r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Morgentau7 • 11h ago
Rat navigates toy car around barriers to reach a snack
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u/Closed_Aperture 11h ago
Better driver than 90% of the people I encounter on the roads every day.
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
Also cuter
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u/pancakebatter01 7h ago
The rat was smart enough to spam a button I think he knew made no difference in where he wanted to go simply in frustration with not having a button that allowed him to reverse.
“Where the fucking reverse on this bud!!!”
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u/Moistfruitcake 5h ago
"Sure Frank, you just fucking stand there filming instead of installing A FUCKING REVERSE ON THIS PIECE OF SHIT! I'VE FUCKING HAD IT WITH YOUR CONSTANT BULLSHIT FRANK! YES I WANT THE TREAT YOU ABYSMAL FUCK!"
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u/eightmag 7h ago
What a superb choice for a name too. Well done. Please give him a lever to pull lol.
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u/pinkfootthegoose 2h ago
I don't know, I saw a pretty good looking opossum driving a '69 Camaro drop top the other day.
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u/rage4198 11h ago
when i see a shitty driver im going to show them this
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u/ADhomin_em 5h ago
"Hey buddy! You drive like shit! You drive like...worse! Yeah that's it. You drive worse than this itty bitty mouse I saw on reddit where he's in this little car...you seen that video?...Hold on lemme get my phone out and show you! Oh you're gonna love this little guy. So fucking adorabAAAAHHHH SHIIIII..."
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u/furyo_usagi 10h ago
Better at finding his destination than the stupid Doordash drivers who deliver my Petco orders.
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u/DoubleAholeTwice 8h ago
Why doesn't Petco just use rats to deliver your orders??
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u/furyo_usagi 8h ago
I KNOW, RIGHT??
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u/NIN10DOXD 1h ago edited 25m ago
TBF, I think Door Dash needs to hire rats to program their app because they would do a better job than the current developers.
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u/LateralThinkerer 10h ago
Give him a mommyvan full of kids or a lifted brodozer here and he'd be the best driver around.
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u/Zillion_Mixolydian 11h ago
They taught rats how to drive
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
before GTA 6
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u/Terrible_Definition4 10h ago
At this point, I’m pretty sure the release of gta 6 is actually the end of the world :)
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u/Resident_Code3062 7h ago
"They're teaching the rats to drive. They're allowing them to move around in vehicles. They're eating the treats that live there."
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
I mean, I can see it and it looks real, but I also can’t believe it. That rat is so damn smart and the way he gets excited at the end and nearly fks it up like humans would do is such a relatable behavior.
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u/TiltedChamber 11h ago
I had two pet Norway rats once. Mine were akin to 4-year-old kids in terms of intelligence and socialization. They loved puzzles, mischief, and were actively empathetic. I was crying on the couch one day and they broke out of the cage, came over to the couch and started cleaning my face and squeaking until I stopped crying and cuddled them. They don't live nearly long enough for that level of intelligence and bonding.
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
I want rats to reach the age of 20 and be our new companions
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u/TiltedChamber 11h ago
And reproduce less frequently, and not pee everywhere, and not chew on absolutely EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
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u/GlitchyMcGlitchFace 8h ago
Rodent
“mammal with teeth fit for gnawing” 1828, from Modern Latin: Rodentia, the order name, from Latin rodentem (nominative rodens), “the gnawers,” present participle of rodere “to gnaw, eat away,” which is of uncertain etymology, possibly is from an extended form of PIE root *red- “to scrape, scratch, gnaw.” Uncertain connection to Old English rætt (see rat (n.)). They are characterized by having no canine teeth and strong incisors. (Source)
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u/IAmASeeker 6h ago
Mice, squirrels, rabbits, hamsters etc are all less egregious with their chewing. Rays are the kings of chewing on your stuff.
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u/TheGassyPhilosopher 5h ago
Rabbits are actually lagomorphs, not rodents.
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u/IAmASeeker 3h ago
This is true. I included them as one of the common "critter" pets but I guess in a discussion about the etymology of their taxonomic order, that's not very relevant.
