Did Rats Really Cause the Plague? 

My sister talks about how my pet rats spread the bubonic plague in her Global class at school and I get so mad!

i don't understand humanity's need to "blame" anything at all. but it's really telling when ppl will jump on and point the finger at innocent animals just trying to live instead of their ancestors who had no indoor plumbing and sometimes pooped in their own drinking water source. i mean.....

I finally found the BEST video on this topic, I have two ratties and word got around at my school and words were thrown at me such as "weird" "creepy" "sewer man" ect, now I have a defense for myself. You really are the best RU-vidr and the reason I got my rats. Thanks.

Short answer: no. Fleas did but rats carry fleas and rats breed alot and can spread it.

Recent studies have discovered that human lice would be the most likely culprit to have spread the plague and due to the very unsanitary conditions back then, also recently, bodies were exhumed in London to study for evidence of plague, the bodies were discovered to have been buried when the plague was most rife and most of them were found to have traces of anthrax not the plague which explains the rapid spread of the disease and fatalities.

Such an amazing video! We are learning about the plague in class right now! We had to watch a documentary called the curse of the rat or something. It made me sad to hear everyone say eww or to see them flinch at the scenes with rats. All I thought was aww those rats are so cute 😂 and why do rats have to be so hated! Even though they specifically mentioned that the plague was caused by fleas, they still made the rats seem terrifying! After we finished watching, the guy in my class who teases me about my love of rats (he overheard me talking to my friend about them) asked me "do you still like rats now that you know what they did? They are going to give you plague and you will die." For the most part the media isn't helping rats reputation! It makes me so sad that they are hated by so many (including my parents!) they are amazing animals that deserve a chance!

I used to kiss rats on the mouth....til I saw my " Tickle" eating poop ! NOPE NOPE NOPE

This did deserve its own video. Excellent breakdown.

Wow this was an awesome video. One of my favorite topics!

Thank you so much for making this video! As a rat lover, I feel it's so important to get the facts out about these wonderful animals to help stamp out superstitions and misinformation. Your videos are all so fun and informative too. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Great video Keaton! Thank you for your educational content. Would you ever consider making a similarly educational video on the Seoul hantavirus? It has become the new reason why people discourage owning pet rats. Some refer to it as "rat bite fever" thanks to news stories from a few years ago. The CDC even discourages keeping rats as pets because of it. I know someone like you could present information that would help to address this growing concern when it comes to buying and owning fancy rats. Thank you for your channel!

When I had my rats I had family members who said my rats were dirty and that they were responsible for the plague and were going to kill me. I just laughed. My boys were the best pets I have ever had. The passed away in 2013/14 and I miss them a lot

How fun! Great info! (I learned a lot of this from the extra features on the Rattatouille DVD) 🐭

I frikin' love you ;0; You're so educational and helpful ;w; Thank you ;w;

I was at London science museum, and it said from recent studies, lab tests, ect. the most likely cause of most of the plaugues was human head lice.

I have 3 boys. Jesse, jonus, and Billie. They are so sweet. Jonus is a little shy but very cuddly. Jesse is very affectionate, playful, and goofy. Billie is shy and very active. They are so loving and I'm so glad to have them. They do poo in their food a lot so I'm litter training them. I got them fish marbles to go to the bathroom on. I put a lot of bins and hideaways in their large cage along with some dangley and climbing toys.

the rat guru, i just wanted to say that YOU are the reason i got my boys ben and antonio and i feel as though due to that my life has become like, ten times better. i just wanted to say thank you for teaching me how to care and play with some and showing me what they’re trying to say to me, i’m so happy i got them and it was all because i watched one of your videos and decided i would. thank you!

Excellent presentation!

Today found your channel, think its awesome! :D

that was very informative and I liked the cute animation ^^

Grr fear my plague babies

I get my new rats tomorrow from an organisation which helps rats. Always find myself coming back to your channel to refresh my education on those little creatures even though i know most of the facts

2 views. 9 comments. Congrats RU-vid

My friend told me my new rats will give me lice and the plague and that i should leave them in the forest where they are "supposed to be". Yes i know some rats do live in the forest but not my little ones! How would they get lice anyways they were just born and never around anyone or anything with the plague or lice!

I think we should change the name for domestic rats to "ratlings". I've called them that for a few years and it sounds pleasant (at least to me it does).

Thanks for making this video and sharing more information on this subject 💕🌸

The amount of times people mention that poor kid with the petco rat bite fever when they hear about my rats.... it was a rare tragic event years ago. More people probably get killed by pet dogs than pet rats

Come back Rat Guru! I miss your videos!

I'm sad to see that you're not making videos anymore. Will you be coming back to RU-vid? And do you still have ratties?

My grandparents are literally that girl. No matter what I say about how great pet rats are they just find some small thing like they have diseases... I don't understand them 😂

I am a proud rat owner, but the misconceptions about rats actually help me. I'm incredibly antisocial, so if somebody tries to talk to me, it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. All i have to do to get rid of somebody it's to bring up the subject that i have a pet rat, and then they mutter some excuse and walk away. I'm not saying that all these misconceptions about rats are good, but they do help me in my day to day life.

