Rat: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet »

Ginger Cardinal, has been a rat lover since childhood and has raised rats for pet shows for over ten years. She is a charter board member and certified judge of the American Rat, Mouse & Hamster Society, and has written and edited the society's newsletter.

This is our seventh set of Happy, Healthy Pet titles. Like the others, they are books pet owners can turn to for the essential information they need to raise a healthy, happy pet. All books contain information on:

• feeding
• grooming
• housing
• health care
• what to expect from the pet
• basic training

As our series expands and focuses on different kinds of pets, the emphasis remains on making the pet a companion. Owners of more unusual pets will particularly appreciate the expert advice in these books because professional care for exotic animals can be hard to come by. As always, the instruction on the books is from experts—people who know their pets intimately but always remember what it was like to have one the first time.

Happy, Healthy Pet guides are rich with professional quality color photos and are designed to be enjoyable and easy to learn from. More and more people are discovering each year what affectionate, intelligent and charming pets rats can be. Ginger Cardinal already knows. She's the former president of the Rat, Mouse and Hamster Society and a longtime breeder, exhibitor, judge and dedicated companion of these special rodents.

PART ONE: Welcome to the World of the Rat.

1. The History of the Rat.

2. Rats as Pets.

3. Rat Varieties.

4. Selecting Your Rat.

PART TWO: Caring for Your Rat.

5. Housing Your Rat.

6. Feeding Your Rat.

7. Keeping Your Rat Healthy.

PART THREE: Enjoying Your Rat.

8. Understanding Your Rat.

9. Training Tips and Tricks.

10. Showing Your Rat.

PART FOUR: Beyond the Basics.

11. Recommended Reading.

12. Resources.