact with the wild rat population, the chances of contracting an illness from a domestic rat is negligible. Domestic rats are bred from Brown Rats, it is Black Rats that spread the plague.

Rats are dirty
Watch a rat for any length of time and it is apparent that they are fastidiously clean, grooming their entire bodies many times a day.

Rats are vicious
Having been selectively bred form rats with a good temperament, the domestic rat is a docile, good natured animal. They have sharp teeth and powerful jaws, but are very unlikely to bite. Most bites are gentle nibbles resulting from the rat investigating a finger to see if it is food. They stop nibbling as soon as they realise that your finger isn’t food; I will happily hand feed my rats peanut butter without fear of getting bitten. It seems strange that hamsters are more popular, while the chances of receiving a serious bite from a hamster are much higher than from a rat.

Rats are a low maintenance pet
Rats are intelligent, social animals. Some researchers even rank their intelligence on par with dogs. They are intelligent enough to suffer from boredom, and need to be socialised and played with daily, much like a puppy. Rat care extends far beyond cleaning a cage and filling a water bottle.