Leading article: Rat-like cunning

First it was terrapins. Sales of the animals shot up on the back of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze. Now it's rats. Children, inspired by the new Disney-Pixar movie Ratatouille, have been pestering their parents to acquire the usually unloved rodents as pets. Indulgent parents of small children will be wondering what animal is going to receive the Hollywood anthropomorphism treatment next, because the chances are they are going to be sharing sofa-room with it.

Yet it could be worse. Contrary to the stereotype, rats are clean creatures, spending a third of their waking lives grooming. They're not fussy eaters either. Children could learn a lot from these creatures.

Parents have actually got off lightly. Perhaps they should direct their mental energy instead to hoping that Disney's next project isn't going to be a remake of Dumbo.