I'm looking after a rat for someone, I've had rats before and of all the 'small pets' (hampsters, guinea pigs, meeces, gerbiles, wabbits etc) they are the most rewarding and easy to keep IMO. Anyway - all the others are a bit glaikit in comparison.
It irritates me no end when someone goes "Oooh, I hate its tail!" - bloody cretins, it's a delicate limb used for balance and body temperature regulation.
Hat's off to the *second* most successful mammal on earth :-)
ps. how do I deal with her snuffling? I replaced the pine shavings with non softwood stuff.
They really bond as well. When I had a period away for a week volunteering when I had my rat I had to talk to him on the phone as he pined and wasn't eating much, was fine when he heard me though.