The background lights are so hypnotizing

What cage should I use when introducing two of my rats

What do you do when you have pet rats but you have to go on like a week long trip and you can’t take them with you

Ive had amazing boy ratties and I encouraged one of my friends to get some too, i gave her advise from you ad peachpetparadise, the only thing that was stopping her from getting rats was her grandma. She said they where dirty and attracted other rats to mate. I told her it was wrong even though she already knew that.

Thank you for your informativ Vidoes about Rats....and i say this from Germany.

I honestly feel like we should have a different name for pet rats. I feel it would change how people feel about them because they wouldn't associate them with wild rats right away. Like you say "oh yah I have two pet (insert name for domestic rats here)" I don't think they would realize they are rats unless you show them and then maybe they won't think they are directly related to pet rats because they aren't called rats. Then no one would be like, you are going to get the plague and die. (This is all probably just a stupid thought though)

Great video ansvvering important questions. I hope you & your Mischief are doing vvell & that you'll post a nevv video soon. TY again for all the good advice & real information . 1 question though, my ratties have taken a real liking to uncooked pasta,isit allright to be giving to them a fevv times a vveek as a treat ?

I have a question I just got a rat and I don't know what the best bedding is so what do you use for bedding? :)

im so sad. My little guys passed away and my new apartment wont let me have any rats. At least I still have my cats but I still would love to get more rats. Hopefully I can get my own place in a couple of years so I can get some more rats.

Why don't you post anymore?

hey, for your next video could you maybe do a “rat products from” ‘wish’ or ‘joom’? they’re super cheap websites that do some small animal products. i’d like to see your opinion on the quality and if it’s worth it? thanks

I'm loving the west world piece tbh tbh

When i got my 2 boys one of them spent a decent amount of time like more than a week when he first got here out of his cage. In my bathroom and then in a plant room my mom says we need to get rid of him now is this true?

hi so i have an important question. I have an 8-week old hairless baby rat and we tried introducing her to our 1-year-old dumbo rat. So we put them into the bathtub together and the year old rat attacked her. we took them both out and the baby had 3 or 4 cuts on her face. We werent able to get a rat sooner for the adult one and now we think that they wont be able to stay together. we dont want the baby to end up alone, what should we do?

Omg shout out to the Westworld reference

Could you please make an updated rat cage your video???

I learned in school that the mongols spread it while traveling across Europe

Where did you get your rats?

i wish i could bring my computer to school and show everyone this video to show that rats are a great pet and that there not dirty or gross and that rats should be treated like a sweet loving animal

I have a question, I have one rat now since my other rat passed away and I want to get 2 baby rats so he won’t be so lonely, but he is pretty skittish. How should I introduce them? And do you have any recommendations to where I should get the rats? I might get them from a reptile store.

This is unrelated but... Do you have any advice for anyone who had 2 rats, 1 died unexpectantly and there's a waiting period for the next rats you are adopting? Because I know rats get lonely very easily and it can be dangerous. What could someone do to keep that rat safe until the new rats are able to come home?

When is your next video gonna come out?!

I know this has nothing to do with the video but,I've just got my first pair of rats and they have a favourite hiding spot,my mum says that I have to clean it because it's starting to smell.They don't really go anywhere else (except food and water).One is more comfortable around my hands so I can take him out when he comes over,but the over gets a bit spooked around my hands.What should I do?

I think somethings wrong with my male rat cookie dough he keeps on biting his tail until it starts to bleed

Rats are just some inocent animals they have only stealet my heart

Can you do a video on how to deal with a rats death? I am a small-time rat owner, I've never had more then four at a time, who I usually purchase all at the same time, and so they pass at relatively the same time. However, I rescued an older rat roughly six months ago who recently passed, and experienced my first ever illness related death, both passing within a week of each other. My girl just lost both of her sisters within one week of each other, and I don't really know how to console her or when would be a good time to introduce her to a new cage mate, if I should get her more then one new cage mate because she had two sisters, things like that. I am very worried for her and I am having trouble finding resources for this situation that I can fully understand. I know such a video would not come out soon enough to be too much help with my current situation, but it would be amazing to have it for future reference for myself and other rattie owners who have found themselves in the same predicament. Thank you for any and all consideration, and I hope you and your ratties have an awesome day. :)

I have a 6 month old female rat and a full grown female rat. Their Cage sits side by side and the adult rat is always sniffing at my 6 month old rat. I haven't tried introducing them yet and I'm worried because of the size difference and how interested my adult rat seems. My 6 month old rat occasionally sniffs at my older rat but not as often. Do you think I should be worried about this Behavior?.

Close to rats? HA! Try 5 feet away in a cage! Haha lol

Those are some really wonderful points!!!

