I love how the voiceover explaining Olive coming from a program that was meant to show rats in a positive light is played over footage of Olive taking money out of a purse. The editor of the video clearly has a good sense of humor.
Having rats is like a double-edge sword On one hand you only have them for a short amount of time, but on the other you get to be with them for their entire life and give them a home they deserve. It's sad yet also amazing
As long time rat owner, your comment is beautifully spot on. People always ask me how I do it, with them living so short. I answer them that the time we do get feels like a full lifetime and is so rewarding.
i was adopted from an orphanage as a child and was gifted two rescued rats for a birthday- they were so special and were so sensitive and comforting to me at such a strange time in my life- i wish rats and honestly all animals in general got the respect and quality of life they so deserve
So u were both rescues :) I rescued a baby street rat in NYC. A fruit stand vendor kicked him. His mom must have been poisoned or killed as he was out alone during the day, like a brave little boy. I scooped him up as he was stunned from the kick and he is the sweetest little fella a year later
I live on a farm ive never seen anyone have them as pets in person i only know them how they smell bad when they die and i am realy afraid of the big ones
It hurts my heart that such lovely, smart animals live for such a short time. I had this fancy mouse once, she was white and gray, super soft- and had spots that made her look like a tiny cow- so I called her "Cow-Baby". She was so freakin intelligent and super affectionate. I would take her everywhere I could with me. She loved riding on my shoulder or in my pocket- would climb right in. When she passed away it actually broke me.
Same! My sister and I had pet mice as kids. Lucy, the adventurous one, was white with grey spots, and Polly, the lazy/snuggly one, white with dark brown spots. We always took them to the playground on our shoulder. In the evening, I would pet Polly and she would fall asleep in my armpit. Sadly, she passed away from a tumor. Half a year later, we had to euthanize Lucy, because she was getting sick from loneliness💔. We considered getting her a new companion, but she was old already and then the new mouse would have been alone soon...
I understand what you mean, I was devastated when my first little one passed, then about a month later, his brother left too. I still miss them so much, and it’s been several years now. I’d love to have more, but it’s such a heartbreak when they pass away💕little angels
I've always loved rats and hamsters, but this is then exact reason I would never get one, just too short of a time for a pet to be with you, and before you know it, it would be all over with.
I owned rats every day for 8 years, never went without them, owned up to 6 at a time. I recently lost my last, and it's been heartbreaking. Without a doubt rats have the capability to create such intense bonds with people, they're incredibly kind and intelligent. None of my rats were at all the same, each so unique with different personalities, likes/dislikes, and relationships. I've been without them for a couple months now, I miss them all so deeply.
i feel you. i said goodbye to my last rats about… wow, six or so years ago, now… and i still miss them. i hope, with time, that your heart heals a little-it might not ever stop being sad that they're not with you anymore, but try instead to remember with joy the time that you _did_ get to spend together.
I feel you brother. I lost my second rat last week and its been really hard on me. They were my first rats and it really really fucking hurts to not have them in my room anymore. I miss them so much.
Im so sorry to hear that, for me and my partner it has always been hamsters, especially russian dwarves; we had over 15 at one point but then got down to only 2 due to life changes that prevented us from having so many. We were just too sad looking at all the empty space we had, so we recently got two new ginger babies! Theyre so cute and chonky already!
Believe or not - animals just like humans go to Afterlife too, so someday you all will be reunited with your furry children who are alive and well on the other side of a veil.
I think most animals are misunderstood by us human animals. If more people would see how much a cow or pig or turkey is like their dog, a lot fewer people would eat them.
@@PleaseDontEatAnimals 100% People should go to farm animal rescues or watch on TH-cam/other social media and experience how special each animal is...full of feeling, loving, personality and sweet.
I knew rats were intelligent and resourceful but I really didn’t think they were clean or lovable. Thank you Olive and Olive’s mom for opening my eyes.
I had a pet rat in high school after someone’s rat had babies that needed homes. I’d been wanting one and was psyched. She was very interactive, responded to her name (and general greetings), went with me to school and other places, and was just really fun. She never used me as a toilet and was pretty fastidious about grooming. Rats get a bad rap, but they’re great little companions.
People don't realise how lovely they are...I was repulsed by rats when one killed a bird in my garden for no reason...then I discovered how loving, empathetic and intelligent the domestic rat is. Their 'wild' cousins are more like we humans, than them.
They truly ARE intelligent and affectionate, just like dogs, with problem solving skills that help them learn tricks or quickly adapt to different situations and also communicate to each other so they can teach what they have learned to siblings and offspring. Unfortunately, this trait is also what makes WILD rats such a problem when they infest a place. They are destructive and almost impossible to eradicate. Sad really, because if the wild ones weren't causing problems we'd probably be friends with them, too. 🤥
I had a rat named Pepper and Mickey. I never knew you could love an animal so much. I was devastated when they passed. I wish they had a life span of 15 to 20 years. The 2 and 3 years I got to spend with them were the best. They make the best pocket pets. Although I had to keep buying bigger and bigger baskets. My friends who were scared of rats changed their perception of rats after they met Pepper and Mickey. They are in my heart for eternity.
I could never understand people having rats as pets I us to think they were disgusting. That is until my child convinced me to get her two. Now I'm in love their my babies their 14month old and I dread the thought of them only living another year. I spend every second their awake with them free roaming and have spent well over £600 on better cage and lots of stuff to go in cage and keep them occupied in and out of cage. I would advise anyone who has the time to spend everyday with a pet to get rats they give so much love back. Honest their the best pets. I'll have rats as pets till I die now they get such a bad rap its nots fair.
Aww that is a lovely story but also sad. I am sure Pepper & Mickey had a great life and enjoyed every moment they had with you. I had two rats when I was younger called Ronnie and Reggie (yes they were named after the Kray twins 🤣LOL) and I still miss them to this day at 35 years old..! They make amazing pets but their short lifespan is always in the back of your mind. I told a friend recently who decided (for the first time in her life) to get two rats and my advice was basically to enjoy every moment you have with them and to compensate for their short lifespan make sure they have a fulfilled and happy time while they are with you.
I've never been scared of rats, but a friend of mine showed me how sweet and beautiful they can be.. I got so attached to her rats and tho I'm not seeing that friend anymore, I still miss them so much..
Trouble is that they are clever enough to get anywhere, and strong enough to eat anything, and carry disease . Rat's urine carries a very nasty liver disease which can be fatal. You can get it simply by placing your hand where a rat has been. There are many other diseases, some carried by the rat and others by the fleas on the rats. They can do serious damage to property such as electrical cables. But they do make great and SAFE pets.
Olive really is a wonderful example of how intelligent and charming rats can be. I know that no one lives forever, but no matter when she passes, she will always have brought amazing things into this world.
They have what is called metacognition. They seem to have a sense of self. They are altruistic (they can share). My sister had a pet rat for two and a half years. Chase totally was her buddy, rode around the house in the hood of her robe, and was extremely bright and aware of everything.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass That experiment was not experimentally sound. For example the animals had been conditioned to open a door to the other animal's compartment, and then the test to see whether they were "empathetic" or not was to see if they did what they had been conditioned to do before they went and got the chocolate. Practically speaking it is impossible to determine what, if anything, other animals think/feel. A nice example is humans, actually. As you've been reading this, you have actually been speaking the words in your mind. Because that is how functional humans work. However there's a full 20% of the human population that do not have an internal voice. This means their minds work completely differently to the other 80%. How exactly? It's impossible to know. You can ask them to explain thier thoughts and feelings, if they have them, but there's no way to know if those actually are the thoughts and feelings that a normal person would have or if this person with no internal dialogue is just saying that they're experiencing things that they know that they should.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass Mentioning you not having an inner monologue, since you have said that your thoughts present as pictures or text, you do. Internal monologue is just a blanket term as that is the most common way for it to manifest. People who lack an internal monologue can't even do that. They cannot mentally visualise. It's kind of hard to describe. It's more like if they need to think of something they think of the information that makes it up. For example if you ask them what their mother's face looked like, people with internal monologue will visualise a picture of their mother's face and then describe that picture to you, whereas people without will know qualities that their mother's face had like a bulbous nose and then tell you that quality. The problem is that you can't measure thought, so it's possible those people who think they don't have one are just misunderstanding. But it's a massive mystery. And if we can't even get to the bottom of something like this, then of course animal to animal is even more out of reach.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass The two conditions are linked. If someone has one they almost always have the other. They also tend towards a lower IQ, though there's still massive variation.
