Your Questions | About Pet Rats Answers
Question:
Hello! I just got a couple of young male rats and was wondering something. I’ll put my hand in and rub them a bit and they’ll run around and come back to it and they do that for a bit before they start nibbling at my hand, not hard, but is that a sign that they’re agitated and want it out or happy and just playing? They also sometimes chitter but I hear that could be a good or bad sign…
Answer:
Answer:Congratulations on your new family members!
It sounds like they may not want to play anymore since they began by enthusiastically running around and coming back to your hand. When they stop running around and start nibbling, try holding your hand inside the cage without moving it. See if they start to groom your hand, walk away from it or even just relax. These behaviors would all show they’re finished playing.
On the other hand, they could be letting you know they’re hungry. I’ve had rats very gently hold my finger in their mouths when they want some food.
Yes, the “chittering” sound can be good or bad depending on what type of sound it actually is:
The Good Pet Rat Sounds
Called bruxing, rats make this sound by grinding their incisors against one another. Similar to when cats purr, bruxing is usually an expression of contentment. It’s often combined with or followed by boggling. Boggling is when they pop their eyes in and out. (It looks hilarious!) Also similar to when cats purr, bruxing can on occasion indicate nervousness, unrest or illness.
Here’s a video of a happy rat bruxing with a small amount of boggling at the end:
The Bad Pet Rat Sounds
When new to rats, many people think their rat is making a “cute squeaking sound”. In reality, their rat is sick! After you’ve had rats for awhile, you’ll know immediately when the sound you’re hearing is bad news. If you hear your rat making any sounds while breathing such as snorting or snuffling or even certain squeaky sounds, take your rat in to be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Here’s my webpage on Respiratory Disease and below is a video of a rat making “squeaky” sounds. What you’ll hear in this video are serious respiratory disease symptoms. This rat was prescribed medications after being thoroughly examined by her veterinarian. Note that respiratory disease is not curable, but it is manageable as long as your rat is in the care of a knowledgeable and experienced pet rat vet. It’s also extremely important to have your rat seen as soon as possible when you hear respiratory symptoms. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to treat.
If you’re not sure whether your rat is making a “Good” or a “Bad” sound, take your rat to the vet. You’ll be glad you did since every visit to the vet is a great opportunity to learn more about your rats. Besides, wouldn’t you rather have your vet say “everything’s fine” than not take your rat in and find out later you could’ve caught a problem early…..and prevented worse conditions from developing?
I have a rat who normally wouldn’t make this sound when being picked up and wouldn’t fight me. She has recently given me a very loud screech at being touched by me or other rats. When I picked her up she let’s out long squeaks and tries to fight to get put of my arms. There aren’t any visible signs of injuries but she won’t sit still long enough for me to be more thorough.
Hi Linda,
It sounds like something is causing her to not feel well. That’s great that you checked her for any injuries. Have you taken her to a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats? After doing a thorough exam they should be able to figure out what’s ailing her.
Be sure and have her travel carrier right next to your rats’ cage so you won’t have to hold her for very long when transferring her from her cage to the travel carrier.
Let me know if you need any clarification or any further questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello! i recently got 2 rats, one is silent and completely fine but the other one flinches and sneezes, sometimes he even makes honking or screeching aounds but not all the time. very rarely. i took them both to the vet and the veterinarian said that they are healthy and that he may have an allergy. we have removed everything that could cause an allergy for him but still after 3 days hes sneezing non stop. no pus or anything is coming out of him and hes eating and climbing well. i dont know what to do
Hi Stella,
Thanks for asking your excellent question. Here are 2 options:
1. Follow-up with your vet and let them know you’ve removed everything that could cause an allergy and your rat is still sneezing and making honking/screeching sounds.
2. Get a second opinion from a different vet.
In addition, here are a few questions to consider:
Let me know if you need any clarification and/or if you have any other questions.
It’s wonderful you’re observing your rats so closely and paying attention to possible symptoms of an illness.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello! My rat was sleeping and i overheard her making some cat like chirping noises. They weren’t consistent so i opened her cage and put my hand on her for comfort and the noises died down. She ended up waking up and going back to sleep and is back to being silent. Could the noises just be from her dreaming or is it possibly an upper respiratory disease?
