If you want a pet that’s fun to look at and occasionally hold, then a pet rat is not for you. Domesticated rats are inquisitive, friendly, bond extremely well with their owners, and need to be handled daily.http://www.petrats.org/whyrats.html Your pet rat may live in a cage, but it wants to be with you! Rats are attention sponges. Even though rat personalities vary widely, and they do bond with one another, it’s imperative that they have human interaction on a frequent basis, or you will wind up with a very neurotic rat. It’s a good idea to own two rats. If you are not handy to play with, they relate well with one another. (Two female rats highly recommended.)

They are a lot of fun, and wonderful with children. Rats are very active, so be prepared for that. But once you get attached to a pet rat, there is genuine mutual affection, which is most rewarding. They love pet toys, and the more proper items you can introduce into their habitat, the better. Above all, do not let your rat get bored. This may be an odd analogy, but it’s like putting a young human in a cage with nothing to do and no one to interact with. Yes, pet rats are that intelligent.

Rats are social animals and should be housed with a cage buddy rather then housed alone.

1. Spots and scabs: Can be caused by an overly rich diet, claws too sharp and in need of trimming, or mites. The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats
2. Abscesses: From an infected cut or bite. The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats
3. Tumors The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats
4. Malocclusion: Broken, damaged or deformed teeth. The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats
5. Respiratory diseases The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats
6. Loss of weight and condition: Usually the onset to old age but can be a sign of a underlying disease. The National Fancy Rat Society: Keeping Pet Rats

• There are many variations of pet rats. Some of the basic types found in pets shops are:

Black Black-hooded Fancy Rat "Amara"http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rats/Images/FancyRat2WCRt_AcS136.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rats/rat.php&usg=__Lt--TvLRaMwGKtIsnexdCIAp7Gg=&h=350&w=400&sz=14&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=IK207o754fX6TM:&tbnh=109&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DPet%2BRat%2BBlack%2Band%2BWhite%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1

• Rex Rathttp://spoiledratten.com/breedingratscontent7.html
• Argente Cream Rathttp://www.dapper.com.au/whatrat.htm
• Topaz Rat|Topazhttp://www.dapper.com.au/whatrat.htm
• Silveredhttp://www.afrma.org/ratsilvr.htm
• Himalayanhttp://www.afrma.org/rataocp.htm
• Siamese Rathttp://www.afrma.org/rataocp.htm
• Agouti Rat|Agoutihttp://28rats.com/variety.htm
• Cinnamonhttp://www.afrma.org/rataoc.htm
• Blue Agouti Rat|Blue Agoutihttp://www.afrma.org/rataoc.htm

There are countless other breeds of rat, bred for color, type of coat, and distinctive personalities.