If you only know rats as pests, you may wonder how anyone ever thought to keep them as pets. But many of their natural qualities made rats suitable for domestication. In fact, you have more in common with rats than you might realize.

Why consider a rat as a pet?

"Compared to many other rodent species, such as mice and gerbils, rats are highly social creatures," said Aaron Blaisdell, a professor of psychology at UCLA, who studies cognition in rats and pigeons. They're also smarter than you think.

Rats also share our ability to be lifelong learners. Their varied diet in the wild means that they can take advantage of many different food sources.

But brains aren't everything, and rats are clearly loved mainly for their affectionate nature. The only disadvantage mentioned repeatedly was their short lifespan, which is 2 to 3 years.

Any rat owners here? Leave a comment so other rat lovers can know you and make friends.

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Sega Toys announced that they're coming out with three new robotic animal types for their highly popular Dream Pet series: a cat (modeled after a full-grown American Short Hair), an owl that looks like Hedwig from Harry Potter, a parrot, and a kitten.

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A cat has been reunited with its owner 10 years after going missing.

Lynx disappeared from her home in Hook, Hampshire, in 1997, and her owner, Patricia Charnet, thought she would never see her pet again. Earlier this week a stray was found in Carterton, Oxfordshire, and handed in to the Blue Cross centre in Burford. A scan showed that the 12-year-old tabby was microchipped and the centre tracked down her owner, who lived 60 miles away.

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Tags: cat, cats, microchip

• Adrenal Disease

One of the most common conditions to occur in ferrets is adrenal disease. Growths or enlargement of the adrenal gland typically requires surgery. External signs are a loss of hair, usually starting at the tail and working forward. Sometimes the back of the neck loses hair. In some cases, the vulva of females becomes enlarged. Left untreated, it's fatal. Prospects for recovery when caught early are very good, though.

• ADV

Aleutian Disease Virus is a parvovirus that can infect ferrets and their cousin species, such as minks. It produces excessive and rapid weight loss. There's no cure and it can be fatal, though in many cases it produces symptoms that are treatable.

Since it can be transmitted through urine and feces, it's possible for one ferret who is a carrier but not affected to infect others. Tests can show whether an animal has the virus and it's helpful to have one done before bringing a new ferret into an existing 'family'. CEP or CIEP (Counter Immune ElectroPhoresis) is the most common test.

• ECE

Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis, also known as Green Slime Disease, is an inflammation of the mucous membranes. It produces green, slimy, foul smelling feces during diarrhea (hence the name). Yes, all feces smell, but ferrets can get greenish diarrhea for a number of reasons. These are distinctive. The causes are not entirely understood.

It may last only a week or two and go away untreated. But in about 20% of cases it can become more serious, leading to wasting away. In either case, owners should seek treatment as early as possible. Only known for a little over 10 years, it's still under intensive research. Treatments vary, such as the use of slippery elm bark powder, but should be applied by a vet.

• Ear Problems

Keeping your ferret's ears clean is important, but simple. Wax can build up, or they can get ear mites and other conditions.

A weak solution of ear cleaner helps loosen wax, then (like a dog) they will shake their heads vigorously expelling the wax.

Treating ear mites requires only a little ear cleaner, then Tresaderm.

The procedure should be repeated every day for at least a week. Careful examination with a flashlight and magnifying glass can help reveal any substance that might still be in the ear. A ferret's ear canal is L-shaped, so piercing the ear drum isn't a common problem. But they are delicate, so take care.

• Cancers

Older ferrets, around 4 years or more (like other aging mammals) are prone to develop tumors and other cancers. Some of these are treatable by surgery, others eventually take the life of the ferret. But ferrets are no more prone to cancer at a young age than a dog, cat or humans.

Still, since they are very curious and exploratory, it's helpful to ensure they don't come into contact with common household items that can encourage cancers. Benzene and other organic solvents are known to increase the risk. Be sure to ferret-proof your house.

Tags: ferret, ferrets

How much will you pay for an empty dog food can?

