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April 4 marks a unique and adorable holiday - World Rat Day! These furry little creatures may not be everyone's first choice for a pet, but they deserve to be celebrated too. Did you know that rats have been domesticated for over 200 years and have even been trained to do tricks? They are also incredibly intelligent animals and make great companions. So why not take some time on this day to appreciate these lovable rodents and all the joy they bring into our lives?
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rat Domestication Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the 1800s, the domestication of rats, particularly brown rats, first began for scientific research and as pets.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1895</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of Rat Fancy</div><div class='timeline-text'>The term "rat fancy" was coined to describe the pet rat hobby, and the National Mouse Club in the UK began accepting rat entries in their shows.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1912</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Rat Show</div><div class='timeline-text'>The British National Fancy Rat Society hosted its first standalone rat show, solidifying rat fancy as an independent hobby.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1976</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Foundation of AFRMA</div><div class='timeline-text'>The American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA) was established to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of fancy rats and mice.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>World Rat Day Inception</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first World Rat Day was celebrated in an effort to dispel social stigma against rats and promote them as excellent pets.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Throw a "Rat-tacular" party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite your friends over for a rat-themed party! Decorate with rat balloons and serve rat-shaped snacks. You can even dress up as rats for some added fun.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Adopt a pet rat</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Visit your local animal shelter or pet store and adopt a furry friend to celebrate World Rat Day. Rats make great pets and will bring joy to your life all year round.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch rat-themed movies</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend the day curled up on the couch watching movies about rats, such as "Ratatouille" or "The Secret of NIMH." You can also have a movie marathon with your friends and watch all the rat-related films you can find.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a rat sanctuary</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find a local rat sanctuary and offer to volunteer for the day. You'll get to interact with some adorable rats and help out a good cause at the same time.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create rat-inspired crafts</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and make some rat-inspired crafts, such as rat-shaped earrings or a rat-themed scrapbook. You can also have a crafting party with your friends and see who can come up with the most unique rat creation.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Rats are misunderstood creatures</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Rats often get a bad reputation, but World Rat Day is the perfect opportunity to learn more about these fascinating creatures. They are intelligent, social, and make great pets for those who are willing to take care of them properly.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Rats play an important role in research</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Did you know that rats have been used in scientific research for centuries? Their intelligence and physiological similarities to humans make them ideal subjects for studying different diseases and conditions. On World Rat Day, we can appreciate the contributions these animals have made to medical advancements.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Rats are celebrated all over the world</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>World Rat Day is not only celebrated in the United States - it has become a global event! From rat-themed parties to charitable events raising awareness for proper rat care, people all over the world come together to celebrate these amazing creatures.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Rats can Laugh</h3><p class='facts-content'>When rats are tickled, they produce a high-pitched, chirping noise that is considered similar to human laughter, illustrating their capacity for joy and playfulness.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Rats are Contributors to the Ecosystem</h3><p class='facts-content'>As surprising as it may be, rats contribute to the ecosystem by helping to disperse seeds and recycle nutrients in soil through their droppings, thus playing a role in new plant growth.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Exploratory Whisking is a Unique Trait of Rats</h3><p class='facts-content'>Rats use their whiskers to explore and understand their environment by rapidly moving them back and forth, a behavior known as "whisking".</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Rats can Detect Disease in Humans </h3><p class='facts-content'>Trained rats have been used in certain parts of the world to detect tuberculosis in sputum samples more accurately than standard tests, illustrating their remarkable sense of smell.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Rats are Excellent Swimmers</h3><p class='facts-content'>Rats are adept at swimming and holding their breath, they can stay submerged for up to three minutes and even swim against the current in sewer lines.</p></div></div>
World Rat Day is celebrated on April 4 every year. In 2024 World Rat Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Apr 4
Tuesday
2024
Apr 4
Thursday
2025
Apr 4
Friday
2026
Apr 4
Saturday
2027
Apr 4
Sunday
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