Comments on: Rat: How the World’s Most Notorious Rodent Clawed its Way to the Top by Jerry Langton

By: Jackie

Jackie — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:47:50 +0000

The author does talk about pet rats and I even listed rat fanciers in those he interviewed. But he does spend most of his time on wild rats. However, as I said, he really does like rats of all sorts and is truly fascinated by them, it’s not a book vilifying them. Quite the opposite. I like rats myself and would’ve been the first to take umbrage had he been slagging them.
I didn’t know about rat mills and find this idea as repellent as puppy mills. I’m sorry to hear that such things exist. Animals of all kinds deserve to be treated better.

By: angel

angel — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:51:59 +0000

wonderful, another book to set rat domestication back to the dark ages. from your review, it sounds like the author is not interested in the difference between domesticated rats and wild rats. wild rats and domesticated rats are just as different as wild and domesticated dogs or cats. you don’t want to associate with the first, and the second can be loyal, loving creatures if properly raised. i wouldn’t call norway rats more aggressive, but rather more confident, more willing to stand their ground, or more willing to explore. and just like puppy mills, there are rat mills, where rats are bred with no reguard for temperment or health, just a quick buck as they are sold to pet stores for the buyer’s choice in snake food or pet.

By: Mhairi

Mhairi — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:22:37 +0000

Rats are phenomenally intelligent animals. When you look at one and it looks back at you, you get the feeling there’s someone in there …

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:51:55 +0000

I find the reaction to reading about rats strange, though I realize it’s mostly cultural training. I didn’t find I needed any more of a strong stomach as I would’ve for say, lions hunting on the savannah, less so actually. People would never say the same things if I’d have told them I was reading about robins or goldfish. It’s weird.

By: RosyB

RosyB — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:15:18 +0000

What an original thing to review Jackie. Reminds me of a book I have on The Fly which is similarly fascinating (apparently they form like building blocks and so can so they have managed to evolve one with two arses…though it didnt survive long.) Sorry, that’s a bit grotesque for you, I suddenly realise. But perhaps you have a stern stomach if you are reading rat books.

When I worked for the local paper one of my features of the week was interviewing a rat-catcher. He showed me how they look for ratruns round the periphery of the garden - it was all quite fascinating. And yes, i think he did have respect, even fondness for them.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:44:32 +0000

I don’t know about mice having that same feature, Mhari. The author showed that there is a lot of differences between the 2 species, that mice aren’t really mini versions of rats. In the book, many of the pest control people commented on the stupidity of mice and I know from my own experience(in a pet shop) that mice are far more nervous and reactive than the calm and calculation of rats.

By: Mhairi

Mhairi — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:19:00 +0000

I’m very fond of rats … of the rodentine variety, anyway. The human sort I can live without.

Do mice have the same collapsible ribcages? I expect they do … which explains why they can get through impossibly small holes …

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:35:21 +0000

I think I preferred not knowing about the leaping.

By: marygm

marygm — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:47:31 +0000

I’m not sure I could read this one, Jackie. Even the use of the word ‘contagious’ at the beginning gave me the shivers. Still, I remember reading once that if rats were eradicated then our sewage system couldn’t cope so I suppose they are useful.