Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013. Her work has previously appeared on MTV, The Frisky, Vice, and Best Friends Magazine. The rats are where it ...

Rats as Pets: What to Know Before you run out and buy a few rats, there are some things to keep in mind. Rats need quite a bit of space, thanks in part to their intelligence and love of play.