Owning Pet Rats- Behaviour





Pet rats are some of the sweetest, funniest, cuddliest, most endearing creatures I have had the privilege of caring for. They are almost a constant source of entertainment and adoration and make fantastic pets for those committed to taking great care of them. There are many aspects of rat care that we need to be aware of when owning pet rats. I plan to cover some of the basics.

This entry will talk a bit about rat behaviour.

Paying attention to your pet rat's behaviour is important. The context of the situation a rat is in when displaying behaviour and body language can be important, too. If a rat is grinding its teeth (bruxing), this can mean several things, from happiness, nervousness or fear, to feeling unwell.  A happy, heathy rat is generally eager to interact or spend time with their human companions. Normally, a happy rat will have bright, wide-open eyes, and pink ears facing forward or relaxed in position.They will appear alert to their surroundings and calm, sometimes sniffing the air or looking around. Sometimes they'll run around and jump or hop and play with you to express joy or happiness. Sometimes your rat will boggle when they're happy. Boggling is a behaviour involving movement of the eyes, so that they look almost as if they pop in and out of the eye sockets, and sometimes you hear a chattering of their teeth simultaneously. Happy, healthy rats should usually come to the cage door to see you and enjoy being taken out for shoulder rides and exercise. They will usually get along with other rats in their cage, though occasionally some disagreements do happen. 

Rats live in a hierachy, so occasionally some rats will show dominant behaviour, while others can be more passive. As a general rule, if there is no blood, there is no foul. Boxing, scuffling, chasing, pinning, and even having vocal disagreements (squeak fights) are all acceptable behaviour when establishing social hierarchy among rats. However, rats should not bite each other resulting in a bleeding injury. A rat should also not bite a human being resulting in a bleeding injury. If a rat is behaving in an overly aggressive manner and biting, it may be a sign of illness or injury, and you may want to examine them and observe for further indications. 

Should you receive a bite from your rat that draws blood, wash the wound immediately, and disinfect it, then treat with antibiotic ointment and bandage appropriately. If you develop swelling and redness or intense pain, or fever, you should visit a hospital or doctor as soon as possible, as you may be at risk of contracting Rat Bite Fever. 

If your rat seems withdrawn or aggressive, is squinting its eyes, acts lethargic, seems disinterested in food or water, or is displaying signs of breathing quickly or having trouble breathing/makes clicking or wheezing noises when breathing, and has a reddish discharge (porphyrin) coming from the nose or eyes, it could be suffering with an upper respiratory infection and will need to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to be treated with antibiotics and pain medication. 

If your rat is displaying these symptoms and behaviours but does not appear to be having trouble breathing, it could be suffering from some other illness or injury. It’s always wise to visit a veterinarian who is experienced with small animals when your rat’s health may be in question. As prey animals, they are experts at masking issues. Frequently checking your rat for signs of illness or injury can help you ensure they receive prompt medical attention when needed.


It's a good idea to watch YouTube videos and read articles on rat behaviour, as it can help when it comes to learning how to read your pet rat's behaviour and body language.

If you'd like a more in-depth guide to rat behaviour, check out this guide on RatGuide.com.

RatGuide.com is a great place to find comprehensive guides to the various aspects of owning pet rats.

You can find their section on rat healh here.

Location: Brantford, ON, Canada

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