Most rats carry diseases which are harmful to humans. Cats may carry rabies and the like but on the whole most are domesticated and don't carry serious diseases.
Cats don't start families between your walls. I do feel bad for rats though, have you ever seen one after eating rat poison? It's very sad, they walk into walls, and do other sad things before finally dropping dead. I sure wouldn't want to go that way.
Culture (perception).
Technically, there is absolutely no difference between harming individuals of one species of mammals or of another one.
Technically, there is absolutely no difference between harming individuals of one species of mammals or of another one.
<< why dont people who do research on animals use cats instead of rats? or dogs, or chickens for that matter? >>
Research is done on animals of all types - dogs, cats, rats, chickens, pigs, monkeys - depending on the nature and intent of the research. The rat was involved in killing a quarter of Europe's population and a fair number elsewhere by being carriers of the plague and a couple other diseases. The rat has also severely damaged crops both in the field and in grain storage facilities in certain areas throughout the world. The rat is a voracious chewing rodent that can chew through sheet metal in sufficient numbers and infest just about any dwelling or structure, posing a health hazard. Rats are vermin.
<< The rat was involved in killing a quarter of Europe's population (..) >>
More like 1/3th, actually.
But I disagree that rats are vermin. Sure, they're often an annoyance to other animals, like ourselves, but that doesn't take away the fact that they're one of the most succesful species on this planet. They're highly adaptive and can therefore live just about anywhere.
Methinks you're just envious
<< vermin: Various small animals or insects, such as rats or cockroaches, that are destructive, annoying, or injurious to health. >>
I don't mind captive bred and raised rats, I think they can be just as good of a pet as any other rodent-pet (hamsters, guinea pigs, bunny rabbits, etc.). My neighbor had a pet rat that was very cool, it would curl-up in his shirt pocket and go to sleep (only part you could see was his tail hanging out) and hang around on his shoulder for hours. Very friendly critter.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
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IMO anyone (especially a child) who is deliberately cruel to any animal, imcluding a rat, has serious problems, and is relatively likely to end up committing violence against other people.
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
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I guess you guys wouldn't want to see me breaking a rat's neck and then feeding the rat to my snakes? It's actually fairly painless for the rat.
Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain.
It's more humane to kill the rat this way, then by strangulation, which is what would happen if I fed the rats "live" to the snakes.
I have nothing meaningful to contribute to the conversation...so I'll leave now.
Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain.
It's more humane to kill the rat this way, then by strangulation, which is what would happen if I fed the rats "live" to the snakes.
I have nothing meaningful to contribute to the conversation...so I'll leave now.
911paramedic
Diamond Member
- Jan 7, 2002
- 9,448
- 1
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They use cats and dogs all the time for medical research.
To answer your question, one is a domesticated animal and one is a rodent. You will find different cultures do different things with them however. Cats and dogs have it pretty good here in the US compared to some other countries. Then again, the Egyptians held the cat in very high regard.
Seems like this could go on and on, so I am going to shut up now.
To answer your question, one is a domesticated animal and one is a rodent. You will find different cultures do different things with them however. Cats and dogs have it pretty good here in the US compared to some other countries. Then again, the Egyptians held the cat in very high regard.
Seems like this could go on and on, so I am going to shut up now.
<< I guess you guys wouldn't want to see me breaking a rat's neck and then feeding the rat to my snakes? It's actually fairly painless for the rat. >>
I got pretty handy at this when I was in Anatomy and Physiology lab. Nobody else wanted to do it, everyone was like "ewww", even our professor was slightly hesitant about this because she didn't want to make a mistake and end-up hurting the animal instead of quickly killing it. I have no qualms about such things so I was the one who always got to euthanize the animals. If you don't get all nervous and sentimental, and just do it correctly, it always works quick and clean. If you allow yourself to get all nervous and sentimental, it is virtually guaranteed you'll do it incorrectly.
