Exactly! I couldn't imagine giving up a pet because someone told me to.
To be fair, I think cats can get away with a lot more than dogs because while dogs seem to feel guilty about being told off, cats tend to disappear and sulk until *you* feel guilty for scolding them :) But then they don't tend to destroy whole sofas or be big enough to knock people over, either, do their transgressions aren't usually as serious!
Claudia is a bit nippy sometimes - not a bite, but a nip like she'd use when playing/fighting with Madison - and I do try to assert dominance in the recommended ways. But she runs away really quickly after a nip, as if she knows she's been naughty! Or just really wants to play :) I'd rather someone who wasn't used to rats stroke Madison, who's definitely more docile, so there's personality to consider with your pets too!