I had a pet rat and when I became pregnant, he'd scoot down my top and lay on my belly. The bigger I got during my pregnancy, the more Rudi wanted to chill on my stomach. He was so adorable and so clean. I miss that lil guy. They make incredible pets.
I had a rat. I brought her home from my science class in elementary school or she would go back to the University of Minnesota laboratory. She was so sweet and smart. Never bit anyone, never ran away and loved to hang out in my shoulder and play. She was so special. 🥰🥰🥰
She is way smarter and way more skilled than I will ever be! She is so adorable and lovable, I wish people treated them with kindness, they deserve respect and love. If you are scared of them, just please dont kill them, you can trap it safely and take it to a field where it can live peacefully. All beings deserve to live, especially animals!❤
I used to fear rats and mice but when I got a closer look at them I realized how cute they were. I’m not afraid of them anymore. I’m still a little skittish about their long tail for some crazy reason. 🤷🏻♀️
You must hate the thumbnail of this video then? I don’t have a fear of rats, but I can imagine this thumbnail could freak some people out. If they showed a close up thumbnail of our eight legged friends, I wouldn’t even be able to open the video. That’s how crippling my fear is.
This brings a tear to my eye. Rats (plural -- DO NOT get a single rat, it's cruel given that they are highly social creatures that need to have playmates in their cage, which humans cannot be) are the most loving pets I've ever had. They get so excited to see me and my partner, they show affection through cuddles and licks, and they deserve the best care and love. Not all rats can do tricks like Olive (for some, simply potty training and spin tricks are capacity), but they're all so lovely in their own way.
@@BirdmanVeganFuture ideally yes, but some species fare better than others in human and other species companionship. In my country in Scandinavia it's actually illegal to keep guineapigs or goats without same species companions, but not dogs or cats, and for good reason. Not sure about rats. I'd have to look that up. It's not unlikely given they are so intelligent and super social normally living in very big colonies with intricate social structures. On the other hand they are so common in medical labs I don't know why they'd be given exception for a regulation like that... 🤔
@@BirdmanVeganFuture Not all animals want them. When we added a second cat to our single cat household, it took well over a year for the original to accept the addition. The animal communicator told us that the original wanted to be the household's only cat. Six years later they get along okay, but do not play together.
There’s nothing sweeter than humans who are this kind and loving towards other living beings. All animals are incredible and deserve to be cared for and treated with respect, patience, and love. Look how smart! It’s heartbreaking to think about how terribly the majority treat these kindhearted creatures and how the medical, cosmetic, and other industries use them as if we are entitled to their lives for our benefits. Everyone should learn from this video. Rats, dogs, horses, donkeys, chickens, and every creature feels, bleeds, loves, cries, struggles, stresses, and has just about every emotion and sense that a human has. I adore this marvelous woman❤
I always thought I would like to have a rat...but having my heart broken every two years is just too much for me. I'm sticking with my 18 year old cat and 12 year old dog.
But heartbreak like these are there to remind you all the good times you had with them :) cos ppl gets old and memories fade, but we will always remember them because they are imprinted in our hearts/minds :)
Every time one of our rats or cats passes I always say no more, bc I can't take the heartbreak. But then someone else shows up that needs love and a safe furever home. Theres always room in your heart. Please adopt ❤
Our pet rat, Jacques would play with our dog, Shaitan, who would pick him up gently with his mouth, carry him to a warm spot in the sunlight, then dangle his paw for Jacques to play with. After Jacques was tired, he would run up Shaitan's back, and sleep on his head between his ears. Poor Shaitan! He had to sit still like a Sphinx for a half hour while Jacques took his nap. The sweetest thing.
Rats get such a bad rap. My 2 boys are so sweet and intelligent. We keep their cage open and they come and go as they please. They come when we call them and love hanging out with us when we’re watching TV. Remarkable little animals
@@Ten_Thousand_Locusts I had rats growing up, quite a few, and can explain! Most rats prefer to use the bathroom in one or two spots that feel like bathroom spots to them, similar to us. They're much easier to bathroom train than hamsters or mice on that stuff. We never had issues with ours defecating outside of their cage, partly because when we noticed they had to go as babies we carried em back, but frankly they just kinda do it on their own. Rats are actually remarkably clean animals who like to be orderly and they will very happily keep your house looking nice. Ours got about as anxious when they had to go and weren't near their usual spots as our cats did!
@@kropotkinnie wow thanks, that's actually very helpful and insightful. I'm so getting a rat! Also one more question how exactly do you know when "they had to go as babies"? What tells should I be looking for?
They are very good pets. They just seem to be happy with humans. They are a bit aggressive to other animals (even cats), but also a lot of rodents have this seeming instinct to dislike other rodents (hamsters and gerbils are mortal enemies!)
With someone like you, every day of those two years is full of value and enjoyment. I love this story and I love the caring work that you do. Thank you on behalf of the animals you care for!
imagine what that girl knows about death grief and loss. another fascinating story. i'd say she has a uniquely personal understanding with such matters.
@@scoper7897 I adore them. I want to get a few of my own in the future, I’m living with my parents at the moment and they are vehemently against me owning rats in their house, which is fair enough because it’s their house their rules and my dad is deathly afraid of rodents lol. They let me get a hamster though and he’s the cutest little thing. Absolute menace but I love him to death
it really is heartbreaking how short they live, they have so much love to give and such great personalities but the time you have with them is so short. ive had dozens of rats but my favorite and closest was named Flint, theres no words to describe how she made me feel. the amount of love from such a small little creature was insane. she lived for around 2 years and every day with her was wonderful. i still keep her with me in an urn but i'll never forget how amazing she was when she was alive < 3 RIP Flint and all of her children and grandchildren, you're all very missed
its an evolutionary, survival of the species type thing. Because rats reach sexual maturity so young and have the ability to reproduce so many times, their life cycle is short. Its sad that they are rather smart and sweet but the reality is most rats are feral sewer dwellers who are aggressive and carry diseases. If they lived long lives the whole planet would have been taken over by them long ago
This made me tear up! Rats are just the most incredible, sweet and intelligent animals, it takes just a few minutes to love them, I love rats and people need to understand that they really are one of the best pets out there!💞🥺
I will never forget the story of Ebony and Ivory...a dying kitten formed a bond with a domestic rat, when she died the rat tried to kill himself...they had to put him with other kittens to save his life.
@@alexapuppylover8218 He was introduced to a group of kittens in a cat cafe, and became their friend and carer, he spent the rest of his life surrounded with them, bless him.
I would've loved to have pet rats as I always found them cute until one killed my uncle and I ended up doing more research and I am forever traumatized.
All of my pet rats knew their names like little dogs. I had a one named Ashes. She’d crawl all the way up to my face when I called her over. One named Munchies litter trained herself and wasn’t kept in a cage. They’re amazing little critters with such short lives. It felt like one of our days was three of theirs.
@@Jumbo344 Pet rats aren’t like wild rats. That’s like comparing pet dogs to wild dogs. Pet rats come in many different colors and patterns like guinea pigs. Long and short haired too. Some have no hair like those hairless cats.
I had a rat many many years ago. Her name was Badger and I was heartbroken when she died. I wanted to adopt a small but unusual animal from the norm of a cat or dog and when I saw her we bonded straight away. She was the only rat to come up to me out of all of the ones there. For years she would sit on my shoulder and I would take her outside and show her to the children of my area and teach them about rats. About how smart and clean they were. She was so gentle and patient and would love meeting people. I miss her, but she had an amazing life and gave me wonderful memories.
I had a rat named Dottie! She was the smartest rat I’ve ever had! She protected me and loved on me all the time! She potty trained herself and was allowed to roam through the house! If she wanted something to eat she would come ask for treats! She would get in the front of my bra and fall asleep! Dottie is the best friend I ever had! Broke my heart when she died!
