Rats belong to the genus Rattus and are members of the
Rodentia order. These rodents have long tails, small ears and are larger than
mice. There are two well known types of rat: the black or old world rat (Rattus
rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Rats are natives of Asia
but found around the globe.
Rats are commonly utilized as food for animals (including
humans), laboratory experiments and domestic pets. These scavengers have
powerful teeth for chewing and are often pests in buildings. They come in to
seek warmth and food and chew through wiring and walls. In the wild rats dine
on almost anything including fruits, grains, insects and cereals. In the
domestic setting, a rat will eat whatever it is given.
The rat is an intelligent creature that uses its sense to
stay alive. They can differentiate between tastes and have a good memory for
food sources. Rats have live litters with up to eight offspring at a time. The
female rat can give birth to a new litter every three or four weeks.