Photographer Spends Years Taking Adorable Photos of Rats to Break the Stigma of Rodents

adorable pet rat photography

Pet photographer Diane Özdamar has been in love with pet rats as long as she can remember. She's been photographing these furry companions for years, hoping to break their grotesque stereotype with her cute, playful imagery.

Fancy rats, the most common domesticated species of pet rat, are often compared to small dogs by their owners. This is due to their social and cuddly nature. Highly intelligent, they thrive when living with a friend, so it's suggested to get two rats of the same sex in order for them to keep each other company. And, contrary to common belief, they are exceptionally clean animals.

Özdamar photographs her own fancy rats, as well as those of her friends' and others that she's fostered, making tiny accessories to enhance their personalities. The project began after the photographer began fostering abused and abandoned pet rats. “Finding a home [for] a rat is not an easy task since they suffer from a very bad reputation and I had to make their cute personalities stand out so people would consider adopting them,” she shares.

These cute pet rat photos show just how lovable and cuddly these animals can be.

cute pet rat photos

adorable pet rat photography

cute fancy rat photos

funny rat pictures

adorable pet rat photography

cute pet rat photos

cute pet rat photos

funny rat pictures

Photographer Diane Özdamar makes tiny accessories to bring out the personalities of each animal, hoping the photos will help the cute pets get adopted and educate the public about pet rats.

funny rat pictures

funny fancy rat photos

funny rat pictures

adorable pet rat photography

cute fancy rat photos

adorable pet rat photography

funny rat pictures

Diane Özdamar: Website | Facebook | Behance | 500px 
h/t: [Bored Panda]

All images via Diane Özdamar.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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