Rats love to train and learn. They are so smart. When I hear about rats being experimented on I feel extremely sad, because rats are loving. I am so happy for you and Olive, and your other rats as well. They are happy and their lives are enriched with learning and love.
"When I hear about rats being experimented on I feel extremely sad" So, i won´t tell that i love to experiment on them. Mainly different bb guns and different pellets. Also, on occasion, different traps.
@@mindtraveller100 No, wild rats and mice can have diseases. Pests and predators need to be culled, especially near ranches and farms. There's a big difference between culling and torturing animals for fun though. If that's the case you might need mental help, all though you could just be attempting to be edgy which is sad in its own way.
@@jasonbrewer6714 I´m not trying to be edgy because i´m not 12, and there is not, and never was anything edgy about me. Also, i never, ever tortured an animal just for fun.
They are all so cute. That group shot of them and the one of each displaying their paintings is especially adorable. These are certainly the best ambassadors to the species. Smart, cute, industrious. I'll say cute again!
Amazing and Adorable!! Rats are such good pets...Thank you so much for bringing awareness to how they are such good companions. Unfortunately they don't live longer...I have had four I miss them all...Thanks again!
It definitely is. But it's easier not to expect any longevity and just do your best with the time you do have with a pet. 99.9% of the time will be great fun.
Yes, it is. And that's the reason I don't want pet rats. It would just kill me. My brother had rats as a child, some twenty years ago, they were adorable, sweet, lovable and died so fast. He was pretty traumatized and to this very day doesn't want any more pets because of that. I guess you have to be a certain kind of person to be able to stomach that 😭
@@littleredhen2894 wow, that is really good to almost make 3 years old. Most of mine get to about 2 years and 3 months. Some 2 and i had one get to 2 years 8 months. It always is hard to lose them but they sure make you laugh and bring a happy heart when they are with you. Sorry to hear of your recent loss. I'm sure you gave him a wonderful life!
Love all of Shadow the Rat ratties Learned so much from the watching their videos. Much respect to rats & huge thank you to Esther for expanding our lives
I used to have a pet rat at 12. I loved her. I’m 74 now. Got 2 sister rats a few yrs ago and they both developed tumors and had to be put down by age one. Broke my heart. No more rats but I DO wish there was a way to teach lots of people about how sweet pet rats really are. Like the bat, that most people still think of as related to mice and that all have rabies, the pet rat is unduly maligned. I wish people would look beyond their own noses.
This young girl and her rats have really opened my eyes to the loving family rats can be. I wish the cute little rats had longer life spans cause they are so special. Please do more spotlights on this young lady ( I’m sorry I forgot her name) and her rats.
@@Home_Rich Pet rats aren’t like wild rats. It’s like comparing pet dogs to wild dogs. Did you know there are many breeds of rats as well? They look pretty unique with they’re colors and patterns much like guinea pigs.
Olive is a little star, so clever and adorable! Rats do make wonderful pets; they are smart, affectionate and fun to train. Olive is a great ambassador for her species. Love seeing Ester on here...her TH-cam channel Shadow the Rat is amazing
Josephina, that is so sweet and true what you said… “Olive is a great ambassador for her species.” I wouldn’t have known how to put that into words. Thank you!
Rats are my favorites (and I truly adore dogs and cats). Mice are also so underrated; they are much smarter and more complex and emotionally engaging than most give them credit for. But rats are the most loving, sweetest, smartest, and by far the funniest animal companions I’ve been lucky to know. They love their families so much and bond so closely with kind, trusted people. Please spread the word to people who simply don’t know and grow up with negative ideas about them and worse how they supposedly deserve to be treated. These are extremely emotionally sensitive and affectionate friends.
She deserves to be in a Barbie dream house with her doll and rat friends so cute she could cook and paint anything lollll I used to scream when a rat came in my room when I woke up from noises
As a child in the 70’s we were very poor and lived in some bad places. One had huge rats. I was given milk and put to bed. I assume a rat smelled it when I was asleep . I woke with a rat biting my upper lip. I still have the scar to this day. Although these guys adorable, I still wouldn’t have one.
I don't think that people who have been terrorized by rats all over the world( EXCEPT for in the Canadian province of Alberta- the one rat-free stronghold on earth), like the soldiers in the trenches in World War I, or the people who witnessed rats feasting on human corpses at the Auschwitz death camps or the people who suffered from The Bubonic Plague/ The Black Death or people living in public housing in American inner city communities who have had to live in dilapidated and run-down buildings swarming with rats, etc, would be so inclined to agree with that assessment of them having the sweetest little loving personalities. But when it's specifically bred rats who have been rats by human beings as pets, then I agree and then they're different and more like any other domesticated house pet.
This made me cry. Their cute little faces... They are little persons in furs. People need to be kind to these sweet animals. Wishing you, Olive and all the other babies all the best 💕💕💕
My mom taught kindergarten, so over the years we had a number of “class pets;” snakes, hamsters, bugs (including a jumping spider named Esmeralda-horror story, much PTSD on my part). The best of them all was Algernon, the rat. She entertained the kids-and even the janitor, who initially threw a fit because he hated rats, ended up carrying her around on his shoulder as he cleaned the classroom. I highly recommend rats as first pets for kids. I only wish they had longer lives.
A lot of kids are actually really bad with rats. Rats are super sensitive and need a lot of gentle love, which a lot of kids simply don't understand. I had rats as a kid which was really important for me but looking back, I feel really bad for the mistakes I made with the rats.
@@peskycritter79 Mom never let the kids handle Algie. They could watch her and talk to her but Mom worried that the children might either hurt her and/or get bitten. Algie thrived in that classroom, and she really loved the janitor until he loved her back. LOL.
@@peskycritter79 Yeah, kids should never be the primary caretakers for rats. Pet rats don't have a bite instinct, but they will learn to defend themselves if they feel threatened, and a child who doesn't know how to handle small animals can seem really threatening when you're rat sized
Great vid! i have 20 years raising rats. I currently have 6 boys at 6 months. Free range,theyre free to run around the house. Ill admit,I cried at the end of this vid when you mentioned they only live 2 years. Its gut wrenching when they pass. I learned the way around the pain is to get a fresh colony of 6 once every 15 months. Never be ratless! And every rat has a different personality!
So excited to see Esther on GeoBeats! She is obviously a skilled and patient trainer. Love her TH-cam channel ShadowTheRat, and her merch is awesome too. I have her Rat Calendar and it’s the bomb. 🥰🐀❤️
@@harisonsanchez1736 What? the name pickles? Please be respectful. this person is mentioning their own grief they have felt, It is not gross, If you're saying owning rats is gross then why are you even commenting? You are giving rat videos comments. which further improves their reach, Samuel. I'm sorry, They do live very short lives, but atleast you get to know that their small lifetime felt like a million amazing lives to them.
Such beautiful animals, I've had 6 and despite their short lives I remember and love each of them. I had one rat that actually managed to live over 5 years. I was constantly amazed by their intelligence, sensitivity and affectionate natures.
I love esther! She’s popular in basically all rat groups i’m in, her rats are amazing and she’s an incredibly talented rat teacher. I would never have the patience
@@dvellyeah unfortunately rats are a terrible pest, domesticated ones are lovely little creatures and I’m sure wild ones have the propensity to be too, but they’re not and they cause serious health concerns. You have to be realistic it’s not “rats bad or rats good”
I had rats, the only problem I found with them was their sensitive respiratory system and they really love to nibble on cloth. Compared to other animals those are very minimal problems. Their snot is red by the way, so don't get freaked out, the enamel on their teeth is orange which is a healthy sign for them.
I had a beautiful beige and white hooded rat named Lydia. She was an awesome little girl, a great companion and very well trained. She was so good. She always wanted to be carried in my shirt pocket. Even the other animals liked her. I had a couple of ferrets, a rabbit, two birds and two cats. She lived about 3 and a half years.
I kept rats for almost ten years, and I discovered what incredible single personalities they have. They are just amazing pets (I saw them more as companions actually). The problem is the age; after almost ten years of losing my beloveds every 2 years, my heart couldn't take it anymore. But oh my I still miss them in my life, so much!
