Rats

The first new moon of 2020 falls over this weekend. The first new moon of any year also heralds the Chinese New Year. Tomorrow, 25 January, sees the beginning of the year of the rat. 

Rats have held a place in folklore and superstition for centuries. They also hold prominent spots in history. In the Middle Ages, Europe experienced the first outbreak of plague, which killed over a third of the population of Europe in the space of just four years. This particular outbreak was known as the Black Death, because of the enlarged and blackened lymph nodes which sufferers displayed. For many years, blame for the plague was attributed to rats, and the fleas which they carried. More recent research refutes this, suggesting instead that human fleas and body lice were the more likely culprits for the rapid spread of the disease.

Today, many continue to view rats with fear and suspicion. Some cite their tails as the source of their discomfort. Likening the hairless appendage to a snake (another creature which has strong roots in folklore and superstition.)

I’d like to speak up for rats. Having had a number of companion rats over the years, I am very fond of them. Intelligent, responsive, affectionate, inquisitive, playful and utterly charming, if you’ve never met a rat, I recommend doing so. They are by far the most interactive of the various rodents I’ve lived with, forming a firm emotional bond with their principle care giver. 

Rats are sociable animals, living happily in family groups. Sadly, rats which enter the domestic chain are related to laboratory rats, which are pre-disposed to various forms of cancer. Tumours have accounted for the demise of all the rats I have ever lived with, cutting short their life span to sometimes just 18 months. Having said that, the oldest rat I had, Frodo, was closer to four years old when he died.

Rats have many positive traits. Wonderful parents, they will also care for sick and injured members of their group. Contrary to some perceptions, rats are very clean animals. They have been observed spending longer during the day grooming than cats do (cats of course known for being fastidiously clean!) With a high level of intelligence, rats learn quickly and problem solve adeptly. Having once learnt the layout of a maze, they remember the route. The Belgian organisation, APOPO, trains rats to use scent to detect land mines and tuberculosis. 

Rats’ emotional intelligence makes them less likely to bite than other small rodents. This makes them quite a suitable first companion animal for a younger person to care for. Although I don’t currently share my life with rats, I do hope to introduce our son to them when he’s older. Time will tell whether we adopt a group of lively females, who will cause fun and mischief, or a couple of males – larger, and more likely to become lap companions than the females. In preparation for welcoming our next group of rat companions, I will first find him a copy of one my favourite children’s books; ‘Fourteen Rats and a Rat Catcher’. As an animal loving vegan parent, I don’t need to tell you that the relationship between rats and catcher is amicable!