It's the Chinese Year of the Rat, and what better time to consider keeping a rat or two as clever, friendly family pets?

Veterinarian and “rat fan”, Dr Kristina Kalivoda says the Year of the Rat is the time to banish the rat’s bad image and recognise what a great pet it is.

Dr Kalivoda is a small animal instructor in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M university.

She believes rats are among the most misunderstood of all animals and are not “the horror from the sewer” people think they are.

“Many people believe they are nasty, filthy creatures, and that’s not true at all. In fact, rats wash themselves several times a day, about as often as most cats.”

Rats are very smart and are known for their problem-solving skills. Because they need to gnaw a lot as their teeth are continually growing – 'rat' comes from the Latin ‘rodent’ (to gnaw) – they seek out people's homes where food is easy to find.

Rats have been carriers of diseases such as Black Death and the plague, (remember the Pied Piper of Hamelin?) because people did not dispose of waste correctly, and rats picked up viruses from rotting food and bites from mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water.

Dr Kalivoda says this is not a problem now. “Animals obtained from reliable sources do not pose a problem. Most of the communicable diseases attributable to rats occur only in wild rodent populations.

“A rat from a pet store or lab source is no more likely to spread disease than a dog or cat.”

Fancy Rats in a Range of Colours

Pet rats have been selectively bred from Rattus norvegicus, or brown rat, most familiar to people as the white lab rat.

Fancy rats, as they are known in the US and Britain, come in many colours and variations. They can be silver, blond, grey, black, ‘blue’, albino and colour mixes such as 'hooded' or 'Himalayan'.

They can have short ears, floppy ears, big ears – the ‘Dumbo’ rat, or be hairless - the ‘Sphynx’.

The Ideal Small Pet

Rats are small, quiet, and clean. They are very interactive with their humans, but independent as well. They are very docile and don't take up a lot of space.

When choosing your rat, look for a good hair coat, clear and bright eyes, and a good activity level.

Watch for any nasal discharge or sneezing and avoid these animals, Kalivoda warns. Rats can be prone to respiratory diseases.

As with any new pet, an initial veterinary exam is recommended.

Friendly, Sociable Animals

Dr Kalivoda suggests keeping two or three rats, preferably desexed, unless you’re planning to breed them. Be warned! Rats are prolific breeders, and unneutered females spend most of their life pregnant.

“Rats are incredibly social animals, and as most people are away at work for most of the day, I recommend having at least two animals to properly meet their social needs.

“Rats enjoy playing with each other and sleeping in piles, as well as playing with humans. They are very clever and friendly, but have a docile disposition.”

More information about keeping rats: Fancy Rats

Ten Facts About Rats

* They live between 1 to 3 years;

* They have no gallbladder;

* They have a bellybutton;

* They can’t vomit;

* They are prolific breeders: A pair of rats can produce 15,000 descendants in their lifetime;

* Rat teeth are incredibly strong and can chew through walls, plumbing and even concrete.

* Rats come in different colors and ear shapes;

* The largest rat, the African rat, can be 3 foot long – about the size of a small dog;

* Rats are expert swimmers;

* Rats laugh with a high chirping sound when amused.