 The short novel Ratman 's Notebooks by Stephen Gilbert was the basis for the films Willard ( 1971 ) and Ben ( 1972 ) , and a 2003 remake of the first film . Here , the protagonist befriends the rats found in his home and builds up a close relationship , only to have it end tragically . While these movies generally emphasize the popular perception of malevolence — they kill people , cats , and ransack grocery stores — other wild rats who become pets are portrayed in more neutral to positive ways ; the television show , House , briefly featured " Steve McQueen " , the pet rat of the titular character . 
