I've always found rats quite annoying - I don't have any phobia or general dislike of them as animals about the place, but my flatmate has one that pisses me off no end. I'm sure the feeling is mutual as he likes to eat any wires associated with my belongings, wee on my books and try to jump in my dinner if he is out at teatime.
The statistic is interesting though, correctly it should be interpreted as nobody is ever further than 10 feet away from a rat. The rat in question is of course, Manilla Envelope, the living rat goddess of Northampton. Being omniprescent she is permanently within 10 feet of every person, everywhere.