You know I wasn’t going to let this video pass. You got me with the title! 😊 Sweetie, you make it amazing, the patience you have for your little furry friend is a blessing! I bet with your videos, you bring and your little furry friend bring joy to others! ❤
I appreciate what this young lady (Esther) is doing with the rats. She really shows them in a positive, funny and loving way. I'm still terrified of mice & rats but if Esther was there I might have the courage to actually pet one. Where I live I've never seen a rat in person.
I have always been scared of rats and one of my worst nightmare was with a rat who I had a staring contest with with me laid down not being able to move my body and then just all of a sudden the rat jumped on my face which woke me up tucking myself with my blanket so fast. Videos like this will help me see them differently so thank you!
Esther could be running a cleaning company for doll houses with those little cuties 😝😍 In all seriousness, these furbabies live the most enriched lives thanks to Esther ❤️❤️❤️
I miss my rat, George. We couldn't have a cat or a dog so we opted for a rat. It took me 6 months to convince my husband. LoL. I had a rescue rat when I was in middle school so I had some experience with them, but George taught me how smart rats are. We had him for 3 awesome years.
I am so glad to see that Miss Olive has a good home. She looks so smart and adorable! Thanks for giving people a new view of rats. They can make great pets!
I have wanted to adopt a rat or two for decades. But I can’t deal with the heartbreak of such a short lifespan. But they are truly amazing, loving, thoughtful animals. I love all your vlogs. Please keep them up. Cheers from Canader eh
It's astonishing how intelligent rats are and how compassionate and responsive to love they are. It makes me sad that a majority of humans believe they are dirty pests that need to be eradicated 🥺
If you lived in a bad neighborhood of a city and they were infesting your food and biting your children, you'd have a different view. It's totally different if they're a pet and you intend for them to be there.
@@hamzah5643 Well, if humans were infesting my food and biting my children, that would be even scarier than rats, but it happens commonly with rats, not with humans.
I love how the voiceover explaining Olive coming from a program that was meant to show rats in a positive light is played over footage of Olive taking money out of a purse. The editor of the video clearly has a good sense of humor.
Didn't catch that...lol.
🤣 Yeah right …. Adorable and funny
My rat steals vegan cheese from the other rat right in front of him 😂
@@BirdmanVeganFuture I guess she must be stupid if she eats vegan cheese🥺
Made me chuckle, too.
Having rats is like a double-edge sword
On one hand you only have them for a short amount of time, but on the other you get to be with them for their entire life and give them a home they deserve. It's sad yet also amazing
That is one of the most profound and beautiful statements I have ever heard.
As long time rat owner, your comment is beautifully spot on.
People always ask me how I do it, with them living so short. I answer them that the time we do get feels like a full lifetime and is so rewarding.
In our house we have taken on a motto for our mischiefs.. They're not here for a long time.. They're here for a good time
This comment made me tear up.❤
Are rats fixed just like cat or dog so they dont get pregnant by a vet?
i was adopted from an orphanage as a child and was gifted two rescued rats for a birthday- they were so special and were so sensitive and comforting to me at such a strange time in my life- i wish rats and honestly all animals in general got the respect and quality of life they so deserve
got to agree!
❤
So u were both rescues :)
I rescued a baby street rat in NYC. A fruit stand vendor kicked him. His mom must have been poisoned or killed as he was out alone during the day, like a brave little boy. I scooped him up as he was stunned from the kick and he is the sweetest little fella a year later
I live on a farm ive never seen anyone have them as pets in person i only know them how they smell bad when they die and i am realy afraid of the big ones
The rats you were gifted are domesticated and different from wild rats. Wild rats are serious problems
It hurts my heart that such lovely, smart animals live for such a short time. I had this fancy mouse once, she was white and gray, super soft- and had spots that made her look like a tiny cow- so I called her "Cow-Baby". She was so freakin intelligent and super affectionate. I would take her everywhere I could with me. She loved riding on my shoulder or in my pocket- would climb right in. When she passed away it actually broke me.
Same! My sister and I had pet mice as kids. Lucy, the adventurous one, was white with grey spots, and Polly, the lazy/snuggly one, white with dark brown spots. We always took them to the playground on our shoulder. In the evening, I would pet Polly and she would fall asleep in my armpit. Sadly, she passed away from a tumor. Half a year later, we had to euthanize Lucy, because she was getting sick from loneliness💔. We considered getting her a new companion, but she was old already and then the new mouse would have been alone soon...
I understand what you mean, I was devastated when my first little one passed, then about a month later, his brother left too. I still miss them so much, and it’s been several years now. I’d love to have more, but it’s such a heartbreak when they pass away💕little angels
My sincere condolences, I feel your pain. Animal lovers get attached to our pets, cause we LOVE them, they make us happy and fulfill us.😇😇😇😇😇
That tends to be the case of animals that reproduce very often and in large numbers like rats do.
I've always loved rats and hamsters, but this is then exact reason I would never get one, just too short of a time for a pet to be with you, and before you know it, it would be all over with.
I absolutely love the "impressionistic-like" art style. It's amazing and beautiful.
🔝 Best comment
Yes I agree. It’s so cool
Yes, and so are the artists 🥰😍
@@binaraghu846 absolutely 🌸
Is it for sale?? They are really good! 🐀🎨🐾
I owned rats every day for 8 years, never went without them, owned up to 6 at a time. I recently lost my last, and it's been heartbreaking. Without a doubt rats have the capability to create such intense bonds with people, they're incredibly kind and intelligent. None of my rats were at all the same, each so unique with different personalities, likes/dislikes, and relationships. I've been without them for a couple months now, I miss them all so deeply.
i feel you. i said goodbye to my last rats about… wow, six or so years ago, now… and i still miss them. i hope, with time, that your heart heals a little-it might not ever stop being sad that they're not with you anymore, but try instead to remember with joy the time that you _did_ get to spend together.
I feel you brother. I lost my second rat last week and its been really hard on me. They were my first rats and it really really fucking hurts to not have them in my room anymore. I miss them so much.
Im so sorry to hear that, for me and my partner it has always been hamsters, especially russian dwarves; we had over 15 at one point but then got down to only 2 due to life changes that prevented us from having so many. We were just too sad looking at all the empty space we had, so we recently got two new ginger babies! Theyre so cute and chonky already!
You shared a wonderful time with them and gave them a life full of love, that's eternally great.
Believe or not - animals just like humans go to Afterlife too, so someday you all will be reunited with your furry children who are alive and well on the other side of a veil.
Rats are terribly misunderstood. They are funny, intelligent, sweet. Thank you GeoBeats for featuring this sweetie Olive 🙏💗
What difference does the public perception make? if you found a rat in your home, i guarantee that you arent going to consider making him your pet.
I think most animals are misunderstood by us human animals. If more people would see how much a cow or pig or turkey is like their dog, a lot fewer people would eat them.
i understand that they spread disease at an incredible rate and they're a major problem
@@PleaseDontEatAnimals 100% People should go to farm animal rescues or watch on TH-cam/other social media and experience how special each animal is...full of feeling, loving, personality and sweet.
@@stephanie_beth 💯
Rest In Peace Olive, you beautiful little thing. We're all gonna miss you. ❤️
Maybe she is still alive?
@@User-jr7vfat the time of filming she was a year and a half.. the video is 2 years old. shes dead bro
@@jojo-yi5pi yeah, I get that, but maybe she lived more than the average 2 years?
@@User-jr7vf I posted my comment when Olive's owner announced her death. I didn't assume, she IS just dead. 😔
@@EternalTheMandarinGoddess oh what a sad coincidence 😭
Olive is so cute standing behind her art of work just like the others. She is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Just like her siblings. So proud.
I knew rats were intelligent and resourceful but I really didn’t think they were clean or lovable. Thank you Olive and Olive’s mom for opening my eyes.
@Rohan Yara shut up
r a t a t o u l l i e
*domestic rats
@@infinityinf1 it is the same species
Their clean freaks
I had a pet rat in high school after someone’s rat had babies that needed homes. I’d been wanting one and was psyched. She was very interactive, responded to her name (and general greetings), went with me to school and other places, and was just really fun. She never used me as a toilet and was pretty fastidious about grooming. Rats get a bad rap, but they’re great little companions.