Hi Crystal,
If your rat is making “chirping” sounds while sleeping there’s a good chance she could have respiratory disease. I highly recommend you take your rat in for a check-up with a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. It’s good to take her to the vet as soon as you can. Although it’s not an emergency, the sooner any respiratory disease is addressed, the more quickly and easily your rat will improve.
Taking her to the vet is the best way to know for sure if the sound she’s making is a symptom of respiratory disease. Even if the vet finds her to be perfectly healthy, it’s a good idea to take rats in for wellness checks on a regular basis.
Thank you for asking your excellent question! You sound like a fantastic rat parent.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi there! I just took in two girl rats from someone who couldn’t take care of them anymore. One of the girls is making a honking sound that definitely sounds like a respiratory disease. I’m taking the both of them to the vet as soon as I can get an appointment. My question however, is that I have three boys in a separate cage about 8 inches away. Is that close enough for them to have maybe caught something? I did move them away for the time being, but How far do I need to keep the cages apart for my boys to not contract anything? Thank you!
Hi Hallie,
Such a great question!
Glad you’re taking your girls to the vet. I advise taking new rats to the vet within a week or two of bringing them home anyways.
Ideally, it would be good for your boys to be housed in a separate room until your honking girl’s symptoms are resolved. It also helps for you to change your clothes and wash up in between being with your boys and your girls. Mycoplasma is airbourne.
It’s usually advisable to keep any new rats housed in a different room for the first two weeks after bringing them home. (And to change your clothes and shower or give yourself a sponge bath on the exposed areas of your skin.) This quarantine period helps ensure your existing rats don’t catch anything from your new rats.
Please note that almost all rats are born with respiratory disease. They just don’t always have symptoms. I’m bringing this up because I don’t want you to feel too guilty for not quarantining your new rats. You didn’t know. In the future, however, quarantining new rats is definitely worthwhile.
Thanks for asking your question. You sound like a great rat mom…I’m impressed that you’re seeking out answers and considering what’s best for your rats!
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I have a male rat that overall seems very happy and healthy, h but he sneezes pretty often since I’ve had him, he shows no other signs of being sick, his breathing sounds good too; His brother hasn’t developed any sneezing either. Is this something I need to worry about or no?
Hi Bee,
Thanks for asking your great question! I think it’s always beneficial to take pet rats to the vet and to do so periodically. It’s good to have them examined within a few weeks after you first bring them home. After that, every 3-6 months for wellness checks can be super helpful. The idea is you want to catch things before they get out of hand. A great vet can see things you may not have noticed.
Sneezing often can be a symptom of respiratory disease. Does he have porphyrin around his eyes or nostrils? The only way to really find out if he’s okay healthwise, though, is to have him examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. They’ll listen to his chest using a smaller-sized stethoscope to help determine whether he’s having respiratory problems.
It’s always a good idea to have an established a relationship with your rats’ vet. That way, in the future if/when any problems arise, you’ll have someone you already know and who already knows you and your rats to help you.
I hope you’re able to have your rats examined by a vet.
Let me know if you have any additional questions or need any clarification. I’m happy to help anytime.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello i recently had to seperate my male and female. She gave birth. The male seemed like he got very depressed because of it so i started to let them be together a little bit but stand there keeping him from mounting her. He would just do it back to back so i eventually gave him a little bop on the nose. Ever since then he bruxes when picked up and for the first time i saw him wagging his tail at me. Does he see me as a threat now. And if so what can i do to rectify it. Also he has started being very picky eating. Only eating treats and barely drinking.
Hi Trevor,
Great questions!
First of all, if he’s only eating treats and barely drinking, he could have a medical problem. He may not be feeling well and that’s why he doesn’t want to each much. If he’s still like this now, I recommend you take him to a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. I have a whole section on veterinarians and veterinary care on my website:
Choosing a Veterinarian for Your Pet Rats
When to see a veterinarian
Online Directories of Pet Rat Veterinarians
This blog post also has great information on the importance of pet rat veterinary care.
