World Rat Day

World Rat Day is a global holiday dedicated to rats. An important clarification—in this case, we are talking about domestic or pet rats. They are a worthy alternative to other rodents, such as hamsters or guinea pigs! The holiday is celebrated every year on April 4.

History

Rats are among the oldest animals. Researchers claim that they existed as far back as the age of the dinosaurs. These animals are very intelligent, agile, undemanding in terms of food, and highly adaptable to different conditions. Because of these qualities, rats are in high demand as pets today.

The idea for World Rat Day originated with American rat breeders who wanted to popularize this animal as a pet and dispel the stereotypes associated with rats. The main stereotype is that rats carry dangerous diseases and are associated with filth. In reality, such opinions are true only for wild rats that live in basements, abandoned buildings, and similar environments. Therefore, it is not fair to compare them to all representatives of the rat species.

Interesting Facts

• Rats gained their notoriety from the bubonic plague epidemic of the Middle Ages, during which they were the main carriers of the disease.
• Rats play a major role in medicine. These animals are used for various studies, drug trials, and more due to the similarity between the rat genome and the human genome, which is almost 95% identical.
• Rats are excellent swimmers. They can spend about 72 hours in the water and swim up to 30 km!

How to Celebrate

Buy your rat new toys or upgrade its habitat or cage. If you’ve been considering getting a pet, think about adopting a rat! Find more interesting information about these animals online.

Share the news about World Rat Day on social media. Ask others about their attitudes toward this type of pet.

When is World Rat Day in 2025?

World Rat Day is observed on April 4 each year.

Observations