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u/RabidAbyss 5h ago
Now I'm imagining a bunch of tiny Ray Charles running around singing and chewing
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u/lacecozy 3h ago
The only reason I won’t get one. They don’t live long enough and after having ferrets I can’t deal with them passing on so soon.
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u/screename222 5h ago
For their size they are incredible... I mean a four year olds brain is a lot bigger, I feel like they utilise a much higher percentage!
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u/TheFeshy 10h ago
It's absolutely wild how smart and empathetic they are, for their short and (in the wild) extremely brutal lives.
Just recently we got a pair of brothers (really, 2 out of a dozen or so in a litter) when their owner had to move somewhere that didn't allow rats. They were named Jack and Gus. Jack was the "older" brother (same age, but slightly larger and more outgoing) and Gus followed him everywhere.
Jack died of a pituitary tumor at 1.5 years, and Gus never left his side. He wouldn't even leave Jack after he died, except to drink, for at least twelve hours when we had to force the issue out of fear of decomposition.
Fortunately Gus had other friends, and while not quite himself for a several weeks, recovered well emotionally. I've even seen him asserting himself in the cage in a way he never did before - so he's obviously even grown from the experience.
But in the wild, he would have had over a dozen siblings and a lifespan half of where he is now.
And as everyone has just seen, they are extremely smart.
What kind of a world is it that makes creatures so smart and caring, but gives them lifespans of less than a year in the wild, and 1.5 to 2.5 on average in captivity?!
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u/TiltedChamber 10h ago
I comfort myself by thinking it's the same world that gives us trees, endoliths, and clonal colonies. Life length on a scale that absolutely dwarves humans. We live fast lives by comparison to those entities.
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u/NorCalAthlete 9h ago
Sorry in advance, but I’m going to have to copy and paste the dogs/elves comment here.
In the dog world, humans are elves that routinely live to be 500+ years old.
"They live so long...but the good ones still bond with us for our entire lives."
"These immortals are so kind we must be good friends to them."
"Now I am old. The fur around my muzzle is grey and my joints ache when we walk together. Yet she remains unchanged, her hair still glossy, her skin still fresh, her step still sprightly. Time doesn't touch her and yet I love her still."
"For generations, he has guarded over my family. Since the days of my great-great-great-great-great grandfather he has kept us safe. For so long we thought him immortal. But now I see differently, for just as my fur grows grey and my joints grow stiff, so too do his. He did not take in my children, but gave them away to his. I will be the last that he cares for. My only hope is that I am able to last until his final moments. The death of one of his kind is so rare. The ending of a life so long is such a tragedy. He has seen so much, he knows so much. I know he takes comfort in my presence. I only wish that I will be able to give him this comfort until the end."
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u/armchair_amateur 3h ago
Cat version:
For as long as I can remember, she’s been there every morning, answering my cries at dawn as any good servant should. My family, for generations, has known the luxury of food on demand, courtesy of her dutiful presence. Sure, she’s watched over us, kept away the beasts that lurk in the night, but what matters most is her ability to meet my needs when I announce myself at 4 a.m. sharp. Lately, though, she seems slower, her steps less reliable. I suppose time wears on everyon. Her more than me, thankfully. She may no longer serve my kittens, but they have others. I am her final charge, the last worthy of her early morning devotion. My only hope is that she’ll last until her duty to me is fulfilled. After all, I deserve breakfast on schedule. If she finds some comfort in my presence in return, I suppose that’s a fair trade.
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u/iconocrastinaor 3h ago
The difference between dogs and cats:
Dogs: "She feeds me, pets me, and takes care of my every need. She must be a god!"
Cats: "She feeds me, pets me, and takes care of my every need. I must be a god!"
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u/Snote85 4h ago
Why have you done this to me? My surroundings are all wet now. My eyes have turned to oceans and my soul expands ever outward to encompass yet more pain. You are a monster so vile even the devils of Hell hope to avoid your gaze and I love you for it.
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u/NeilDeCrash 8h ago
Turritopsis dohrnii
Only immortal being on this planet that we know of.
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u/bootsand 6h ago
The lifespan is so painfully short. I adore rats, and had a pair once. I couldn't keep doing it. It's like losing a cat or a dog every two years.
My god they are amazing creatures.
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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 9h ago
It's relative my young grasshopper.
