The dichotomy of me: I have always wanted pet rats. I have also lived in a home with a horrible rat infestation. Like, to the point where whole sections of wall have been missing from them chewing them. Keep the food in plastic totes instead of cabinets, and they still chew through the totes. Wild rats, while the same species, are truly horrible to live with them. Not their fault. They're still adorable, intelligent little creatures. But good God does it absolutely suck to have them free ranging themselves in your walls