There are people willing to pay for such a thing, if it's for Paris Hilton's pet Chihuahua from Paris Hilton's house.

Scavengers from HollywoodStarTrash is auctioning an empty gourmet dog food can from Paris Hilton's trash.

It has started a bidding war. The bid price has went over $300.

From the auction page:

 

FROM YOUR FAVORITE STAR'S TRASH STRAIGHT TO YOUR HOME!

We guarantee that each item comes from the trash bins outside the celebrity's home!*

This auction is for:

PARTY ANIMAL Organic gourmet empty dog food can! People Magazine online reported that six cases of this gourmet dog food were delivered to Paris' house, along with a large fruit basket from Edible Arrangements that included chocolate-covered strawberries, grapes and melons on Thursday, June 7, 2007.

The item comes in one of our custom StarTrash boxes.

This item is brought to you by the guys at HollywoodStarTrash. Check out the documentary StarTrash Episode 1 on our website and watch how we did it!

We guarantee that the items we are selling were taken from garbage in front of the celebrity's house but we cannot guarantee that the items were used or thrown out by the celebrity himself/herself.

*In the State of California it is legal to remove trash from bins placed on the street curb.

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Tags: paris hilton, ebay

The North American wood frog belongs to a small group of animals that are freeze tolerant. As the temperature drops below freezing each winter, the wood frog drifts into a deep hibernation, its breathing and heartbeat grind to a halt, and as much as 65% of the water in its body gradually crystallizes into ice. Sound uncomfortable? The wood frog seems not to mind terribly much, as it spends two or three months of each winter frozen, with its body temperature ranging between -1°C and -6°C. When spring finally arrives, the ice melts, heartbeat and breathing return, and the frog continues on its happy-go-lucky way.

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Janet Crystal of Cambridge, Mass., says part of why she loves rats is "because they're the underdog. I'll show someone a picture and they'll say, 'Oh that's cute, is that a hamster?' I tell them it's a rat and then they say 'eeuw.' The picture didn't change."

"They are, if I only had one word to use, it would be sweet," says Crystal. "They are incredibly affectionate."

"More than most other small pets you can have, rats are much like small dogs in the sense that they WANT to be with their family all the time, and love human contact," she says.

The words "sweet" and "cute" may seem out of place. But domestic rats don't act like street rats — as Crystal says, "It's like comparing a dog to a wolf" — and they don't look like them either. Breeders have come up with many variations: different colours and coat types, and dumbo rats, whose ears are lower on the sides of their heads.

"When I come home from class they run to the walls of the cage and jump up and hold onto the bars with their little paws and I'll scratch their tummies and ears," says McCarthy.

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Choosing a ferret, of course, involves a certain emotional commitment. But there are a few objective factors that you can look at to help you decide.

Age is among the first factors a prospective ferret buddy will want to consider. Older ferrets may be already litter or bite trained. If they are, that can be an item in their favor. But younger ferrets, like any domestic pet, will not have formed any specific attachments. Having them attach to you can start those bonds forming early.

But training needs will be much higher with a younger ferret. They require a lot of care. They'll need vaccinations and litter training, and a lot of attention. Ferrets are not hamsters. Left all day long to their own devices, they can become unruly and unhappy.

'Unhappy' may seem an odd term to some to apply to an animal very different from a dog or cat. But ferrets are domesticated and can bond with their companion, whether human or another ferret. Left alone, they have no outlet. There are some exceptions, however. Older, non-neutered males will frequently revert to wild characteristics. They may exhibit what is known as 'same sex exclusivity' and seek to isolate themselves from other non-neutered males. You may want to consider getting more than one.

That leads to the second consideration. Should you spay or neuter your ferret? Unless you are an experienced ferret breeder, it's best to leave that to the experts. Breeding dogs is difficult enough. Ferrets are much harder. It requires considerable knowledge and can lead to great expense. That may be a legitimate long-term goal, but one that should be worked up to.

Which sex?

