Thinking about a pet? Don't overlook pet rats.

Pet rats aren't at the top of everybody's shortlist for a new pet. People often see them as unclean and prone to ill-tempered behaviour. However rats bred to be pets, also known as fancy rats, do not deserve this reputation. Clean, gentle and affectionate, rats can make ideal pets.

Adult pet rats are about 9-11 inches in size (males larger than females) and live for about two – three years. The domesticated rats sold by breeders and pet stores have been bred to be well disposed towards people Boys rats known as bucks and girls are does. Rats will happily live with other rats of the same gender in a group (complete with a boss and hierarchy). As well as turning them into pets in much the same way as wolves have been turned into dogs, breeders have created lots of different types such as the Dumbo, the Hooded and the Blue Agouti. Just like cats and dogs, anyone interested in showing off their well turned out pet can do so at a national show.

Intelligent, cute and cuddly.

As social animals, pet rats love nothing better than spending time with each other and their human. They adore being rubbed behind their ears or scratched on their shoulders. Some rats will roll over to have their tummy tickled. They return this affection by grooming or licking their owner like a dog. Rats are very playful. They will wrestle with your hand like a kitten and play games such as tug of war, hide and seek, or peek-a-boo. Rats will always be interested in coming out when awake, but when that's not an option, they will happily make do with their toys and cage mates. Just like cats and dogs, rats have their own individual personalities, likes, dislikes and foibles. Some are hyper intelligent, others dumb but cute. In general rats are about as intelligent as a small dog and extremely interested in the world around them. Given the opportunity they will provide plenty of ongoing entertainment as they explore their world and solve puzzles.

That intelligence and interest in doing things means that rats can be trained to do all sorts of tricks. The first thing every owner will want to teach their rats is to come on command, but anyone so inclined can go on to train rats to do practically anything physically feasible. For example, some owners train their rats to run in timed obstacle course races against other pet rats and their owners. The good part is the rats (assuming the training is done properly, using praise and treats for correct behaviour) love both the activity and pleasing their owner.

Moderate maintenance requirements.

Any pet owner has an obligation to look after their pets properly and of course rats will require certain things from their owner. . Providing suitable housing (which you'll need to clean), toys and food will be high on the list, but your rats will also want some of your attention and affection on a regular basis. Rats probably need a bit of this than a cat, but a bit less than say a dog. For example they don't need a daily walk, but should have supervised playtime outside their cage. Also, like any other animal, you may need to pay for treatment by a vet. Because pet rats have moderate housing requirements and don't need to go outside, they can make a good pet for anyone living in an apartment. By instinct they are nocturnal animals and will happily sleep in the day and be active and ready to play when their owners get back from work or school.

Thinking about getting a rat.

There are many websites with more good advice on how to get rats and look after them properly. Rat Care is a good place to start, with advice from which cage to choose to how to pick the right baby rat at the pet shop.