Picture the perfect pet that checks off all the boxes: Smart, trainable, highly social, affectionate, clean, hypoallergenic. What if it has all these traits but doesn’t purr or bark, because the ...

The earliest documented evidence of domesticated rats originates from Japan and dates back to the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The tradition of keeping fancy rats may have originated in Japan, but pet ...

Maybe a rat is right for you! Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013. Her work has previously appeared on MTV, The Frisky, Vice, and Best Friends Magazine ...

Rats make fantastic pets for people of all ages, including children. They’re friendly, cuddly, gentle, clean, and smart. Plus, they really enjoy interacting with people, and thrive when given daily ...

Pet rats are intelligent, social, and affectionate companions that make wonderful additions to many households. Despite common misconceptions, these small rodents are clean and trainable and bond ...

Dogs have an amazing ability to form friendships with both people and animals. Their gentle nature perfectly complements the innocence of children and other kind-hearted creatures. This is certainly ...

Sara Martin recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a master's degree in global sustainability and credits her pet rat Remi for helping her earn the achievement. If this rat's ...

A pet owner has left the internet in hysterics after sharing her unusual pet's reaction to getting petted in a clip that has gone viral on social media. The hilarious video, shared on TikTok on ...

She’s got a soft spot for vermin. A so-called extreme rodent fanatic has gone viral after bathing her 50 rat “babies” in her kitchen sink. Michele Raybon, 51, of Palmdale, California, hasn’t stopped ...

A disease associated with squalor could be on the increase in suburban homes because more people are keeping rodents as pets, warns an Australian microbiologist. Known as rat bite fever, the disease ...

Many celebrities are known for having strange pets. Stars such as Justin Bieber and Swae Lee have garnered considerable attention for their now-confiscated pet monkeys, and former heavyweight champion ...