They are so sweet and precious.
They love to drive https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11/these-rats-learned-to-drive-tiny-cars-for-science/
They are empathetic https://www.livescience.com/17378-rats-show-empathy.html
And they are some of the smartest and sweetest little cuties ever.
It’s so sad that they’ve being exploited as laboratory fodder including being used as a psychological analogue for humans sometimes https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131020160731.htm and https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-12-rats-brain-region-people-empathize.html
They are so special but sadly do not live very long which makes ownership emotionally draining as you make such deep connections with these little pocket puppies but they pass so soon and usually sooner because of cancers and other diseases caused by inbreeding to provide labs and the pet trade with “supply”.
If anyone wanted an emotional and deeply affectionate pet that isn’t a huge commitment I’d 10/10 recommend a ratty but always get at least two. They are so social and clever that they thrive on having friends. The more the merrier with rattos.
They also wag their tails and boggle their eyes when they are happy and content 🥺😭
As a final factoid, russia recognised rats/mice contribution to science and built a little monument/statue to them. Very based in a world that sees them as vile uncaring vermin and laboratory fodder.
Ferrets make a chuckle sound when they are happy and playing called dooking.
https://youtu.be/8hXvZD6IY8A
They are like little puppies that follow you around the house like a shadow because they always want to get involved in what you are up to.
They do little dances and jumps when they are playing and excited called a war dance.
https://youtu.be/3YD_PR2IHH4
They get so excited that they exhaust themselves after play time and sleep so heavily its called dead sleep because they just go limp and can’t be woken up easily (they are also very dramatic).
https://youtu.be/l6aBhwsIoMQ
Conclusion: they are precious and also comrades.