New Year rat craze grips Russia

[mustang-sally 8]

The rat's image has had a New Year makeover in Russia

Russian pet shops are reporting a shortage of domestic rats, as shoppers snap them up ahead of the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Rat.

Shoppers are said to be buying even mice, hamsters or gerbils. But vets warn that some unwanted rats will be released in the streets.

While Russia's main religion is Christian Orthodox, Chinese astrology is a pastime for many.

Chinese New Year, based on the Moon's cycles, begins on 7 February this year.

Rats are soft, charming and clean and do not need a great deal of care, traders say.

But "not everyone is going to be delighted to get a real rat as a present, and those that can't house them will either return them to a shop, or release them in the streets," said one Moscow vet quoted by the AFP news agency.

In December customers hoping to buy rats formed long queues in pet shops in the northern city of Novgorod, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7166566.stm

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Funny, there was no shortage of cute cuddly pigs last year.

[mustang-sally 8]

Lets wait and see if there are a shortage of oxen next year or even tigers the year after

[JODO 2]

What in the world ? Since when are rats clean????

[peejay 327]

My Russian wife is totally into all the different symbols of the Chinese New Year. Fortunately she just collects the figurines. Since she has been here, she has aquired a dog, pig, rooster, and I'm sure the rat is next. Luckily we live in a big city with a sizable Chinatown that sells all this stuff.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

What in the world ? Since when are rats clean????

Rats keep themselves clean. They just happen to carry disease though in the wild. As domestic animals, they are good pets, really. Smart and well mannered. Don't need much to keep them happy. Cheap to replace.

[Amby 490]

my younger cousin has 2 pet rats and she loves them...as for a shortage of rats because of the year of the rat I'm not running out to buy any!

[mustang-sally 8]

I'm not running out to buy rats either.

Apparantly rats have the same size brains as cats, I don't mind pet rats but I do think that cats have more about them, even though I'm a dog person myself.

[Dan and Lynne 0]

Lets wait and see if there are a shortage of oxen next year or even tigers the year after

isnt there already a shortage of tigers? must have been caused by the last chinese year of the tiger, or maybe its just because of the unnecessary china/tiger relationship

[Dan and Lynne 0]

siberian tiger beheaded and skinned

[Jenn! 918]

My cousins have a pet rat. It was even on the family Christmas card.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Oh my! I better not go back to Russia in 2010! I don't want this tiger to be captured and made a pet! Well, except for Alla's!

Lets wait and see if there are a shortage of oxen next year or even tigers the year after

Edited January 1, 2008 by Kazan' Tiger

[Mags 112]

I used to keep rats many years ago. They are really intelligent, very clean, have great personalities and are very friendly. Absolutely great pets if you fancy keeping a rodent of some description.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Mags is correct. They can be a better pet than a hamster or Guinea pig. Truthfully, experts say the reason so many people loathe them all comes down to three things: association with disease, sewers and their long fur absence tails.

I used to keep rats many years ago. They are really intelligent, very clean, have great personalities and are very friendly. Absolutely great pets if you fancy keeping a rodent of some description.