Photographer Hopes to Break Negative Image of Rats by Taking Cute Photos

When people hear about rats, lots of negative things come to mind. Dirty and smelly, they are pests that most people fear of and want to get rid of from their homes. However, there is a positive thing about rats that some people may not be aware about. For example, they are not only test subjects for scientific research, they can also be great pets.

Case in point, a French photographer spent years taking cute photos of rats to break them from their negative image. Diane Özdamar, 32, is an illustrator, photographer and graphic designer. She took photos of her pet rats as well as some rats of her friends. Her pictures are amazingly sweet and lovely. There are even some accessories and the typically horrible creatures are nowhere in sight- they too, could actually look cuddly and fluffy. Look at the pictures below:

For this little one, a flower can be used as a hat…

… or a pillow when he is sleepy!

These three brothers surely are enjoying their snack.

Not a rabbit, the magician’s hat has a rat?

That’s a big yawn! What he needs is a long nap.

This one found a new friend, and its polka dots.

Is it really fun to pop bubbles?

That’s one yummy strawberry.

The funky brothers.

It’s Spring and love is coming.

Özdamar wrote in Bored Panda that rats are lovely animals. She added that unlike popular belief, they can also be can also be friendly, intelligent playful and clean:

“I have been taking pictures of pet rats for years hoping to break the negative image that is often associated with these lovely animals.”

“As you may see, they are far from being dirty nasty little monsters! They are actually highly intelligent social beings that love interacting with each other and their favorite humans. They are very friendly, smart, playful, they love cuddles and are very clean: many rat owners agree to compare them to tiny dogs.”