Okay, so if you're here at this site you probably have some inkling that rats are not all they're cracked up to be... Or they don't live up to their name... Or something like that.  You probably no longer conjure up an image of a huge cat-sized nasty flea-ridden creature with long fangs living in some deep, dark, stinky sewer when you hear the word "rat".  However, I still get stares ranging from incredulous to disgusted when I walk around in public with a rat on my shoulder, and so I have every right to voice my arguments on why rats are not disgusting, bad pets etc. etc. here on this site. Besides, you might want to memorize some of them; you may need to start helping me convert all those nasty rat-haters out there!    

Myth:	Fact:
Rats spread the Bubonic Plague.	First off, that happened hundreds of years ago.  We have a cure now.  Second, it wasn't the rats exactly; it was the fleas that rode around on the rats.  Third, it wasn't even the same species of rat; it was the Black rat, Rattus rattus, not the wild form of our pet rats, Rattus norvegicus.  Fourth, the only reason there were rats there in the first place was because the humans were so unsanitary at the time!
Rats will give you rabies.	I have read that it is impossible to get rabies from a rat, due to the fact that rabies is spread in the saliva, and rat bites are "dry"; you don't get saliva on you when they bite.  While I doubt that it's impossible to get rabies from a rat, let's just say that it's very unprobable.  You are a lot more likely to get rabies from a dog, or a skunk, or a bat, or any number of other creatures!  Besides which, pet rats are a whole different matter; the likelihood that a pet rat would be carrying rabies is extremely low; I've certainly never heard of them doing so.  Heck I've never heard of a wild rat carrying rabies.
Rats are dirty.	Rats are actually very clean, and spend a good percentage of their time licking and cleaning themselves, much the same as a cat.  They don't like being in dirty surroundings and will usually avoid it if possible.
Rats are mean.	Rats are actually very social, very interactive, and very nice.  They get very lonely without friends and rarely fight.  They groom each other, snuggle and sleep together, and generally love each other.
Rats bite.	Rats are actually the least likely of all the pet rodents to bite.  A normal rat will only bite under two circumstanes; when in extreme pain, or when protecting a litter of very young pups.  Even in these two instances, however, not all rats will bite.

 

Rat tails are dirty/ugly/slimy/scaly.	While this is partially a matter of opinion, they are most certainly not not slimy (yes, I've heard them called that), and not really scaly; they're actually quite dry and smooth, even soft.  If you truly cannot get over the tails, there is a Tailless breed of rat!
Rats are wild animals.	Rats have been domesticated for quite a long time, actually; they are no more "wild animals" than a dog or cat is.
Rats are ugly.	Yet another matter of opinion; however, I still can't see how people can think mice, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, or heck, rabbits are cute and still think rats are ugly.  Rats are IMO one of cutest critters on earth.  If you don't like the "wild" rat color, don't worry; it's not even all that common in pet rats.  There's now blue rats, silver rats, lynx rats, pearl rats, chocolate rats, champagne rats, silver fawn rats, patterned rats like hoodeds and cappeds and dalmations... I could go on!
Rats smell.	When their cages are kept clean, rats are actually nearly odorless, though the males can smell a little; certainly it's nothing too unpleasant, and it's not exactly going to permeate your house!
Rats will desert a sinking ship.	And you wouldn't?!?!  Okay, that one's true...