People don't realise how lovely they are...I was repulsed by rats when one killed a bird in my garden for no reason...then I discovered how loving, empathetic and intelligent the domestic rat is. Their 'wild' cousins are more like we humans, than them.
@@janesgems7 it is kinda rough in the wild.
They truly ARE intelligent and affectionate, just like dogs, with problem solving skills that help them learn tricks or quickly adapt to different situations and also communicate to each other so they can teach what they have learned to siblings and offspring. Unfortunately, this trait is also what makes WILD rats such a problem when they infest a place. They are destructive and almost impossible to eradicate. Sad really, because if the wild ones weren't causing problems we'd probably be friends with them, too. 🤥
@@eatwhatukiii2532 They are sadly, too much like the human animal.
People often think of New York sewer rats when they think of someone having a pet rat. Totally different critters!
Rest Easy little rattie, I loved seeing all your tricks, paintings and pictures you took. What a special girl!
I had a rat named Pepper and Mickey. I never knew you could love an animal so much. I was devastated when they passed. I wish they had a life span of 15 to 20 years. The 2 and 3 years I got to spend with them were the best. They make the best pocket pets. Although I had to keep buying bigger and bigger baskets. My friends who were scared of rats changed their perception of rats after they met Pepper and Mickey. They are in my heart for eternity.
Rats are amazing yeah :)
I'm a fully grown male and watching my tiny old rat get put down absolutely broke me, it's very upsetting
I could never understand people having rats as pets I us to think they were disgusting.
That is until my child convinced me to get her two. Now I'm in love their my babies their 14month old and I dread the thought of them only living another year.
I spend every second their awake with them free roaming and have spent well over £600 on better cage and lots of stuff to go in cage and keep them occupied in and out of cage.
I would advise anyone who has the time to spend everyday with a pet to get rats they give so much love back. Honest their the best pets. I'll have rats as pets till I die now they get such a bad rap its nots fair.
Aww that is a lovely story but also sad. I am sure Pepper & Mickey had a great life and enjoyed every moment they had with you. I had two rats when I was younger called Ronnie and Reggie (yes they were named after the Kray twins 🤣LOL) and I still miss them to this day at 35 years old..! They make amazing pets but their short lifespan is always in the back of your mind. I told a friend recently who decided (for the first time in her life) to get two rats and my advice was basically to enjoy every moment you have with them and to compensate for their short lifespan make sure they have a fulfilled and happy time while they are with you.
I've never been scared of rats, but a friend of mine showed me how sweet and beautiful they can be.. I got so attached to her rats and tho I'm not seeing that friend anymore, I still miss them so much..
Honestly, I had so idea how smart rats are and what amazing pets they can be.
Rats are so smart, sweet, cute and charming!
My heart aches for how poorly misunderstood and mistreated they are.
Peter pettigrew
are they
If they wanted me to like rats, they picked a really bad thumbnail.
@@sushobhonkonar1155 Yeah.
@tiki trash Weird.
Trouble is that they are clever enough to get anywhere, and strong enough to eat anything, and carry disease . Rat's urine carries a very nasty liver disease which can be fatal. You can get it simply by placing your hand where a rat has been. There are many other diseases, some carried by the rat and others by the fleas on the rats. They can do serious damage to property such as electrical cables. But they do make great and SAFE pets.
Sweet beautiful little souls. Thanks for being another human being who helps me to maintain hope by how you care. Olive is a peach! 😊
Olive really is a wonderful example of how intelligent and charming rats can be. I know that no one lives forever, but no matter when she passes, she will always have brought amazing things into this world.
She will live forever in Ratty Heaven.
Yes shame they are put in cadges for labs to mess up with needless operations, injections and finally death to advance the human race, so we're told
@@dcocz3908
Not just "told" but haven't you "seen" Rats being used in their cruel experiments?
Intelligent ok. But charming... no way.
intelligent yes and charming yes*@@vivelagauche3564
They have what is called metacognition. They seem to have a sense of self. They are altruistic (they can share). My sister had a pet rat for two and a half years. Chase totally was her buddy, rode around the house in the hood of her robe, and was extremely bright and aware of everything.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass humans arent even that human towards peers. We have more dramatourist than genuine kind empathic people
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass That experiment was not experimentally sound. For example the animals had been conditioned to open a door to the other animal's compartment, and then the test to see whether they were "empathetic" or not was to see if they did what they had been conditioned to do before they went and got the chocolate.
Practically speaking it is impossible to determine what, if anything, other animals think/feel. A nice example is humans, actually. As you've been reading this, you have actually been speaking the words in your mind. Because that is how functional humans work. However there's a full 20% of the human population that do not have an internal voice. This means their minds work completely differently to the other 80%. How exactly? It's impossible to know. You can ask them to explain thier thoughts and feelings, if they have them, but there's no way to know if those actually are the thoughts and feelings that a normal person would have or if this person with no internal dialogue is just saying that they're experiencing things that they know that they should.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass sorry i dont live in a disney movie and im far too grown up to believe in Santa claus
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass Mentioning you not having an inner monologue, since you have said that your thoughts present as pictures or text, you do. Internal monologue is just a blanket term as that is the most common way for it to manifest.
People who lack an internal monologue can't even do that. They cannot mentally visualise. It's kind of hard to describe. It's more like if they need to think of something they think of the information that makes it up. For example if you ask them what their mother's face looked like, people with internal monologue will visualise a picture of their mother's face and then describe that picture to you, whereas people without will know qualities that their mother's face had like a bulbous nose and then tell you that quality.
The problem is that you can't measure thought, so it's possible those people who think they don't have one are just misunderstanding. But it's a massive mystery. And if we can't even get to the bottom of something like this, then of course animal to animal is even more out of reach.
@@Whisky-Glass-Lass The two conditions are linked. If someone has one they almost always have the other. They also tend towards a lower IQ, though there's still massive variation.
I had a pet rat and when I became pregnant, he'd scoot down my top and lay on my belly. The bigger I got during my pregnancy, the more Rudi wanted to chill on my stomach. He was so adorable and so clean. I miss that lil guy.
They make incredible pets.
Awww, did he ever meet the baby? 🤞
I had a rat. I brought her home from my science class in elementary school or she would go back to the University of Minnesota laboratory. She was so sweet and smart. Never bit anyone, never ran away and loved to hang out in my shoulder and play. She was so special. 🥰🥰🥰
She is way smarter and way more skilled than I will ever be! She is so adorable and lovable, I wish people treated them with kindness, they deserve respect and love. If you are scared of them, just please dont kill them, you can trap it safely and take it to a field where it can live peacefully. All beings deserve to live, especially animals!❤
Bless your heart!
@Rohan Yara bro
I hate how they are used in experiments, makes me sick!!!
❤💋
I so agree!! This video really opened my eyes and corrected my thinking of rats❣️🥰❣️
I have a crippling fear of rats. It is videos like this that have been helping me work through this fear. Thank you so much!
If you ever need more content like that I can show you my girls Biggie Cheese, Ratthew, Bubonic Plague (boobie) and Roderick :)
I have a fear and a fascination of them.
There's a channel called "Ratties" that might help you out
I used to fear rats and mice but when I got a closer look at them I realized how cute they were. I’m not afraid of them anymore. I’m still a little skittish about their long tail for some crazy reason. 🤷🏻♀️
You must hate the thumbnail of this video then? I don’t have a fear of rats, but I can imagine this thumbnail could freak some people out. If they showed a close up thumbnail of our eight legged friends, I wouldn’t even be able to open the video. That’s how crippling my fear is.
This brings a tear to my eye. Rats (plural -- DO NOT get a single rat, it's cruel given that they are highly social creatures that need to have playmates in their cage, which humans cannot be) are the most loving pets I've ever had. They get so excited to see me and my partner, they show affection through cuddles and licks, and they deserve the best care and love. Not all rats can do tricks like Olive (for some, simply potty training and spin tricks are capacity), but they're all so lovely in their own way.
You have a good knowledge of rats, I found your comment fascinating
Very true, but all animals should have a same species companion.
