A Lengthy Tale: The Dynamic Anthrozoological Relationship Between Humans And Rats

Far from living in the shadows, rats figure prominently in our lives. Though we consider them wild animals, we most commonly encounter them in the city, the most human of the ecosystems. This point, among many others, presents one parallel between humans and rats: We both thrive in urban environments. People undoubtedly conjure images of filthy, malevolent creatures when prompted to think about rats. Even though rats indeed steal our food and have the potential to spread disease, pest animal is but one of the rat’s triad of identities. Alternatively, on top of this nettlesome role, rats serve a more didactic purpose. Scientists the world over exploit the convenience and customizability of rats to investigate biological phenomena, spanning topics such as psychology, physiology, and pharmacology. In this, we encounter yet another congruity of humans and rats, for the motivating assumption of rat-related research critically depends on it: Rats and humans are alike. If we believed anything else, conducting research on rats would be impractical. Rats, unexpectedly, perform a more affectionate role as well. To those who are willing to forgive the rats their loaded past and symbolism, rats make excellent pets. While most of us try not to think about rats, pet rat—or fancy rat owners achieve the opposite. The rat’s capacity as companion animals perhaps best of all illustrates the human ability to simultaneously hold severely conflicting ideas in the mind about a single animal, for the animal possessing the stated three identities is one and the same. I therefore seek in this thesis to examine the triple identity of the rat. I open with a discussion of rats in general, exploring some of the characteristics that define them. Additionally, I introduce the field of study dedicated to answering questions like mine: anthrozoology. In the next chapter, I review how rats act parasitically to human endeavors and what we’ve attempted in order to stop them. The following chapter relates the rats pervasive use in scientific research; I survey what makes rats the optimal animal model in the laboratory. I close the thesis with the rat’s most surprising role as object of affection. Not only do many enjoy rats as companion animals—for reasons I explore in this chapter—but some non-Western cultures possess positive attitudes about rats in general. The overriding aim of this thesis is to get the reader thinking about rats.