Males are slightly larger, about 18 inches and around 3-5 pounds. Females, on average, are slightly smaller - about 15 inches with correspondingly smaller weight. Once spayed or neutered, ferrets of both sexes get along fine. Males play and mock-fight with females as much as they do with males and vice versa. But males do have a slightly higher tendency to spray, if they haven't had their anal scent glands removed.

Incidence of disease is about the same in both neutered males and spayed females. However, non-spayed females will of course raise special concerns. They come into heat seasonally from March to August. If they don't mate, they can remain in heat for almost six months.

Apart from their cycle, females can also suffer from the usual higher incidence of tumors as a result of raised levels of hormones. But males, too, have their own risks in this regard, so the numbers are not radically different between the two sexes.

Such considerations as color and individual personality are completely personal preferences, of course. But keep in mind that one choice, albinos, can create the need for special care. Like other albinos, they can suffer from vision problems. They are also more easily preyed on, if they get loose where the dog or cat can get to them.

Provided you practice proper care for your ferret, you can hardly go wrong, though. It's easy to see why these friendly, funny animals became a favorite domestic pet. They're terrific!

This unique hamster cage utilizes the power generated by your pet hamsters to shred papers, which in turn, become their bedding. Great idea.

A note of caution on the type of paper to shred. Some type of ink may be poisonous and not healthy for your pets.

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Ferrets require more care than cats or dogs. Though they sleep about 18 hours per day, when they're awake they're very active. They're also extremely curious and love to explore. Unless they're always caged, that makes them somewhat accident prone. If they're always caged, they may not get the proper stimulus and exercise, representing the other side of the dilemma.

Beyond basic safety, though, there are regular actions that any caring ferret owner will want to take to ensure their companion is kept in optimal mental and physical health. Ferrets live on average between 6-8 years and much of those they will need attention and checkups.

The most basic care starts with a vet visit for a general checkup and vaccinations. Rabies and canine distemper are the two most common diseases vaccines prevent, but ask your vet about others that may be a concern in your area. At the same time, the vet will check for lumps (evidence of possible insulinomas and other tumors), dental issues, possible adrenal problems and other ferret-specific conditions.

Ferrets have abilities that can more easily lead them into trouble. They can find their way into spaces that even a small cat wouldn't consider. Ferret-proofing the house against ingress behind the stove, getting inside the couch, falling off the second floor landing and other areas is essential.

Bathing twice a year is a good idea, both to reduce odors and keep the skin healthy. But beware of removing essential oils. Only use a shampoo designed for ferrets. Regularly look for any skin lesions or sores. Ferrets have sharp claws and, like dogs, can produce hot spots that lead to pain and possible infection.

Ear cleaning should be performed at least once per month. Like dogs, ferrets can easily build up wax that leads to yeast and other problems. A simple ear cleaning solution injected with a plastic syringe, followed by gentle massage for about 20 seconds, will do the trick. The ferret will shake his or her head vigorously and expel the softened wax. Careful follow up with a Q-tip is a good idea.

Regular examination of both ends of your ferret may not be pleasant, but it's best for your pet.

They often burrow into litter box material that, if not the proper kind (and sometimes even then), can cause nasal blockage. That can lead to upper respiratory problems, irritation of the membranes or other conditions.

Also, make sure they have no swelling of the vulva (evidence of disease) or a prolapsed rectum. The latter can result from inadequate water in the diet or a bacterial infection that results in straining. Treatment with an antibiotic, such as Clavamox or Baytril may be called for.

Regular activity outside the cage helps keep your ferret mentally stimulated and works all those muscles that some cages don't allow. Take care they don't get outside off a leash, though, unless the area is enclosed and free of holes. Ferrets naturally seek out burrows and small spaces to explore. But they are much better at getting in than getting out.

They also don't tolerate high heat or extreme cold well. Above 80°F (26,5°C) or below 45°F (7°C) represents a risk to your ferret. The warmer it is, the more important it becomes to have cool, fresh water available. And, unlike their cousins the minks, their fur isn't designed for very cold weather. Keep them inside when the temperature dips.