What ADORABLE friends, Olive is very special. 🐀
@@BirdmanVeganFuture ideally yes, but some species fare better than others in human and other species companionship. In my country in Scandinavia it's actually illegal to keep guineapigs or goats without same species companions, but not dogs or cats, and for good reason.
Not sure about rats. I'd have to look that up. It's not unlikely given they are so intelligent and super social normally living in very big colonies with intricate social structures.
On the other hand they are so common in medical labs I don't know why they'd be given exception for a regulation like that... 🤔
@@BirdmanVeganFuture Not all animals want them. When we added a second cat to our single cat household, it took well over a year for the original to accept the addition. The animal communicator told us that the original wanted to be the household's only cat. Six years later they get along okay, but do not play together.
There’s nothing sweeter than humans who are this kind and loving towards other living beings. All animals are incredible and deserve to be cared for and treated with respect, patience, and love. Look how smart! It’s heartbreaking to think about how terribly the majority treat these kindhearted creatures and how the medical, cosmetic, and other industries use them as if we are entitled to their lives for our benefits. Everyone should learn from this video. Rats, dogs, horses, donkeys, chickens, and every creature feels, bleeds, loves, cries, struggles, stresses, and has just about every emotion and sense that a human has. I adore this marvelous woman❤
I always thought I would like to have a rat...but having my heart broken every two years is just too much for me. I'm sticking with my 18 year old cat and 12 year old dog.
But heartbreak like these are there to remind you all the good times you had with them :) cos ppl gets old and memories fade, but we will always remember them because they are imprinted in our hearts/minds :)
@@SuperMosesfly That's beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I went through this cycle for about 15 years 😭 my last two passed away a year ago, I think of them daily
Every time one of our rats or cats passes I always say no more, bc I can't take the heartbreak. But then someone else shows up that needs love and a safe furever home. Theres always room in your heart. Please adopt ❤
Insects as pets.
Our pet rat, Jacques would play with our dog, Shaitan, who would pick him up gently with his mouth, carry him to a warm spot in the sunlight, then dangle his paw for Jacques to play with. After Jacques was tired, he would run up Shaitan's back, and sleep on his head between his ears. Poor Shaitan! He had to sit still like a Sphinx for a half hour while Jacques took his nap. The sweetest thing.
Are you a bot?? I'd just seen you in another completely UNRELATED video 🤔
Love Esther's rats. I've had many rats the past 17 years and they're the best pets ever.
It's heart breaking how short of a life they live. What incredible little souls.
Reading about their short lives today on videos got me choked up.I didn't know how cute they'd be- I saw the Edgar one, I knew they were intelligent.
@@frostflower5555 Amazing little souls, they do live full and joyful lives. Maybe this is better than a longer life of misery.
Rats get such a bad rap. My 2 boys are so sweet and intelligent. We keep their cage open and they come and go as they please. They come when we call them and love hanging out with us when we’re watching TV. Remarkable little animals
They make much better pets than the more popular Hamster. Much more affectionate and intelligent, and far less finger bitey.
How do you deal with the poop?
@@panpan581 yeah I want a rat, really badly, but I don't fuck with them shitting all over the place lol.
@@Ten_Thousand_Locusts I had rats growing up, quite a few, and can explain! Most rats prefer to use the bathroom in one or two spots that feel like bathroom spots to them, similar to us. They're much easier to bathroom train than hamsters or mice on that stuff. We never had issues with ours defecating outside of their cage, partly because when we noticed they had to go as babies we carried em back, but frankly they just kinda do it on their own. Rats are actually remarkably clean animals who like to be orderly and they will very happily keep your house looking nice. Ours got about as anxious when they had to go and weren't near their usual spots as our cats did!
@@kropotkinnie wow thanks, that's actually very helpful and insightful. I'm so getting a rat! Also one more question how exactly do you know when "they had to go as babies"? What tells should I be looking for?
I had 4. They all passed away very close together. They were the absolute best pets I ever had. My heart still aches for them every day. 💔
They are very good pets. They just seem to be happy with humans. They are a bit aggressive to other animals (even cats), but also a lot of rodents have this seeming instinct to dislike other rodents (hamsters and gerbils are mortal enemies!)
They had a good life with you and enjoyed every moment of it. So their souls are grateful to you. I'm pretty sure.
With someone like you, every day of those two years is full of value and enjoyment. I love this story and I love the caring work that you do. Thank you on behalf of the animals you care for!
imagine what that girl knows about death grief and loss. another fascinating story. i'd say she has a uniquely personal understanding with such matters.
Seeing them pose behind their personal artwork was just the sweetest thing!! 💕
well its only because it was munching on food. hes not posing and doesnt know what that even means
@@scoper7897 still cute
@@clorby22 no u
@@clorby22 it wasn't even munching. Rats are pretty smart they can be proud too and like posing for pics just like some humans do
@@scoper7897 I adore them. I want to get a few of my own in the future, I’m living with my parents at the moment and they are vehemently against me owning rats in their house, which is fair enough because it’s their house their rules and my dad is deathly afraid of rodents lol. They let me get a hamster though and he’s the cutest little thing. Absolute menace but I love him to death
"... shows them as a more positive concept..." 1:06 as he nicks her credit card! 🤣
😂😂
haha
it really is heartbreaking how short they live, they have so much love to give and such great personalities but the time you have with them is so short. ive had dozens of rats but my favorite and closest was named Flint, theres no words to describe how she made me feel. the amount of love from such a small little creature was insane. she lived for around 2 years and every day with her was wonderful.
i still keep her with me in an urn but i'll never forget how amazing she was when she was alive < 3
RIP Flint and all of her children and grandchildren, you're all very missed
Awwww:( rip❤️
Mpppp me 😊
its an evolutionary, survival of the species type thing. Because rats reach sexual maturity so young and have the ability to reproduce so many times, their life cycle is short. Its sad that they are rather smart and sweet but the reality is most rats are feral sewer dwellers who are aggressive and carry diseases. If they lived long lives the whole planet would have been taken over by them long ago
This made me tear up! Rats are just the most incredible, sweet and intelligent animals, it takes just a few minutes to love them, I love rats and people need to understand that they really are one of the best pets out there!💞🥺
I will never forget the story of Ebony and Ivory...a dying kitten formed a bond with a domestic rat, when she died the rat tried to kill himself...they had to put him with other kittens to save his life.
@@janesgems7 that's so heartbreaking! Hopefully the rat is doing better now!🥺
@@alexapuppylover8218 He was introduced to a group of kittens in a cat cafe, and became their friend and carer, he spent the rest of his life surrounded with them, bless him.
I would've loved to have pet rats as I always found them cute until one killed my uncle and I ended up doing more research and I am forever traumatized.
@@die5925 how did it kill your uncle if you don't mind my asking? Was it through a transmission of disease?
She’s smarter than my two dogs combined, and just as lovable.
It's called training.
@@philipcooper8297 exactly
@@philipcooper8297 Can dogs read?
@@rubyy.7374 a?
All of my pet rats knew their names like little dogs. I had a one named Ashes. She’d crawl all the way up to my face when I called her over. One named Munchies litter trained herself and wasn’t kept in a cage. They’re amazing little critters with such short lives. It felt like one of our days was three of theirs.
Probably why the display such intelligence. An it's more like one day to us is a HUNDRED to them
@@Virjunior01 actually, one rat day is equal to around 40 human days!
@@ITI-xi5zx seems low, considering... oh, no, that makes sense. We do live about that many times longer
Like little dogs… except rats😂x
@@Jumbo344 Pet rats aren’t like wild rats. That’s like comparing pet dogs to wild dogs. Pet rats come in many different colors and patterns like guinea pigs. Long and short haired too. Some have no hair like those hairless cats.
I had a rat many many years ago. Her name was Badger and I was heartbroken when she died. I wanted to adopt a small but unusual animal from the norm of a cat or dog and when I saw her we bonded straight away. She was the only rat to come up to me out of all of the ones there. For years she would sit on my shoulder and I would take her outside and show her to the children of my area and teach them about rats. About how smart and clean they were. She was so gentle and patient and would love meeting people.
I miss her, but she had an amazing life and gave me wonderful memories.
