Pets are awesome! I've had dogs, cats, box turtles, fish, and mice over a lifetime. I thought they all were affectionate in their own way, even the fish. Now, we have two rescue dogs. (German shepherd mixes) You're right about rats. I had a friend who had a pet rat. They are highly intelligent and quite affectionate. Would love to have one if they lived longer. (only two years, on average). Thanks for this awesome article!