RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:42 am

Hi,

I have never had a rat before. I just got one and she is very sweet. She will sit with me and I can pet her even though I got her from a pet store that doesn't handle their rats much.

On her second day when I was petting her she did that bruxing thing, which I hope was because she was happy about the petting. She wasn't trying to leave or squirming or looking unhappy or anything. How does one know if it's bruxing for pleasure vs. bruxing for stress?

Then today when I took her out this morning as I saw she was awake, I took her outside with me for a field trip so she could smell the breeze and listen to the natural noises. Well she was a little weirded out by all that naturalness I think.

So I let her go into my pocket (she likes going up my sleeve too) and then when we went back inside I asked her to come out and she did. Then we settled down for a pseudo-nap--you know where you are sitting there with closed eyes (her with slightly closed eyes) hanging together feeling sleepy but not really sleeping? Well then I pet her a bit and then she was looking at my hand.

Then she started to nibble me and it really startled me. I mean, I don't know what it means. Was she trying to tell me she didn't want to hang anymore and wanted her cage back? Was she annoyed with me? I'm scared of being nibbled because I've only had hamsters before and nibbling is a sign of irritation and annoyance if handled too much. Are rats the same? I mean it didn't hurt but it makes me leery of getting snacked on. I hate getting bitten. (I've had a hamster bite me before...hurts soooo bad!!!)

When she nibbled me I would squeak (well, as well as I could although it sounds nothing like ratsqueak) and tap her lightly on the back. Then she'd do it again and I would do it again. This happened maybe three times in a row.

If anyone could shed some light on this that would be great!
Thanks!

Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:07 am

Don't worry at all..this is a good thing

Unless it's an aggressive bite your rat is probably just happy. Rats nibble and clean eachother all the time..my rat Creamy cleans my hand like he would another rat..he licks and nibbles and grooms me. Your rat is probably just accepting your hand as one of 'her kind'...like she thinks it's another rat.

Do you only have one rat? I'd highly suggest getting another one to keep her company..make sure it is the same sex and around the same age..if you decide to get another one I'm sure people on the site can help you with introductions...or maybe you even want to go back to the petstore and get one of her sisters.

_________________
~*Allie*~
Puppy: Pepper (my big suck) Kitty: Kitterz
Birdie:Mehico aka.Cheeky
Ratties: RIP Penny...i miss you pretty girl <333
Peaches n' Cream..2 bRATS
Jibroney!! --new rescue rat

Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:35 am

Allie is right, what she is doing is a good thing, and yeah, you should defintley get her a friend. If they don't have a friend they can become depresesed and they may develop health problems. She would be much happier with a friend to groom and sleep with.

_________________
EMILY-------------------------------------------------

Rest in peace, Violet and Isadora. <3

Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:17 am

Ditto what the others have said - she sounds affectionate and sweet already - the chances are, she was bruxing happily - stress bruxing isn't that common, and would probably be accompanied by other signs of stress or distress - fear pooping, peeing, trying to hide or get away, freezing up etc.

The nibbling is normal too - rats tend to explore with their mouths, particularly babies, and they also gently nibble when they groom - if you really don't want her to do it, then you can eep at her (but I wouldn't tap her - move her away instead) - a short sharp eep. But chances are it's simply her saying that she loves you and is giving you some grooming to show it.

Please do get her a buddy - if you only recently (the last few days) got her and can go back and get one of her female littermates, then that is the easiest route - you won't need to worry over quarantine if you hurry, and at this age and after so little time apart, they should go straight in together without a problem. If it's been a while longer, or you need to get a rat she's never met before, you will need to look at quarantine and introduction process, but introducing babies is usually fine. She will be much happier and healthier in the long term, and chances are she is missing having some ratty company even though you're giving her plenty of TLC and love.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~