And everybody loses their minds

I have a "pet" Eastern Grey Squirrel that we found as a baby, nursed her back to health, and then released her into the backyard. She comes to visit every day or so and eats a bunch of walnuts and pecans, plays a little while, then goes back to the trees. We've built her a "squirrel house" that she sleeps in when it's cold. Sometimes I can actually go into the backyard and call her to me. When friends that don't know see me do that, they think I'm Dr Doolittle LOL.

we raised pet rats for 25 years I understand the struggle :)

I love domestic rats! I might own one if I didn't already have two budgies.

The struggle is real. No rat, but people will LOOSE IT when you say you have a lizard at home...

Tarantulas are also gentle, and raccoons raised from birth can be more affectionate than cats, but, it always freaks people out.

Growing up, one of the reasons I was bullied was that I had pet rats...

I know right, it's so annoying! Besides, they're both rodents.