RATS! RATS! RATS! Which of my [many] readers among you shudder at the word? Pictures spring to your minds - of huge, screeching black rats, with red eyes, waiting to spring....

    Now, come back to the real world. There's no proof that even wild rats were ever like that. The rats in my room certainly aren't! They're my little darlings, Cotton (the grey and white rat on the right) and Silk (the dark one on the left). It's a real shame rats are hated and feared by so many people; they really are very gentle, caring and loyal. One of their sweetest traits is the way they hold all their food like a human would hold a big cookie, and nibble.

    Although I could go on all day, talking about how wonderful [my] rats are (but of course all rats are lovely), you would just leave this website very quickly, thinking that of course I would love rats - I OWN some! So, I will lay down the facts about rats, finally persuade you to want some with totally endearing pictures, and then tell you how to look after the pets you are about to run and ask your mum/dad/roomy/yourself if you can have. After all, who can resist the inoccent looks of the darlings that are...rats!