We should be equally scared of dogs and cats? *looks at my chihuahua* I knew these little jerks were evil. Guess that's why they invented flea repellent.

oh

Rats wouldn’t purposely hurt anything or anyone unless for self defense

Make more videos please😀

Can u make even more videos cause kids at my school don’t like rats well some of them

The Bubonic Plaque was caused by fleas on rats, so rats did cause that but I still love rats tbh

This might sound harsh, but the people who hate rats are never going to listen to facts. I have found the best way to get those people to listen for even 2 seconds is comparing pet dogs to wolves, and even than they usually just laugh condescendingly and say I don't know what I am talking about. I think we need to show people how sweet PET rats are and make a bigger distance so to speak between PET rats and WILD rats. I know that seems to help more in my experience than getting into technicalities and facts with people who are just not interested in changing their minds over historical myths. I know a lot of people want to spread the truth, and it really shows their awesome character, but most people just want an excuse to hate something, and in my experience, irrational fear and hatred will always win with pet rat haters. It's best to put the blame on wild rats with these people, and if they come around tell them the facts about this topic later.

hey Rat Guru! i'm not sure how often or if you even answer questions on youtube, but its worth a try. I live in australia and there is no lab blocks that are easy access and can make it through the strict customs of this country. So is there any chance you could give me your opinion on "vetafarm rodent origins" rat food? i have looked into it and the analysis shows: Min Crude Protein 17%, Max Fibre 3.5%, Min Crude Fat 5.0%, Max Salt (NaCl) 0.5% -- is this suitable for the rats staple diet? for information on the food check www.petshopaustralia.com.au/vetafarm/FF_Rat_Mouse_Food . thanks so much for the help! - macy

Rat Guru I really need your help. My one of my rats where able to chew thru the plastic bottom of the cage they live in and the cage Is really good for them but they are not fully tame and the one that chewed through it doesn’t like verry much and I’m really scared that they will escape and I’m considering selling them but I don’t really want to but I feel that that would be best for them. Please tell me what to do

I knew it!

so how can i fleas free my rat

2 views 32 likes, youtube is very drunk.

Cloaked figures spread the plague. It's where the image of the grim reaper comes from

I have two rats

💞💞💗💖💞💗💖💞

Post more

I need to know either yes or no its for school

I love rats and I have two rats

What if I have a gray rat with some blondish brown hair lol

PLEASE, The Rat Guru, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY I really need to know what does it happen to my rat. He boogles his eyes and sometimes has spasms like hiccups. The vet saw the videos I took of him when he does those things and told me: "those behaviors indicate me he has epilepsy and we need to start a medical treatment". Please The Rat Guru, I need to know if rats can have hiccup because I can't find any information. You posted a video which showed me what boogling his eyes meant, with a picture of their masseter muscle and their skull ( boogle means he loves me ), so that makes me distrust the vet, but now with his spasms I'm really in doubt AND VERY WORRIED. Please help!!!!!! I'm from Spain, sorry for my English.

I still blame gerbils XD

name a rat hotdog juice if you want me to draw you but first you have to name three differet poisionous cactus juices on my tiktok swaggylitkoolkidanna if you love cat craws

I hate when people say that us, rat havers bring back the plaque

Woo!

did pet rat spread plague

Ima gypsy don't blame me pls

Rats rule

I’m the 1000 view

🤣😂🤣😂❤❤❤

Make videos with your rats doing stuff, you could get more views. And more money from it. 💎

My rat dazy is very porly pleas

this is upserd im not great at spelling but if you know what i mean then yeah they did not do such things😑

🙂

Idk I think our rats are gonna take over the world and only allow Cheerios for breakfast! At least that’s what my boys would do! Anyway if rats had started the plague we should respect them because they could start it again if they wanted to get rid of rat haters! 😂😂 That’s how they would take over the world us rat people would get them😂😂😂 Okay I’m done!

I think the hamsters did it! :/

My favorite part is the dalek

I have never ever met a person who has something against people having rats as pets.. In all the cultures Ive been a part of..and I live in Europe... But rats where the reason it could spread as far and wide as it could, downplaying rats part in it doesnt make sense to me. Its like any other zoonotic disease. It was the thing that rats where so big and so many in the big cities, because the cities had become to huge, and the hygiene was so shitty. It doesnt mean rats where the bad guy. Its far more complicated than that. The easiest way to explain it if you need it is that its another kind of rat just like you said.. Rats probably get blamed also because they are vermin. Just as some people might think monkeys are adorable until they become a pest. Rats where crawling over people in their homes in the plague times, they where def more aware of how close they lived to rats then we do now. People do blame dogs in places where dogs are vermin. Another point is just how fast rats can breed and how hardy they are surviving. Just recently a big city saw a boom in rat populations and it was a huge crisis as they where solving how to eradicate them, as rats are real good at causing a shit ton of damage, and these days a lot of poisons that make it easy are banned, making it hard to find a quick and harmless solution, and it being humane to the rats. On that note, I fucking love rats. And cant wait to get some. But dismissing part of what rats can do doesnt do them any favours. (Kinda like saying roaming wild dog packs arent an issue in big cities with large homeless dog populations)

Yeah, Yersinia pestis is just as deadly to the rattus rattus as it is to humans. Also why the annoying voice? Just explain it. It's an interesting topic.