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
:Q are you an expert at this?
Size? Cats tend to be larger than rats.
The way you cook them? I have heard that cats make for good eating.
The way you cook them? I have heard that cats make for good eating.
lol....thats kinda gruesome.
Cats are sweet.....Rats are gross, dig through your garbage, carry diseases, and are gross.
end of story.
While morally killing either animal is justified, If rats have feelings I'd rather not know about em. Just kill em quick
Cats are sweet.....Rats are gross, dig through your garbage, carry diseases, and are gross.
end of story.
While morally killing either animal is justified, If rats have feelings I'd rather not know about em. Just kill em quick
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
sweeet! New sig material.
Amused
Elite Member
- Apr 14, 2001
- 57,347
- 19,503
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<<
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
sweeet! New sig material.
>>Doesn't this belong in the Rosie thread?
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
- 76
<<
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
:Q are you an expert at this? >>
Expert? No. Very experienced? Yes. I've had constrictors as pets for 5 years now. You learn to kill the rodents the hard way; experience.
It's actually very dangerous for the snake to feed live rodents. They will defend themselves (wouldn't you?) and a large rat can leave a nasty, gaping wound on your snake. Have you ever tried to put bacitracin on a 7-foot, 15-pound, injured and bleeding, pissed-off constrictor? It's not fun. :Q
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
- 76
<<
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
sweeet! New sig material.
>>Cool! I am honored. *bows*
And yeah, this could apply to Rosie as well.
Gun-hating, liberal-brownnosing, big fat bag o'snacks. The sound of her voice sends chills up my spine...imagine having to be her masseusse? Ewwwwwwwww 
killface
Golden Member
- Aug 17, 2001
- 1,416
- 0
- 0
There's no difference.
They're both pests in my neighborhood. I actually hate the cats more because they're friggin LOUD. My backyard seems to be some sort of mating grounds for them. One night I heard what sounded like a baby screaming in my back yard. I went out to investigate and found nothing. Heard the same sound a few nights later, went out and caught 3 (?) cats getting it on, screaming like maniacs. They weren't shy either - I shined my flashlight on them and they just kept on doin' it.
The rats only bug me when they run right under my feet when I'm sittin out front at night. It kinda bugs you out. They also make a hellova lotta noise fighting for scraps behind the pizza place a couple of houses down in the middle of the night.
They're both pests in my neighborhood. I actually hate the cats more because they're friggin LOUD. My backyard seems to be some sort of mating grounds for them. One night I heard what sounded like a baby screaming in my back yard. I went out to investigate and found nothing. Heard the same sound a few nights later, went out and caught 3 (?) cats getting it on, screaming like maniacs. They weren't shy either - I shined my flashlight on them and they just kept on doin' it.
The rats only bug me when they run right under my feet when I'm sittin out front at night. It kinda bugs you out. They also make a hellova lotta noise fighting for scraps behind the pizza place a couple of houses down in the middle of the night.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 67
- 91
<<
<<
<< Grab it by the tail and whack the back it's neck/head off the edge of the counter. Kills them instantly. Sometimes they twitch a lot, but that's just the body complaining about the spinal cord being separated from the brain. >>
:Q are you an expert at this? >>
Expert? No. Very experienced? Yes. I've had constrictors as pets for 5 years now. You learn to kill the rodents the hard way; experience.
It's actually very dangerous for the snake to feed live rodents. They will defend themselves (wouldn't you?) and a large rat can leave a nasty, gaping wound on your snake. Have you ever tried to put bacitracin on a 7-foot, 15-pound, injured and bleeding, pissed-off constrictor? It's not fun. :Q >>
Hmmm . . . too bad about your bad experiences with live feeding. I have lived with several constrictors and we always fed them live (including a 13-foot Burmese python that ate 14-pound rabbits!). I have no doubt that your technique is safer for the snake, but somehow live feeding always brought out the Roman in me.
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