23 adorable photos that will change the way you think about rats

A cat curled up in a blanket with a tiny teddy bear

Forget everything you think you know about rats. These adorable varmints don't get enough credit, but photographers Jessica Florence and Ellen van Deelen are making up for that with their aww-inspiring photographs of these gentle critters. Whether it's snuggling up with a teddy bear or crawling into a glove, rodents are ready to cuddle!
Neither Florence and van Deelen knew the other was photographing rats — Florence leaves in Great Britain and van Deelen is based in the Netherlands — but because the internet is what it is, both of their photographs garnered attention at the same time. It's an adorable bit of serendipity.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, van Deelen said the rats were eager to play for the camera. "It seemed only natural to take pictures of my rats. I started buying props for the rats and as they're inquisitive animals, it wasn't long before they started picking them up."
And the rats are super-cute when they do, as these photo prove!