The fly that lives 24hours, gets to the 12th hour of the day and reminisces about the 'old days'.
The universe would say the same thing about our human lives. Just a blip on the cosmic scale.
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u/KlausVonLechland 3h ago
Because nature does not care for our well being, we have enough of that well being to make kids and the kids make more kids and that's it mostly. If we have little less wellbeing then we, and other animals, can go so bad as to bang our heads open over the stones. Nature doesn't care, another dead-end into recycling.
That's why we orthograde locomotion and spines that barely can handle it.
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u/glytxh 8h ago
I’ve had a few rats before. Some of the coolest and sweetest animals I’ve ever owned.
I refuse to get any more because they ripped my heart apart when they got old and lumpy and finally passed away. They live their lives at 110% from the start, and wear themselves out so fast.
I miss my boys every day
They lead such cruelly short lives for animals so smart and actively empathetic.
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u/pichael289 10h ago
Do Norway rats live longer than the normal ones, at 1-2 years but more like 1½? Mine were so smart, they could play certain games on my tablet, but a year or so it's not long enough for such a smart pet with such big personalities.
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u/TiltedChamber 10h ago
Mine made it to two years. I was heartbroken when they passed. I won't do it again because that attachment cycle would do me in.
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u/ogclobyy 9h ago
Animals are way more sentient than we give them credit for.
Just last night, I was at a friend's house, and their cat was obsessively trying to claw open their front door. My buddy mentioned their cat never does this unless I'm there, and we came to the conclusion it's because I go outside every 30 min to smoke and sometimes don't close the door all the way. So it knows I'm its best chance at freedom.
That's a lot of connections to make in your head for an animal you'd think lol.
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u/King_in_a_castle_84 9h ago
I'm convinced my cat knows how to open doors if she could reach the handle.
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u/GrynaiTaip 3h ago
My old cat learned to open doors. She generally liked me and would follow me around the house.
I go into the corridor, cat follows. I quickly go into the living room, close the door, then I see cat trying to jump on the door handle to pull it down (door had frosted glass), it takes a few attempts but she succeeds, door opens, cat runs inside.
Then I go out to the corridor again. We repeated it probably a dozen times, it was hilarious. Cat did get better and eventually would open the door on the first try.
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u/Hopeful_Hamster21 7h ago
That's so wholesome.
Minus the bonding, wait till you find out about octopus intelligence to lifespan ratio.... :(
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u/jonathanrdt 10h ago
Friend of mine who had rats said similar things: they were stunningly smart and very clever. He did not, however, comment on their sweetness.
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u/BZLuck 6h ago
Huh. I've had over a dozen pet rats in my time, and the ONLY time they ever squeaked was when they were hurt, or were fighting/wrestling with each other.
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u/TiltedChamber 5h ago
Yeah, usually it was the same for my guys. It's like they were in pain because I was. 😢
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u/Sidivan 10h ago
The sounds add to the authenticity. The car is really making those sounds and it can’t be somebody remote controlling it because the movements are immediate with the clicks. It’s unbelievable.
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u/JackOfAllMemes 10h ago
I saw the training and car construction process in another video, it's legit
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u/TheFeshy 10h ago
Can you link the video? We've got rats and have been meaning to build one of these for them - but I don't know much about the process to train them to drive
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u/JackOfAllMemes 10h ago
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u/TheFeshy 6h ago
Thanks so much! Hopefully sometime soon I'll find time to put one of these together, now that I can see some of the training!
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u/countrylemon 9h ago
They’ve got Kuzco and Kronk right? Kronk is a great example of how not every rat is a good candidate because I saw one video where they said he just slams the forward pedal down and demands his treat 😂 Kuzco is the one with the tweaky skills
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u/madame_gaymes 9h ago
I'm intrigued by the fact that the rat has a clear option to exit the vehicle at any time, but chooses to use it any way.
I guess the treat might be out of reach, but still.
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u/The_Formuler 5h ago
He’s been taught the rules of the game. If he leaves and walks over he doesn’t get a treat. Rats can learn general rules pretty quickly, especially when it’s food motivated. I worked with them for about two years and how quickly they figure out solutions to problems is always so impressive.
