Rat    noun

Oxford Dictionary definition:   1. large mouselike rodent.  2. colloquial unpleasant or treacherous person.  verb  1. hunt or kill rats. 2. colloquial inform on.

Our definition:

• Rats take care of injured and sick rats in their group.
• Without companionship rats tend to become lonely and depressed.
• Rats have excellent memories. Once they learn a navigation route, they won’t forget it.
• When happy, rats have been observed to chatter or grind their teeth. This is often accompanied by vibrating eyes.
• Rats make happy “laughter” sounds when they play.
• Rats succumb to peer-pressure, just like humans. Brown rats are prone to disregard personal experiences in order to copy the behaviour of their peers. The urge to conform is so strong that they will even choose to eat unpalatable food if they are in the company of other rats who are eating it.
• Although very curious animals, rats are also shy, and prefer to run away than confront a potential threat.
• Rats are extremely clean animals, spending several hours every day grooming themselves and their group members. They are less likely than cats or dogs to catch and transmit parasites and viruses.
• A rat can go longer than a camel without having a drink of water.
• Rats’ tails help them to balance, communicate and regulate their body temperature.

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