Ratatouille movie sparks pet shop frenzy

Animated movie Ratatouille has sparked a pet shop demand for rodents in Germany.Usually film fans would be scurrying to buy merchandise, including cuddly toys, action figures and lunchboxes, but people in Germany seem to want the real thing.Ratatouille tells the story of a rat named Remy who sets off on a quest to be a top chef, encountering a few adventures on the way.Since the launch of the film, sales of the furry rodent have increased by as much as 25 per cent, according to the owner of one of the biggest pet shops in Germany.Jan Manninger said: "I had a look at the figures and since the movie's premiere, there was a 20 to 25 per cent increase in the number of rats sold and this despite our warnings that the animals live for two to three years and get considerably bigger than the cute little thing on my shoulder right now."The pet lover also warned that the rodents can be aggressive and bite their owners."And you know how children are - once they're bitten they don't find the animal cute at all anymore. They will also discover that rats are not gourmet cooks and not gourmet eaters and that they don't have a gourmet smell either," Manninger said.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | November 5, 2007

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