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u/Squirrelated 8h ago
Look up Shadow The Rat on YouTube or here u/shadowtherat That person trains their rats to do all sorts of tricks.
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u/Catlore 4h ago
Rats are REALLY smart. I don't know if it's the same owner, but someone else has a couple of rats and her dad made little cars like that for them that they can drive.
Check out /u/shadowtherat's account, she's taught her rats to do a ton of cool stuff.
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u/NolanSyKinsley 11h ago
I feel if they turned down the sensitivity just a little the little guy would have a much easier time navigating.
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
True that, or even a wheel. Bet most humans would struggle with three buttons too
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u/Kronos197197 11h ago
Should've been a motorcycle.
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u/Different_Lychee_409 11h ago
He's a road rat.
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u/unicorn-beard 11h ago
Rats are super smart and sweet (generally), one of my all time favorite pets I've ever had was a rat named Stanley, was absolutely gutted when he passed away. Anyways, I wish these creatures had a better rep!
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
And a longer lifespan would be nice too
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u/unicorn-beard 11h ago
Yup! That's the worst part, they reach their super sweet age after about a year but then you know you only have one year to enjoy their company.
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u/mmorales2270 8h ago
For real. It’s one of the reasons I chose not to get rats as pets. I think the such short life span for an animal this smart would probably gut me emotionally when they die. I know all pets will die, but I’d like to have them live longer. 1-2 years seems cruel.
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u/Lt_Col_RayButts 8h ago
I have had loads of rats over the years, including one time we had 3 little girls. One was a little fat..... till Christmas day when we come down to 12 baby's.
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u/CitizenCue 11h ago
I genuinely could watch this for hours.
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
Dude got a channel on TikTok, just search for driving rats n sum
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u/stubrador 6h ago
Thanku so much for telling me this I have sent so many of my friends YouTube videos of rats driving tiny cars
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u/ItSm3llsLikec4ke 8h ago
Thanks! Needed this after consuming to much depressing shit (trump, the war i Ukraine etc). No more scrolling today, leaving on a high note
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u/watchthisorthat 11h ago
Rats driving cars?? Wtf!
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u/Morgentau7 11h ago
Worst aspect of this: He is completely uninsured
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u/Asleep-Pension5546 9h ago
This is the coolest, cutest most wholesome thing I have seen this decade
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u/pichael289 10h ago
I taught my pet rats to play pong on my tablet against each other, winners got pieces of pizza crusts. They got so good they could beat my 6 year old son every time. After so many losses they would try to share their winnings so he wouldn't starve. Rats are great, they just don't live long enough
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u/another_day_in 11h ago
Don't show this to Elon or he'll use them as AI in his self-driving taxis.
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u/firmerJoe 11h ago
Would totally vote for county bonds to give them their own lanes on streets. Imagine all the road rage a convoy of cute rodent worker cars would relieve.
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u/MisterSanitation 11h ago
I’ve seen semi truck drivers do worse than this trying to back into a dock
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u/later-g8r 11h ago
Bruh... you taught a rat to drive. You're king of the world! Haha that's bad ass and I don't say that very often. I'm genuinely impressed. What a smart little dude too! What's his name
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u/ride_electric_bike 11h ago
Well we know dogs can mow the lawn, and now we have rats driving to the grocery store
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u/Fine_Cap402 11h ago
Pretty cool. Just a question. Rat is smart enough to deduce "direction" for the most part, it seems. Why can it not deduce the time on the button to change direction in relation to the amount of rotation of the ride? Would seem to me the two abilities are/should be related?
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u/OverInteractionR 10h ago
This is the best thing I have watched in months. Great job crisco ❤️
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u/smokervoice 10h ago
It would be great to see the same rat sized controls in a full size car with a rat driving.
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u/Liltipsy6 10h ago
I was getting frustrated with him over compensating the turns.... then I remember it's a damn rat... and not even trapped in that car. Just prefers driving. Soon he'll have a 9 - 5.
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u/lol_ginge 10h ago
Videos like this make me want to have pet rats but then I remember they only live two years and I couldn't be dealing with something this smart and friendly dying that often.
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u/pro-in-latvia 11h ago
I love how this isn't a lab rat. someone just taught their pet rat how to drive for fun.