The rats of Nightshade City are quite remarkable! They think like humans. They laugh, they cry, and for reasons not yet revealed they have some very "humanish" qualities.  Heck, they even talk!

Here are some facts about the real rats that live near you!

Real Rat Facts...

• Rats learn their names, will come when called, and can learn tricks.
  

• Rats laugh in ultrasound when you tickle them!
  

• Rats are extremely social and form strong bonds with their owners. 
  

• Many rats show affection by licking their owner like a dog.
  

• Domestic rats can start breeding as young as 5 weeks of age!
  

• Rats have a short live span and live only two to three years on average.
  

• To make the best pets, baby rats should be handled by humans from birth.
  

• Being rodents, rats have a tendency to chew on things, especially paper, cloth and wood.
  

• Rats come in many varieties and colors, including Siamese, curly-coated, hairless, Manx, and with Dumbo ears.
  

• The most common health problems in pet rats are respiratory infections, and mammary tumors in the females.
  

• The Bubonic Plague was not caused by rats but instead was actually caused by infected fleas that jumped from rats onto humans.
  

• The first astronaut rat launched into outer space back in 1961!
  

• Rats use their tails to contol their body temperature because they cannot sweat.
  

• The first albino rats to be bred in captivity were born to a single albino rat captured in a graveyard in England by Queen Victoria's royal rat catcher Jack Black.
  

• Rats have bellybuttons!
  

• A rat can go without water longer than a camel!
  

• Rats enjoy chocolate – unlike dogs, it won’t hurt them.
  

• Rats don’t have thumbs or canine teeth – and while they can easily munch on a chocolate bar, if they get close to cedar or pine oil they can become very ill.
  

• The biggest rat ever found was 20 inches from nose to tail!
  

Debbie Ducommun, known as "The Rat Lady",  supplied the bulk of these facts!  Debbie is internationally recognized as an expert on rats! She has worked in the animal care industry since 1977 and has a background in animal training, nutrition, and animal health care.  She has a wonderful site, The Rat Fan Club, filled with a wealth of information about these wonderful creatures, plus pictures of her own amazing rat family! Please check out her site, if you'd like to learn a whole lot more about these fantastic animals!