Unless the male is neutered and/or the female is spayed, rats of the opposite sex should never be allowed to be together. It’s too risky that the female would get pregnant.
I have to mention that a “bop on the nose” is not a good idea. My belief is that positive reinforcement combined with repetition and consistency, are the best ways to teach animals. (Or humans, too, for that matter!)
Wagging his tail is a sign of aggression. If/when you see him doing that, I’d leave him alone. When he’s whipping his tail back and forth, he could bite you.
Bruxing when you pick him up could be a sign of nervousness or fear. (At other times, it is a happy, content sound similar to a cat’s purr.)
Yes, he could be afraid of you since you “bopped him on the nose”. To get him to trust you again, I suggest using the ideas in Bonding with Your Pet Rats. Also, Shy Rats Transformed: from shy to social butterfly may be helpful to check out.
Thanks for asking your excellent questions. I hope things are improving. Let me know if you have any additional questions or need any clarification on anything I’ve written here.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi i started to notice my rat makes like little whimpering noises in his sleep but i’m not exactly sure if maybe he’s upset or just having a dream. i would love some clarification or help because it makes me feel bad lol. is it normal for them to make noise while sleeping like that ?
Hi London,
The sound you’re describing does not sound normal to me. However, I highly recommend you take your rat in for a check-up with a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. That’s the best way to know for sure if the sound he’s making is a symptom of respiratory disease. It’s a good idea to take rats in for routine wellness checks, anyways.
I will email you a link to this reply. You’re welcome to email me back with a video of your rat making the sounds. I’ll be more than happy to give you my opinion after I see and hear your rat in a video. I still think seeing a vet is your best bet, though!
Thank you for asking your excellent question! You sound like a fantastic rat parent.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi, so my rat seems to be low energy. He had a small fall and seemed ok, his brother is perfectly fine amd we feed them both the same things (corn, green beans, peas, etc). He will squeak at random, seemingly in pain, but when we gently pet him to see if we can examine the source of the pain, we don’t find anything. We are starting to become concerned, please help.
Hi Kenzie,
The best way to find out if your rat is having a problem is to take him to be examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. I always think it’s a good idea to trust your concerns….if you’re ever wondering if your rat is okay or not, that’s a good time to take them to the vet. Even if the vet says your rat is perfectly healthy, you’ll feel better that you got him checked out by the vet.
I have a whole section on my website about veterinarians that you may find helpful:
Choosing Your Pet Rats’ Veterinarian
Knowing When Your Pet Rat Needs to See a Veterinarian
Online Directories of Pet Rat Veterinarians
Behind every healthy rat is a great veterinarian
I would definitely take him in to be examined. I hope it’s nothing serious, but having low energy usually does indicate something is wrong.
Feel free to ask any additional questions as well as to send an update.
Sending positive wishes for your rat!
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello! I brought home a pair of male rats around a month ago! I noticed the smaller one is making a strange noise. I have had rats for most of my life and I have never really heard the noises he is making with any of my other ones, and it’s quite concerning! I am used to hearing the more common noises with a respiratory infection, but this sounds more high pitched! Like almost exactly like a baby chick chirping! He doesn’t do it constantly, I only notice that he’s done it twice now, two separate occasions. I am just worried and every time I look into it, it’s not the same noises as what he’s doing. Any info helps!!!
Hi Lila,
Any sounds a rat makes while breathing are possible respiratory disease symptoms. Some rats do make different sounds than others. The best way to know for sure whether or not your rat is sick is to take him in to see a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. That way your vet can listen to your rat’s lungs with a stethoscope as well as do a thorough physical exam.
In case it’s helpful, I have a page on my website here on pet rat respiratory disease.
