I know some people are put off by the looks of their tail, but I think rats deserves a little more respect. I guess Ratamaniacs deserve a bit more respect too, as we aren't THAT weird for liking rats. Rats are amazingly intelligent, interactive, loyal and affectionate. What's more,  they are cuddly, warm and soft and they enjoy a good snuggle in the sweater sleeves. Eventually my rats converted me into a Ratamaniac, and educated me to be a Rat-master, to make me understand more about them. 

They enjoy a good couple of hours of walk with me outside their cage, exploring, sniffing, chewing whatever intrigues them. But they also enjoy snuggling in their nest too with their own species as a company. Rats live in a pack or a colony and I believe that unless you can spend a lot of time with them, you should consider getting a friend or friends, of same sex of course. If you are new to owning rats, I suggest you get two or three rats at a time. I sometimes find even two rats handful to give them plenty of TLC. 

 Life of a rat, make it a meaningful one
Some say rats live for around 2 years, and some say they live up to 5 years.  It's too sad to think about the time we have to say good-bye to our beloved ratties, but you can certainly extend their life span by giving them the top quality of life. It doesn't mean though that you pamper them with a lot of chocolate and cheese. Feeding rats with suitable amount of healthy balanced food, clean living conditions, a lot of TLC and stimulating lifestyle is the best you can offer. Talk to them, pet them and play with them! Make some maze, or even an assault course and reward them with treats. They are such a fast learner, so don't insult their intelligence! 

Leash Walking (believe it or not)
My rats enjoy an indoor leash walking. You'll find a picture of it in my photo section. To be honest, they hate having a  ferret leash put on, but once it's done they love the privilege of walking on the floor. You may think it's cruel to restrict such as free running rodent. The reason I put on a leash is because I don't want them to chew on electric cable and hide somewhere where I can not reach. The thought of a pet rat stuck under the floorboard and not to be able to get out or being electrocuted by electric cable is far too terrifying. I would be very very careful if you do this outdoor (I won't recommend it at all!). Rats could get very scared and slip out of the leash very very easily! 

Taming Rats
One way to tame a scattyness, and turn into a lap rat, is to make the use of the food the ratties desperately wants!!! The training is that he can get extra food (very small amount of food each time) if he 
1) get his name called and comes to you to get it, 
2)comes onto your lap to get food,
3)be petted as he is eating on your lap.
You should never bend the rule or give up. Give it a week per step, so that in first week  he learns his name and comes to you, then he gets food. But in the second week, given that he completed his first task, he comes to you when you call his name, then you encourage him to climb your lap and gets food...and so on. It is a long process but it's also worth teaching him the name so he will come running to you when he goes missing!
 

Top Tips: 
Things rats hate
Strong smell. 
Smaller animals. (Don't even think about putting rats with hamsters or mice!) 
Being picked by tail.     (Noooo!!) 
Hight.                          (Noooooooooooooooo!!!)
Big open space.           (Find a small dark corner, quick!)
Being bathed.               (Some love it!) 
Noisy and loud sound. 
Draughty cold place.
Boring owner.

Things rats love 
Small dark warm places.           (Mmmm, nice)
Variety of nice food and treats.   (Never say no to good food)
Scratched on top of their head. 
Stimulating lifestyle.
and Good (inetractive) loving owner!