The paintings were amazing and the photos of the rats next to them made my heart burst. Super adorable. Thank you
Those paintings were quite the masterpieces and truly deserve to be in a museum! I’d totally buy those paintings as well!
I had a rat named Dottie! She was the smartest rat I’ve ever had! She protected me and loved on me all the time! She potty trained herself and was allowed to roam through the house! If she wanted something to eat she would come ask for treats! She would get in the front of my bra and fall asleep! Dottie is the best friend I ever had! Broke my heart when she died!
Rats love to train and learn. They are so smart. When I hear about rats being experimented on I feel extremely sad, because rats are loving. I am so happy for you and Olive, and your other rats as well. They are happy and their lives are enriched with learning and love.
"When I hear about rats being experimented on I feel extremely sad"
So, i won´t tell that i love to experiment on them. Mainly different bb guns and different pellets. Also, on occasion, different traps.
Me too
@@mindtraveller100 No, wild rats and mice can have diseases. Pests and predators need to be culled, especially near ranches and farms. There's a big difference between culling and torturing animals for fun though. If that's the case you might need mental help, all though you could just be attempting to be edgy which is sad in its own way.
@@jasonbrewer6714 I´m not trying to be edgy because i´m not 12, and there is not, and never was anything edgy about me. Also, i never, ever tortured an animal just for fun.
They are all so cute. That group shot of them and the one of each displaying their paintings is especially adorable. These are certainly the best ambassadors to the species. Smart, cute, industrious. I'll say cute again!
Amazing and Adorable!! Rats are such good pets...Thank you so much for bringing awareness to how they are such good companions. Unfortunately they don't live longer...I have had four I miss them all...Thanks again!
It must be tough to have a pet for just two years, then lose it
It definitely is. But it's easier not to expect any longevity and just do your best with the time you do have with a pet. 99.9% of the time will be great fun.
Yes, it is. And that's the reason I don't want pet rats. It would just kill me.
My brother had rats as a child, some twenty years ago, they were adorable, sweet, lovable and died so fast. He was pretty traumatized and to this very day doesn't want any more pets because of that. I guess you have to be a certain kind of person to be able to stomach that 😭
It never gets any easier to lose them. The neat thing will be to see them all together at 🌈 Rainbow Bridge. I know i will have over 100 of them.
That's the main reason I stopped keeping rats. After the 4th one, I just decided it wasn't worth the heartbreak.
@@littleredhen2894 wow, that is really good to almost make 3 years old. Most of mine get to about 2 years and 3 months. Some 2 and i had one get to 2 years 8 months. It always is hard to lose them but they sure make you laugh and bring a happy heart when they are with you. Sorry to hear of your recent loss. I'm sure you gave him a wonderful life!
Love all of Shadow the Rat ratties Learned so much from the watching their videos. Much respect to rats & huge thank you to Esther for expanding our lives
I used to have a pet rat at 12. I loved her. I’m 74 now. Got 2 sister rats a few yrs ago and they both developed tumors and had to be put down by age one. Broke my heart. No more rats but I DO wish there was a way to teach lots of people about how sweet pet rats really are. Like the bat, that most people still think of as related to mice and that all have rabies, the pet rat is unduly maligned. I wish people would look beyond their own noses.
Oh nooo, that's so terrible!!!☹️😢❤️
Man, losing both rats at once...I truly feel sorry for you, this is so cruel to you :( ❤️
@@o-kiku3939 Thanks. I’m a woman.
@@samm-t4u Oh, sorry then miss! And you're welcome :-)
@@samm-t4u man is more used as a way to say damn, dang it, darn, etc. like a way to express that something sucks. They weren’t calling you a man lol
Find yourself a baby Gambian Pouched Rat, The live seven to nine years
This young girl and her rats have really opened my eyes to the loving family rats can be. I wish the cute little rats had longer life spans cause they are so special. Please do more spotlights on this young lady ( I’m sorry I forgot her name) and her rats.
If you search Shadow the Rat on youtube, you will find Esther and her lovely rats. Definitely a channel worth subbing to for cute rat content!
@@hanespower2596 Thank you, I will definitely check it out
I wish they had a life span of 30 seconds.
@@mindtraveller100 Wow! You're so edgy and cool! How do I become as cool as you?!?!
@@mindtraveller100 you too.
What a beautiful, enriched life she’s given them! ❤
Yep. Had 2. A hooded & a brown rat ❤❤❤
Rats must live longer. I hope Olive will live more then overage two years. She’s adorable 🥰
I had one named Mr.Nuts. He lived to about 7 years. So it’s possible for them to live longer. If the tumors don’t get them first.
They live about as long as it takes to boot em into orbit..
They are called pests for a reason.
@@Home_Rich Pet rats aren’t like wild rats. It’s like comparing pet dogs to wild dogs. Did you know there are many breeds of rats as well? They look pretty unique with they’re colors and patterns much like guinea pigs.
Olive is a little star, so clever and adorable! Rats do make wonderful pets; they are smart, affectionate and fun to train. Olive is a great ambassador for her species. Love seeing Ester on here...her TH-cam channel Shadow the Rat is amazing
Josephina, that is so sweet and true what you said… “Olive is a great ambassador for her species.” I wouldn’t have known how to put that into words. Thank you!
@@lindsays2007 ❤️ Thanks Lindsay!
Those cute little smiles they have! You can tell they really love this person.
You are a wonderful rat owner. I had two rats once and took them to my first grade classroom to meet the students. They loved her.
Rats are my favorites (and I truly adore dogs and cats). Mice are also so underrated; they are much smarter and more complex and emotionally engaging than most give them credit for. But rats are the most loving, sweetest, smartest, and by far the funniest animal companions I’ve been lucky to know.
They love their families so much and bond so closely with kind, trusted people. Please spread the word to people who simply don’t know and grow up with negative ideas about them and worse how they supposedly deserve to be treated. These are extremely emotionally sensitive and affectionate friends.
She deserves to be in a Barbie dream house with her doll and rat friends so cute she could cook and paint anything lollll I used to scream when a rat came in my room when I woke up from noises
They never bit or hurt me they just ate the food or stuff in my trash can lol
As a child in the 70’s we were very poor and lived in some bad places. One had huge rats. I was given milk and put to bed. I assume a rat smelled it when I was asleep . I woke with a rat biting my upper lip. I still have the scar to this day. Although these guys adorable, I still wouldn’t have one.
But those were wild rats, not domesticated. I wouldn't want a wild dog, but I trust my pet one. (Sorry that happened to you, btw)
*They have the sweetest little loving personalities. They look you right in the eye too!
They dont know how to play basketball though, that was clearly a travelling violation
@@enterpassword3313
Get him some suitcases... hes traveling😂
I don't think that people who have been terrorized by rats all over the world( EXCEPT for in the Canadian province of Alberta- the one rat-free stronghold on earth), like the soldiers in the trenches in World War I, or the people who witnessed rats feasting on human corpses at the Auschwitz death camps or the people who suffered from The Bubonic Plague/ The Black Death or people living in public housing in American inner city communities who have had to live in dilapidated and run-down buildings swarming with rats, etc, would be so inclined to agree with that assessment of them having the sweetest little loving personalities.
But when it's specifically bred rats who have been rats by human beings as pets, then I agree and then they're different and more like any other domesticated house pet.
Broken keyboard?
Rats and mice are super intelligent, empathetic, and loving
This made me cry. Their cute little faces... They are little persons in furs. People need to be kind to these sweet animals. Wishing you, Olive and all the other babies all the best 💕💕💕
What a smart and friendly little soul Olive is.
Is it edible?
My mom taught kindergarten, so over the years we had a number of “class pets;” snakes, hamsters, bugs (including a jumping spider named Esmeralda-horror story, much PTSD on my part). The best of them all was Algernon, the rat. She entertained the kids-and even the janitor, who initially threw a fit because he hated rats, ended up carrying her around on his shoulder as he cleaned the classroom. I highly recommend rats as first pets for kids. I only wish they had longer lives.
A lot of kids are actually really bad with rats. Rats are super sensitive and need a lot of gentle love, which a lot of kids simply don't understand. I had rats as a kid which was really important for me but looking back, I feel really bad for the mistakes I made with the rats.
