Two Canadians are captivating animal enthusiasts on Instagram with delightful videos of their pet rats maneuvering tiny cars.
Initially considering a dog, Kendal Crawford and Shaun Stephens-Whale opted to adopt two rats from their local animal shelter in British Columbia instead. They were immediately struck by the inquisitive nature of the scruffy rescue rats, even while they were still in their cage at the shelter.
Despite planning to think it over, the couple didn’t make it far before turning back to adopt ‘Kronk and Kuzco.’ It took them less than a day to realize they had made the right decision—after their baths, the rats cuddled up with their new owners in bed that night.
Domesticated rats, like other social animals adapted to human companionship, are highly intelligent and need mental stimulation to thrive. Crawford and Stephens-Whale began teaching their rats various tricks and activities, each more impressive than the last.
During her research, Crawford discovered a study from the University of Richmond that explored how enriched environments affect stress responses in rats.
In the study, scientists trained rats to drive tiny cars, finding that the process of learning and mastering a new skill reduced their stress hormones. Inspired, Crawford’s father provided Kuzco and Kronk with two small electric cars, each equipped with three levers for directional control. The rats quickly learned to use the middle lever to move forward, and within a week, they had also mastered steering with the side levers.
“Their ability to understand their spatial orientation, much like humans do when driving, is truly remarkable,” Shaun told BC TV News, after showcasing how the rats could drive in various directions around the living room and park in front of a treat hanging from a string.
“I’m amazed,” Kendal added. “Their perception of the world is so much richer than we often realize.”