It is best to pick a rat that is between four and eight weeks of age, as it will be easier to tame. Females are more curious, and therefore more active, than males. However, if you like the idea of spending a lot of time giving your rat affection, males are a better choice, because females are more interested in exploring.

Before choosing a rat, it's important to start by observing it from afar. A healthy rat will be alert and cheerful. Because rats are nocturnal, you should visit the pet store at night when they're most active. Check the bottom of the cage for diarrhea, which is a sure sign of trouble.

You should then try to assess its character. Your potential pet should calm down quickly in your hand and not try to escape or bite. Avoid buying a frightened or nervous rat, which will be too difficult to tame.

Because rats are sociable animals, your rat's cage should be placed in a busy part of the house. Avoid putting the cage near doors because of the potential for draughts.

Making a good home for your rat is easy, because rats aren't fussy. However, it's still recommended that you give it a large cage and a stimulating environment.

A few of the available options for lining the bottom of the cage:

1. Wood shavings: best choice, but avoid cedar
2. Hay or straw: less absorbent, smells bad faster
3. Newspaper: not very absorbent and dirties feet and fur
4. Corn cob: not ideal, because rats confuse it with their food and eat it

Because rats tend to relieve themselves in the same spot day after day, you might consider putting a litter box in that spot to make clean-up easier.

A few good toy ideas:

1. Small plastic cat ball containing a bell
2. Wooden ladder
3. Hanging rope
4. Wooden, leather or cotton rope toys designed for birds
5. Paper bags
6. Bird's nest
7. Old magazines or books
8. Cardboard boxes
9. Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls

Because rats are nocturnal, they should be fed, and their water changed, in the evening. Feel free to give yours as much of its favourite food as you want. Rodent food should make up between 80% and 90% of its diet. You can complement that with fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products, which are the best treats you can give your little friend.

Recommended fruits and veggies include apples, asparagus, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery stalks, cherries, grapes, lettuce, melon, oranges, parsnips, papaya, peppers, pineapple, plums, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, strawberries, turnips and zucchini.

Grains: oats, Cheerios^®, Rice Krispies^®, Corn Flakes^®, rice, bread (ideally whole wheat or multigrain), croissants, muffins and couscous.

Things to avoid at all costs include sweet pastries, chocolate, and fruit seeds and pits. Fruits and vegetables can be given raw or cooked. Always provide your rat with a little dry hay, which is an excellent source of natural fibre that facilitates digestion.

And always remember to provide fresh water.