How intelligent are rats? Can you teach them to do cool rat tricks? Would you like to have your very own rat pack? Here are 7 fascinating facts about these super smart rodents that could make you fall in love with them... Show
Want a pet that’s smart? Rats are an excellent choice. Did you know that, along with chimpanzees, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, dogs, pigs, pigeons and octopuses, rats are considered by experts to be one of the smartest species on the planet? Scientists have discovered that, just like us, rats can make decisions based on what they do or do not know – something called metacognition. A PhD study conducted by Dr Ben Vermaercke and his colleagues at KU Leuven University in Belgium states: “Even though the rat brain is smaller and less complex than the human brain, research has shown that the two are remarkably similar in structure and function. Both consist of a vast amount of highly connected neurons that are constantly talking to each other.”
Rats make great pets as they love learning new things, which makes them quite easy to train. By using food treats, patience and positive reinforcement (always go at your rats’ pace), you can teach your rats some simple tasks and tricks. You could start by teaching your rats to come to you when you call them. Begin by saying your rat’s name when he is in front of you and rewarding him with a treat when he reaches out to take it from your hand. Once he does that a few times, start saying his name when he is further away from you and comes to get the treat from your hand. Eventually, when he hears his name, he will come to you anticipating the treat. Once your rats have mastered the concept of performing new behaviours in exchange for rewards, you can train them to perform tricks – such as jumping through a hoop or racing through a maze. As with any kind of animal training, kindness and patience is key – never tell your rats off if they don’t get something right.
Once they’ve bonded with you, pet rats will happily sit in your lap or on your shoulder, grinding their teeth to show they are quite content – this is called ‘bruxing’ and is similar behaviour to a cat purring. What’s more, rats laugh when you tickle them – although it’s not a sound that can be heard by the human ear. In the late 1990s, neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp discovered that rats emitted a unique ultrasonic vocalisation while playing or anticipating the opportunity to play with other rats, indicating a positive emotional state. Further study revealed that the rats laughed the most when being tickled by the human scientists involved in the experiment.
Like to watch a movie cuddled up with your pet? If you’ve got rats, a good choice would be Ratatouille or Flushed Away. It was once thought that rats have poor vision but, according to findings of a PhD study, rats can actually see pretty well. Lead researcher Dr Ben Vermaercke reveals: “We know that their visual abilities are pretty advanced. We’ve done research showing they can tell the difference between a movie that features a rat and one that doesn’t.” DID YOU KNOW? Contrary to popular belief, rats are fastidiously clean and like to groom themselves regularly. Just like cats, their tongues are rough, which helps them keep their coat dirt free. They can also be trained to use a litter tray.
Want a pet that loves you back? Rats will definitely fit the bill. Erin Stromberg, a keeper at Think Tank, an exhibit that highlights animal cognition at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC, points to some research that demonstrates rats' amazing capacity for empathy and compassion – qualities that are not often attributed to animals other than humans. He reveals: "When given the choice, rats chose to free other caged animals rather than take a food reward."
Dogs may be considered ‘man’s best friend’, but rats are in the running for the title – they’re even known as ‘pocket dogs’. Although their lives are quite short (around two to three years), these loyal and affectionate rodents quickly learn to recognise the sight and sound of their human and, once they’ve learnt to trust you, will love to spend time every day hanging out with you.
In Africa, the APOPO HeroRat non-profit organisation trains Gambian pouched rats to detect land mines that have not been detonated. For each one they identify correctly, they get a food reward. These superhero mine-detection rats can search 200 square metres in one hour – with a metal detector this would take two to four days. Landmine detection rat Magawa recently received the PDSA Gold Medal for his life-saving work in Cambodia, making him the first rat to receive this distinguished award for bravery. How to have your very own rat packIf you’ve decided that becoming a rat guardian is right up your alley, here’s some essential information:
Are your rats Burgess rats? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards. If you found this interesting, you may also like: BONDING WITH YOUR SMALL PETS Hand feeding is a great way to build a closer bond with small animals. It takes time to build trust, but when your little friend finally feels confident enough to take a treat from your hand, it’s a special moment. Our in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes has some tips... 10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR SMALL PETS WARM AND SNUG THIS WINTER Hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, degus and chinchillas, may also need some extra warmth to help them through the bleak midwinter. BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL PETS Enriching the lives of our small animals will help them lead their best pet lives. We’ve lots of ideas for things you can introduce to keep things interesting for small furries. HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A HAPPY PET With some pets, it’s pretty easy to work out if they’re happy. Dogs, for example, are such a giveaway with their wagging tails and big sloppy smiles. With other pets, signs of happiness can be rather more tricky to figure out. NEW PETS ON THE BLOCK From dogs to degus, cats to chinchillas, rabbits to rodents – when did these awesome and amazing animals become our furry companions? Sources: hbr.org, peta.org, rspca.org.uk, bluecross.org.uk, vetstreet.com, nationalzoo.si.edu, healthypets.mercola.com nationalzoo.si.edu, petmd.com Are male or female rats more intelligent?To summarize, females outperformed males while learning to associate stimuli across time; as a consequence, they retained a greater percentage of adult-generated neurons in their hippocampi than did males.
Are male and female rat brains different?For example, compared to male rats, female rats have twice as many AVPV neurons that express markers of both glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling (Ottem et al., 2004).
Which are best male or female rats?Male rats are known as bucks, and I love them unconditionally, because a good male rat is a personable, curious chonk of affection and intelligence. Female rats, known as does, tend to be smaller and livelier, but if well-handled can be just as cuddly. No one who loves rats will be disappointed by either.
Are female rats cuddly?Some people believe male rats move slower, cuddle more, and are more easygoing. Females are known for being playful, energetic, and less likely to cuddle.
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