@@peskycritter79 Mom never let the kids handle Algie. They could watch her and talk to her but Mom worried that the children might either hurt her and/or get bitten. Algie thrived in that classroom, and she really loved the janitor until he loved her back. LOL.
@@peskycritter79 Yeah, kids should never be the primary caretakers for rats. Pet rats don't have a bite instinct, but they will learn to defend themselves if they feel threatened, and a child who doesn't know how to handle small animals can seem really threatening when you're rat sized
@@lkayh Kudos to your mom. Also, the story of the janitor is really cute.
@@liljatupsu Oh for sure. And kids are generally loud and clumsy, which doesn't help.
Great vid! i have 20 years raising rats. I currently have 6 boys at 6 months. Free range,theyre free to run around the house. Ill admit,I cried at the end of this vid when you mentioned they only live 2 years. Its gut wrenching when they pass. I learned the way around the pain is to get a fresh colony of 6 once every 15 months. Never be ratless! And every rat has a different personality!
Amazing feats by amazing little critters. Such patience to teach them those feats and a joy to watch. 🤗🤗🤗😍
So excited to see Esther on GeoBeats! She is obviously a skilled and patient trainer. Love her TH-cam channel ShadowTheRat, and her merch is awesome too. I have her Rat Calendar and it’s the bomb. 🥰🐀❤️
Awww, I had a Pickles too
Gross
@@harisonsanchez1736 What? the name pickles? Please be respectful. this person is mentioning their own grief they have felt, It is not gross, If you're saying owning rats is gross then why are you even commenting? You are giving rat videos comments. which further improves their reach, Samuel. I'm sorry, They do live very short lives, but atleast you get to know that their small lifetime felt like a million amazing lives to them.
@@harisonsanchez1736 Dim. Too bad about the spelling of your name.
@@harisonsanchez1736 yes you are, but we don't keep going on about it!
@@iamrocketray bro savage
Thank you for sharing Olive and her sisters with us ❤
I always love watching olive do her tricks! She's such an amazing rat. Her mum loves them all so very much, and it shows! 🥰🐀
Such beautiful animals, I've had 6 and despite their short lives I remember and love each of them. I had one rat that actually managed to live over 5 years. I was constantly amazed by their intelligence, sensitivity and affectionate natures.
@@panpan581 You clean it?
I love esther! She’s popular in basically all rat groups i’m in, her rats are amazing and she’s an incredibly talented rat teacher. I would never have the patience
Rest in peace dear olive
Rats are not only smart, but very loving. It's terrible how people use all kinds of cruel ways to kill them. Worst is to use glue traps!
Glue traps are evil, the animal is stuck and slowly dies of thirst/dehydration. I would even think twice about using them on insects.
Next step will be: we are cruel to the bedbugs and cockroaches, and they are amazing. If they are there we need to learn to coexist with them.
They breed like crazy and cause lots of damage and unsanitary conditions in your home. The ones killed aren’t domesticated. They are a nuisance.
@@dvellyeah unfortunately rats are a terrible pest, domesticated ones are lovely little creatures and I’m sure wild ones have the propensity to be too, but they’re not and they cause serious health concerns.
You have to be realistic it’s not “rats bad or rats good”
Although i agree about lots of traps being far too cruel
I also adopted a rat once. They were selling her as snake food 😳
I was amazed because I never thought rats could be so sweet 🥰
Snakes have to eat too. 🤷♀
Did you taste it ?
@@vielkadenerson2534 LOL! 😁
I had rats, the only problem I found with them was their sensitive respiratory system and they really love to nibble on cloth. Compared to other animals those are very minimal problems. Their snot is red by the way, so don't get freaked out, the enamel on their teeth is orange which is a healthy sign for them.
Oh thank you. I was wondering about the orange teeth.
My roommates had a naked rat named Dobby and she refused to die. She was I think 4ish when she finally past. Smartest little weirdo I've ever met.
Rats are so versatile. They use them also to sniff out landmines. THey're actually amazing little critters.
Sniff out landmines? What´s the use of that? They should use them to blow up landmines. Eliminate 2 dangers at a time.
rats are incest
This is so sweet. The interaction and connections we can have with animals -if we only make the effort.
Absolutely
Love this woman for sharing light on how lovable and cute rats actually are, you go girl! 😄💙🐀🐁
They are adorable, thanks for posting. She can even pick out her own name. Amazing.
I had a beautiful beige and white hooded rat named Lydia. She was an awesome little girl, a great companion and very well trained. She was so good. She always wanted to be carried in my shirt pocket. Even the other animals liked her. I had a couple of ferrets, a rabbit, two birds and two cats. She lived about 3 and a half years.
Good old Lydia!!
I love rats. I used to have Russian Blues. They are so caring, they give kisses, and they’re really smart. Olive is adorable.
I love that photo of Olive with her crooked little smile! What special lives & love you & the rats share.
The heart wants, what the heart wants! ❤️❤️❤️
rest in peace pickle, hope the other two live long lives 🖤
I love your dedication to your rats. Simply beautiful. I am sad that their life span is so short. You embrace every moment. Bravo!
You are truely an ambassador for the rats! Olive is just so exceptional!
I kept rats for almost ten years, and I discovered what incredible single personalities they have. They are just amazing pets (I saw them more as companions actually). The problem is the age; after almost ten years of losing my beloveds every 2 years, my heart couldn't take it anymore. But oh my I still miss them in my life, so much!
You know I wasn’t going to let this video pass. You got me with the title! 😊 Sweetie, you make it amazing, the patience you have for your little furry friend is a blessing! I bet with your videos, you bring and your little furry friend bring joy to others! ❤
I appreciate what this young lady (Esther) is doing with the rats. She really shows them in a positive, funny and loving way. I'm still terrified of mice & rats but if Esther was there I might have the courage to actually pet one. Where I live I've never seen a rat in person.
I have always been scared of rats and one of my worst nightmare was with a rat who I had a staring contest with with me laid down not being able to move my body and then just all of a sudden the rat jumped on my face which woke me up tucking myself with my blanket so fast.
Videos like this will help me see them differently so thank you!
I admire you for working on your phobias! You can do it! :3
Those paintings done by the siblings were fantastic! ❤👍💜💙
Esther could be running a cleaning company for doll houses with those little cuties 😝😍 In all seriousness, these furbabies live the most enriched lives thanks to Esther ❤️❤️❤️
I miss my pet rat. He was the sweetest little critter you would ever meet, really smart too.
I started to appreciate rats, since I seen Willard and Ben. They are incredibly intelligent.
That was cute, how they posed behind their paintings.
Your Skaven army is coming along nicely.
I miss my rat, George. We couldn't have a cat or a dog so we opted for a rat. It took me 6 months to convince my husband. LoL. I had a rescue rat when I was in middle school so I had some experience with them, but George taught me how smart rats are. We had him for 3 awesome years.
I am so glad to see that Miss Olive has a good home. She looks so smart and adorable! Thanks for giving people a new view of rats. They can make great pets!
I have wanted to adopt a rat or two for decades. But I can’t deal with the heartbreak of such a short lifespan. But they are truly amazing, loving, thoughtful animals. I love all your vlogs. Please keep them up. Cheers from Canader eh
У меня был мой маленький дружок и он решил уйти на небо, 2 года я его опекала, а теперь его нет на душе больно и печально до слез.
not two never two rat
Your work with Olive and the others is a demonstration of and an honor to the life and intelligence that is within us all.
It's astonishing how intelligent rats are and how compassionate and responsive to love they are. It makes me sad that a majority of humans believe they are dirty pests that need to be eradicated 🥺
If you lived in a bad neighborhood of a city and they were infesting your food and biting your children, you'd have a different view. It's totally different if they're a pet and you intend for them to be there.
@@adamgordon3990 that applies to humans too
@@hamzah5643 I hate it when strangers enter my household to bite my children.
@@mikedacoolnerd788 XDDD this is why I come to the comments section
@@hamzah5643 Well, if humans were infesting my food and biting my children, that would be even scarier than rats, but it happens commonly with rats, not with humans.
0:46 Im crying the rats looks so proud😭
Pickle had the coolest stand