Imagine a child’s first pet — something to call their own that’s easy to talk to, play with, and be their best friend. If you thought of a dog or cat, try again: A rat is a kid’s perfect companion.
A Santa Barbara–based website called RightPet, which provides care tips and detailed reviews of animal breeds and products, conducted a pet ownership survey from 2010 to 2018 across 113 countries. Based on 5,510 reviews from people who own or have owned pets at ages 10-17, rats provided more satisfaction than any other animal. Unlike cats or dogs, age was negatively related to satisfaction with rats, meaning their desirability decreased as kids got older.
Because rats are more intelligent than other small critters, like guinea pigs or hamsters, they are more fun to play with, said RightPet editor Brett Hodges. They don’t require a lot of attention or space, and they have personalities that children can bond with. Beyond these attributes, “There is a psychological component where kids 10-12 years old don’t want their parents telling them what to do,” Hodges said. “Kids love rats because it shocks their parents.” Hodges remembered his own rat, Tarzan, fondly.