Let me know if you have any further questions. I hope you’re able to get your rat checked out by a vet so you’ll know for sure what’s going on with him. It’s a great idea to have them all examined by a vet from time to time, even for routine wellness checks.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
My rat makes more of a Squeaking sound but not like in the video I just got her today and I’m wondering if its cause when the lady took her out of the cage she dropped her, I touched her and she was making the sound for 1min or 2
Hi Arianna,
There are many different sounds rats can make that are indicative of having a respiratory issue. The video here is just one example. So, even if your rat made a different sound than the rat in the video, it could still be a symptom of respiratory disease. The sounds are made when the rat is breathing—it’s not a random squeak but more like a wheezing, having-difficulty-breathing sound.
If you’d like you can email me a video of your rat if she makes the squeaking sound you observed again. (I’ll email you so you’ll have my email address.)
Do you think she may have squeaked because you touched her? (You mentioned that was what was happening right before she made the sound.)
In any case, I always think it’s important to take new rats to a veterinarian for a full exam within the first week or so of bringing them home. Make sure you have your rat seen by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats.
I’m sorry to hear the person taking your new rat out of the cage dropped her. That’s another good reason to have your new rat seen by a vet. It’s so helpful to have them checked out by a good vet in the beginning. That way you learn more about her and can prevent any conditions (even some you might not be aware of) from worsening.
Finally, I can’t help but say, I hope she has a friend. You may already be aware it’s a good idea to have at least 2 pet rats.
I hope my response is helpful.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
So one of my girls makes these sounds but I can’t tell what these are.She kinda makes the sounds another rat on your website made as an example of upper res sounds,but more quiet and she also makes them only sometimes,i’d say
most of the time, she breathes normally .
Hi There,
I appreciate so much your being so sensitive and aware of your rat making sounds while breathing. Not everyone notices when their rat is making a sound that may indicate a respiratory problem.
Even if a rat makes the sounds some of the time as opposed to all of the time, there could potentially be a health issue going on. Sometimes rats start out making the sounds intermittently in the beginning. She could, however, progress to making the sounds all of the time. It’s better to address the issues early rather than waiting for them to worsen.
Does she have any other symptoms such as porphyrin? If she is making the sound regularly (even if it’s not all of the time) I would definitely have her checked out by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. Your vet can listen to her lungs and will let you know if they think there is a respiratory issue going on. The worst thing that can happen is your vet will say your rat sounds great—-And that wouldn’t be so bad since it would also give you great peace of mind.
Sending positive wishes for you and your rat.
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi there! I really would love to hear back from you :). My 1 and a half year old rat, Basil, has been sneezing ever since I’ve gotten him. No matter what treatment my vets give me and how many times i’ve treated him he never stops. The vet listened to his lungs and said they sound clear. He has a large amount of that red stress hormone built up on his nose. He only has 3 legs (missing his front one) so he struggles to clean it off so I often help him. No allergens near him either. Is it possible that he’s healthy and just sneezes as a weird quirk or something? He’s perfectly healthy otherwise. I’m just so nervous, I love him more than anything.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for asking your important question about your rat, Basil.
It would be helpful to know how often Basil sneezes. Is it daily or every couple of days? If it’s daily, about how many times a day?
Another thing that would be helpful to know is what medications have been tried so far. Almost more importantly, for how long were the medications prescribed? Many vets don’t prescribe antibiotics for a long enough period of time. You can read more about pet rat respiratory disease on my website HERE.
Even though your vet said his lungs sound clear, it doesn’t mean he’s not experiencing respiratory issues. I’ve had vets say my rat’s lungs sound clear even though they could hear my rat making congested sounds while breathing. My favorite vet for my rats has often prescribed Ofloxacin drops to be used in both eyes three times a day.
The porphyrin you described is very likely a symptom of respiratory disease.
What I’d do if I were you is to have your rat seen by a different vet for a second opinion. It would be very helpful to hear if a different vet would recommend medicationsn not yet tried as well as extend the period of time in which the medication is given.
I completely understand that you “love Basil more than anything”. Rats are such special beings! You sound like a great rat caretaker.
I hope you find the above information useful. Feel free to ask further questions any time.
