By Sasha Petrova
WHAT do you do if there’s a rat in your house?
Most people would react by scrunching up their face in disgust, jumping on a chair with a portable phone and dialing the pest exterminator.
But the Nikodems aren’t most people.
For them, rats are pets not pests.
“They are clean animals and like to live in a clean area,” said Bec Nikodem, the mother of the household.
“They don’t carry germs and diseases like wild rats do.”
Bec has five children and doesn’t have time for more dependents – which is exactly why a rat is the best kind of pet.
“They are fantastic pets for families and kids,” Bec said.
“A lot of people with kids will buy dogs for Christmas and it doesn’t work out because they don’t have time for it and they end up in pounds.”
According to Bec, rats are just as intelligent, friendly and playful as dogs, but are a lot less work.
“They are also known as a pocket dog,” Bec said.
Rats and dogs are similar in many other ways too.
Rats don’t bite unless they’re cornered or afraid and “you can teach rats to play fetch.”
“You can pop them on the floor with you and you can play games with them,” said Bec.
They can also be “free-range in the house” and will come to you when called.
Rats also form bonds with people and some even have favourites.
“Our oldest (rat) boy Oscar has created an amazing bond with my eight-year-old daughter Kayla and will follow her wherever she goes,” Bec said.
While Kayla is Oscar’s favourite, four-year-old Paige has a special relationship with Strawberry Shortcakes, a girl.
“Boys and girls have different temperaments,” Bec said.
“Male rats are the best for kids. They are cuddlers. They are lazier and are happy to curl up on your lap.
Female rats are more hyper and are more interested in exploring.”
The Nikodems have six rats altogether – three boys and three girls.
But this isn’t Bec’s, or Kayla’s first pack of rats.
“We’ve had them before when my eldest (Kayla) was younger,” said Bec.
Being a Simpson’s fan at the age of three, Kayla had named the two rats Itchy and Scratchy.
“You should always have them in pairs. They are social animals and can get lonely.”
Sadly, rats only live for around three years.
When they died, Bec said that Kayla was sad like people are when any animal dies.
“It’s hard, but you get a really good three years.”
Bec recommends rats for all families with children and plans to become a registered rat breeder with her husband.
Bec’s brother used to breed rats and Kayla was socialised around them.
“That’s how I saw what a good pet they are,” said Bec.
When Bec was a kid, she had mice. Strangely enough, she also had cats.
“You can have cats and rats together,” she revealed.
“If you have the rat first and you get a kitten, they will socialise together and become friends.”
As Bec spoke, one of her daughter’s had came up to the rat cage to give them water. The rats ran up to her in excitement and stood on their hind legs resting their forelegs on the wire.
“We can just open the cage and put your arm in and they’ll crawl up and sit on your shoulder,” said Bec.
