Dear Pet Talk: I’m not allowed to have a cat or a dog but my parents will let me have a smaller pet, like a gerbil, hamster, or even a mouse. What do you recommend? Animal Lover Dear Animal Lover: ...

Jeannie Lockwood lives in Spuyten Duyvil, and for over a decade, she's been owning and fostering rats. She says rats are smart, fun and great for apartment living. She calls them the perfect pets.

These have short, smooth, and glossy coats, although the males may have a coarser coat than the females. In general, they are easy to look after and have no special dietary or medical needs. You can ...