World Rat Day

World Rat Day

Today is a day to celebrate one of the more uncommon pets: the rat. When rats are kept as a pet they are known as fancy rats and are companions for people of all ages. This holiday was started in 2002 by a mailing chain called the Ratlist. The mailing list holds the title of longest email chain on the subject of pet rats. Those in this email chain wished to have a day to honor their wonderful pet rats and to raise awareness about the possibilities of owning a pet rat. The day April 4th was selected because it was believed to have been the day the email chain was started. 

The Benefits of Owning a Pet Rat

All fancy rat owners know the struggles that may arise from owning such an animal. Many people are afraid of rats and mice. Others believe the animal to be dirty and and nuisance. Their history of spreading diseases such as the Bubonic plague has severely hurt their image as well. This holiday is a day to look past these biases and see the animal for what it truly is. Many fancy rat owners have made clear how much they enjoy having a pet rat due to how loyal and intelligent they are. Fancy rats are very similar to dogs in that they enjoy being petted on the head or a scratch between the ears. Today is a day to get over your fears and prejudices and maybe give a deserving rat a nice pat on the head. 

How To Celebrate World Rat Day

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday. Most people throw private parties for their fancy rat. Family and friends are invited and often bring gifts and treats for the rats being celebrated. Greeting cards are often used to celebrate this holiday as well. They can be handmade or store bought. However, there is also a chance that the fancy rat you give the card to may show their appreciation by nibbling on your card. Most rat owners plan larger events where a variety of other pet rat owners can attend. Events such as Ratfest can be held in public or private locations to share food and allow rat owners to connect. Mostly, World Rat Day is a day to spread information about this animal and the benefits of owning one. This mainly takes place in the form of media such as newspapers and television. There is even a World Rat Day website where you can buy a t-shirt to spread the message everyday of the year not just on April 4th.

Whether you are a long time pet rat owner or just a casual enthusiast, today is a day to learn more about the rat and look past the exterior to see what a great animal it truly is.