Should I clip my rats nails?

Technically, clipping your pet rat's nails is not necessary unless they are hindering its movement; if your rat's nails are getting stuck as they romp around their cage or causing cuts and scabs on their skin during normal grooming, trimming their nails is a must.
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Can I cut my rat's nails?

You can even trim a nail or two while a rat is sleeping inside your shirt or jacket as long as their nails are easily accessible. Some owners use emery boards to file down their pet rats' nails. If you try this, you can still experiment with filing down just one nail at a time.
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Can rats have peanut butter?

Peanut Butter: It's okay to spread a very thin layer of peanut butter on a bit of bread or to let your rats lick a small amount thinly smeared on your finger. However, if you were to give your rat a chunk of peanut butter by itself, it could cause your rat to choke.
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Do rats eat toenails?

Rats eat some gross things, such as paper, glue, and even toenails - but they do this because they're great survivors.
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How do you bathe a rat?

There are options as to where you bathe your rat. You can fill a sink or a plastic pan with a few inches of warm water and either put the soap in the water or on the rat after he is wet. You can bathe your rat on a towel after wetting him down under the faucet.
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The EASY way I cut my rats nails



What does it mean when a rat wiggles its tail?

Rats Wag Their Tail When They Are Excited

Rats will wag their tail when they become happy or excited. This excitement can come from many things. What is this? For example, sometimes they will start wagging their tail when something new like a toy is put into their cage and they really like it.
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Why does my rat bite me softly?

Nibbling On You

If your rat nibbles or licks you, he or she might be showing you affection by grooming you. Rats also have an excellent sense of smell, so your rat might nibble or lick your hand or smell you after you eat or prepare food.
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What noise do rats make when they are happy?

As previously mentioned, happy rats will also partake in bruxing, which is that purring noise made when they grind their teeth together. Other happy rat sounds include short, snipped squeaks and chirps. Rats may even give a happy chattering sound when they see a treat coming their way, such as a slice of cheese.
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Do rats cry?

Rats cry blood when stressed:

Rats have a Harderian gland behind their eyes which secretes a substance called porphyrin during times of stress [4]. It is a red or pink discharge that gives the appearance of a rat crying blood. Usually, a rat will produce small quantities of porphyrin and groom it away.
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Do rats like playing in water?

Water to play with - if your rats enjoy playing with water, give them the opportunity to swim in a shallow container, safely and with you keeping an eye on them. Some rats enjoy playing in water, but never make them swim if they don't want to.
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Can I kiss my rat?

Do not kiss, nuzzle, or hold rats close to your face. This can startle your rats and also increase your chances of being bitten. Bites can spread germs and can make you sick. You don't have to touch pet rats to get sick from their germs.
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How often should I bathe my rat?

Unless your rat gets dirty somehow, bathing it only on occasion will make it smell less. When bathed, animals lose some of the natural oils secreted by their body that protect them from the elements. The animal will reproduce any lost oils, which will be of a stronger smell. Bathe your rat no more than once a month.
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Can you bath rats?

Rats are very good at keeping themselves clean and definitely don't need much help in this department but every once in a while, if they get especially dirty or smelly, it is fine to give them a little bath. When my rats got older and cleaning themselves got more difficult, I washed them more often.
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How do you tickle a rat?

How do I tickle my rat?
  1. Dorsal Contact. Tickle your rat on the nape of her neck. Be light and quick in your touches. ...
  2. Flip. Grasp your rat snugly around her front legs when you flip her as shown. Prevent your rat's tail from kinking beneath her when you flip. ...
  3. Pin. Tickle your rat between her front legs on her chest.
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Are male or female rats more affectionate?

Always adopt the same sex, so you don't end up with babies. It's always best to adopt littermates when possible. Gender: Although all rats have individual personalities, females tend to be smaller, more active, and playful, while males are often larger, more mellow, and snuggly.
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Do rats get Zoomies?

Rat zoomies are completely normal behaviors. All the running and jumping mimics the behavior of wild rats interacting with their conspecifics. Chasing, playing, and wrestling are essential behaviors for learning how to interact with other rats, especially for juveniles that are growing up.
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How do I know if my rat is unhappy?

If you fail to dedicate time to your rats, they can become anxious and may bite when you do try getting them out.
...
Signs of Happiness
  1. Chattering. Rats are not particularly loud, but they do vocalize their emotions. ...
  2. Licking. Rats are like dogs in some ways. ...
  3. Grooming. ...
  4. Scenting. ...
  5. Cuddles. ...
  6. Trust. ...
  7. No Threat Behavior. ...
  8. Pink Ears.
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What sounds do rats hate?

They hate the sound of ultrasonic rodent repellent devices, which is usually in the range of 32 kHz to 62 kHz. The sound of these ultrasonic rodent repellers may it extremely irritating for these filthy creatures.
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Do rats laugh?

And it turns out we're not the only ones. Now, a study in rats pinpoints the "tickle center" of the mammalian brain, showing for the first time that stimulating neurons in that region can elicit a paroxysm of ultrasonic squeaks, the rat version of human laughter.
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What do rats like to play with?

Rats enjoy playing in cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, toilet paper tubes stuffed with shredded paper or hay, small pieces of apple branches cut from a pesticide-free tree in the yard, ping-pong balls and paper bags from the grocery store.
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Do rats recognize their owners?

Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice. They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples' shoulders or in their laps.
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