Rat Behavior

What is your pet rat telling you?
Rats have a variety of sounds and actions that can help you determine how they are feeling.

Ears back, head down or laying down and your rat is showing a sign of submission.

Hair standing up and arching back is a warning sign of a rat’s fear and aggression.

Marking is done by both male and female rats when they release a small amount of urine to mark their territory. This can be reduced by spaying or neutering your rat.

Running, jumping, and circling means your pet rat could be in a playful or excited mood.

A short squeak is an expression of surprise or hurt. A long high-pitched squeak usually means your rat is afraid, hurt or feeling trapped. A whiney medium pitched squeak usually means your rat is unhappy about something or is being dominated by another rat.

Teeth grinding is only done when your rat is relaxed and is a sign of contentment.

Teeth chattering is a clicking sound your rat makes when he is angry, often at another rat that has invaded his territory.

If your rat freezes and the tail shivers, shakes or slaps the floor in short, rapid movements he is angry, annoyed or feels threatened.

Rat Tricks & Games
Rats are very intelligent animals that are easily trained to do tricks and play games. They love to please and are usually very cooperative.

A rat can also learn many words including his name, different games, tricks, and types of treats. With some patience, repetition, and the help of treats, your pet can learn many things.

You could go for a walk, play hide-and-seek, play find-the-treat, or even pick-the-treat if your rat has learned the names of different treats. For tricks your rat could learn to sit up, climb a rope, walk a tightrope, walk a maze, pull up a string with a treat at the end, or some other tricks you think of.