Rats tend to (unfairly) get a bad reputation. They’re often associated with unclean areas of cities where they can be seen scavenging for food in train stations, scurrying down the street holding a slice of pizza or attempting to find a way into our homes to seek warmth or steal food. But the rats you see out in the wild (or running along subway tracks) are not the same rats that are commonly kept as pets. Those rats certainly shouldn’t be shamed either, but rats bred to be household pets are incredibly cute.

One reason rats don’t always get the positive press that they deserve is because they aren’t an extremely common pet. Of all the animal owners in the United States, only about 4% of them own a small animal. From there, only about 6% own a rat or a mouse, well behind guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. But rats might just be the ideal rodent pets. Veterinarian Cory Basset, who specializes in exotic pet care, told The Washington Post that most pet rodents are prone to biting their owners, as they are bred for quantity rather than personality. But rats, on the other hand, tend to be much more calm and bond emotionally with their cage mates and owners. 

“Rats are a misunderstood pet,” Bassett told The Washington Post. “People think of them as vermin and pests. People who think they are a really gross pet just don’t realize what they have to offer. If you are looking for a rodent pet that you are going to have a personal connection with, I would recommend a rat.” Rats are also quite intelligent and might have more in common with you than you ever realized. 

Studies suggest that rats dream when they sleep, giggle when they’re tickled, and grind their teeth out of pleasure when they are pet, similar to how cats purr. They have also been known to display empathy, by working hard to help a fellow rat that’s been trapped and by turning down rewards when it means another rat will be harmed. “Rats will help other rats, and that is pretty amazing,” said Peggy Mason, who conducted a study on empathy and pro-social behavior in rats. “They were doing it because they not only recognized that another rat was in distress, but they actually felt that another rat was in distress.”

If you’re considering getting a rat of your own, or you weren’t previously but these heartwarming photos are giving you ideas, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time. First of all, rats make excellent pets due to their intelligence and emotional capacity. They will recognize your voice and, as long as they’re appropriately socialized, they’ll want to spend lots of time with you. Rats also love to play, so it’s important to get them some “toys”, which can be as simple as a feather on a string or a ball they can run around in.

But aside from how cute and fun a pet rat can be, they’re also a lot less maintenance than some of their larger counterparts, like dogs and bunnies. Their compact size makes it easy to have room for them in a small apartment, and they’re very easy to clean up after. They are also a great low-commitment pet for those who don’t have much time to take a fur baby on walks or out to play with others. Rats also only live for about 2-3 years, which can be heartbreaking for owners, but it can also be a pro for individuals who move often or don’t know if they can handle the commitment of having a pet around for 10+ years. 

Although rats can be wonderful pets, it's still important to do your research before jumping into becoming a rat parent. There are a few things you should know about rats if you’re considering adopting one. For example, they’re very social animals, so it’s not recommended to adopt just one at a time. Rats need a friend or companion so that they don’t become lonely, but that usually isn't an issue as two can share the same cage. Another factor to consider is that it’s best to get two rats of the same sex. A litter of baby rats can have 8-18 pups, which can become overwhelming incredibly fast. To ensure that you’re not contributing to rat overpopulation, make sure your little ones won’t be starting a family. 

Rats have many things in common with humans, as we’re both social and intelligent animals. But one more thing you might not have realized we share with rats is the need to eat a healthy diet. Pet stores often sell seed mixes that new rat owners might think are perfect for feeding their little fur babies, but these are high in carbohydrates and fats and not intended for rats. “We see a lot of obese pet rats in our hospital, and research in rats has shown that higher-carbohydrate diets and being overweight shortens their lifespan,” says Jennifer Graham, a veterinarian at the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

And although rats are quite clean and tidy animals, they are still capable of transmitting diseases and pathogens to people. One of which is Streptobacillus moniliformis, which can cause rat-bite fever if left untreated. For this reason, you might not want to have rats around your young children. “Rats are not recommended for children under age five—as is true for all exotic-species pets, including other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians,” says ZCAM veterinarian Marjorie Bercier. “Parents also should ensure that all members of the household wash their hands well after handling pet rats.”

Is this article giving you rat fever? (But not rat-bite fever. If you think you have that, go see a doctor!) We hope these adorable photos are helping you appreciate rats if you weren’t previously a fan of them, and if you already were, feel free to use these pics to convince other people in your life just how wonderful rats are. Keep upvoting the photos you find particularly adorable, and let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had a rat of your own. Then if you’d like to check out even more precious rodent content from Bored Panda, you can find our other articles featuring the world’s cutest rats here and here!