The Rat gets the last laugh

EXN.ca | Discovery: "Ever notice the laughter of children? They laugh freely and easily without having to understand a joke. They're generally more ticklish than adults and often, the mere suggestion that they may get tickled starts them laughing. Just saying Koochi-koochi-coo without the accompanying tickle makes children break out in a fit of giggles.

Well, two American scientists say it's the same for mammals, including the most basic – the rat.

They've tickled rats and found that they make the same chirping sounds as they do when they're playing with each other. The younger rats 'laughed' more than the older rats when tickled just as among humans."

And just how do you tickle a rat?

To Rat or not to Rat that is the Question?

Should You Get a Rat for a Pet?: "If you are considering getting a rodent for a pet, please don't rule out rats (or buy rats) until you've thoroughly investigated them. Check books, web sites and online FAQs and talk to rat owners. What you find out just may surprise you. They do have an awful reputation, which is very undeserved. Rats are much more social than mice or hamsters and a lot less jumpy than gerbils. In fact, they are about as intelligent and just as good pets as dogs - just smaller.

Here are some pros and cons about rats that I think you should be aware of. Remember, though, one person's pro just might be another person's con and vice versa!"

Should You Get a Rat for a Pet?

Moms not too keen...

Pet Rats: "Pet Rats

Moms may not be too keen on them, but pet rats are very good animals for the home. Pet rats are compact and will fit easily in any household, whether it is in the city apartment or the country den. Pet rats require very little care and attention. They eat anything—almost—as they are natural scavengers. And they are actually quite affectionate creatures that bond with humans easily and quickly.

Pet rats can also live longer than goldfish—up to two or four years—though not as long as dogs and cats, of course. And pet rats are one of the easiest kinds of animals to train.

If you take a few simple precautions or steps, you can keep pet rats: you just need a rat cage (which is better for them than a hamster or gerbil cage because it gives them room), one that the freedom-loving creatures won’t chew through and run out of. And you need to give them the same attention you would any loveable domestic, so they won’t get bored. But if you are a rat lover, you won’t e able to resist holding them, putting them in your pocket, or carrying them with you on occasion. Just don’t show Mom."

Mom may not be keen now but she will soon grow to love and care for them.

I quite fancy her

source" Wikipedia Encyclopedia
"The fancy (or pet) rat is a domesticated breed of the Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). The name 'fancy rat' has nothing to do with the 'fanciness' of their appearance but derives from the meaning of 'to fancy,' i.e. 'to like': 'I quite fancy her.' Thus one who keeps pet rats is said to be involved in the 'rat fancy.'

The origin of the fancy rat is probably the rat-catchers of the late 19th century who trapped rats and were paid by town governments per rat, and who also kept certain rats for exhibition/gambling fights. They began breeding rats (possibly to collect more money from the towns, or because it was easier than catching new ones all the time), and became attached to some as they discovered how intelligent and trainable rats can be. One of the most famous of these rat catchers was Jack Black, ratcatcher to Queen Victoria, who became known for breeding and selling pet rats around 1840-1860. Rats became more and more domesticated and people enjoyed them since they are easily bred, social, intelligent, and clean pets. The first rat show was held in 1901 in England. Beatrix Potter, author of the 'Peter Rabbit' series of children's books, had a white pet rat of which she was very fond. Ratkeeping grew in popularity in the 1970s, leading to the formation of the National Fancy Rat Society in 1976."

What does Fancy Rat mean?

Up to mischief?

A group of rats is called a mischief.