Best Wishes to You & Basil,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I have had a pet rat for over a week now and sometimes when I hold him he makes quiet, and slow-ish squeaks. Some squeaks don’t even make a sound, he just makes a jolt like a silent squeak. But after a few “squeaks”, he stops and rests in my hands and occasionally looks around, bruxing a bit and enjoying the snuggles, what do the “silent squeaks” mean?
Hi Khloe,
If your rat is making the jolting movement without any sound, it’s likely to be hiccups.
If your rat has the spasmodic movement of a hiccup accompanied by a “squeak” it could be symptoms of respiratory disease. Some vets believe even silent hiccups are a symptom of potential respiratory disease. He sounds like he’s fairly healthy, though, since he’s also bruxing and enjoying the snuggles.
Even so, I recommend all new rats be taken in for a wellness exam by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. Ideally this should be done within the first few weeks of bringing home a new rat. You can read more about this HERE.
Thanks for asking your excellent question. You sound like you’re doing a great job of observing his behavior and taking care of him. Just in case you aren’t already aware, it’s best to have at least two pet rats, rather than having just one living alone.
I hope my response is helpful. Let me know if you have any other other questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
My rat is making a really concerning pigeon like noise . I’m scared , what do I do
Hi Grace,
I highly recommend you have your rat examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. Everything in the post above under the heading “The Bad Pet Rat Sounds” may very well be applicable to your situation. You won’t know whether or not your rat has respiratory disease until she is examined by a qualified veterinarian.
Don’t be scared, just take action and you’ll feel a lot better. You’ll also know that you’re doing everything you can for your rat.
I hope this is helpful for you.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello,
My girlfriend got pretty rats in June. They are really warning up to human attention, even coming to me for snuggles and scritches (and the treats that follow 😂). Last night, one of them came to me and I picked him up for his snuggles. He made 3 very quick, tiny grunts and made himself comfortable while I scratched him. I’d never heard that noise from them before. It was very quiet and he seemed quite happy in the moment. Can you tell me now about the noise?
Thank you!
Hi Brandy,
It’s uncommon for healthy rats to make any sounds other than bruxing or the occasional squeak when playing or being groomed by another rat. I’m wondering if what you’re hearing is bruxing? Bruxing is similar to a cat’s purr in terms of what it communicates. The sound is made by the rat grinding its teeth together.
If the sound seems to indicate your rat is congested, I’d take him in to see a vet as soon as possible. If he does have respiratory disease, the sooner he’s treated the better.
I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you need any clarification or want to provide any additional details.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Thank you for the reply. I’m guessing it was bruxing. I haven’t heard it again and the rats are in good health and feisty as ever. I also have a rabbit and they do a “tooth purr” which didn’t sound the same as what I heard the rat do, but the size difference probably accounts for that. I also noticed my original message was riddled with bad autocorrect. Sorry about that.
Hi Brandy,
I’m glad to hear your rats are in good health and that the sound was probably bruxing. I didn’t know that rabbits make a bruxing sound, too!
Darn that autocorrect. I was wondering if that accounted for how your post was written. :)
Anyways, so glad to hear your rats are doing great!
Take Care,
Jasmine
Hi,
We have had our pet rats for 4 days and bought them from a breeder. This is our first time with rats.
One of our rats, Scoober, has just started making high chirrups that sounds like a small hiccup. This lasted for around 10 minutes but then stopped. We have looked online and put him back on his cage but we are very worried to know if it is a normal sound or not.
Is it normal for rats to hiccup in certain situations, or is it a symptom of something more sinister?
I hope you can help! Scoober is still full of energy and didn’t seem to want to stop playing or hide.
Thanks,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Have you had your rats examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats yet? That would be the best way to find out if Scoober has any type of respiratory problem. It’s also just a great idea to have all new rats checked out by a veterinarian within about the first 2 weeks after bringing them home.
To answer your question directly, yes, pet rats can get hiccups. Some veterinarians aren’t aware of this. For those vets who do know about pet rats getting hiccups, some of them think only rats with respiratory disease get hiccups. Almost all rats are born with respiratory disease, however….they just don’t all show symptoms.
That is good news that Scoober is still full of energy. His hiccups are probably not a major concern since he’s acting normally and as long as he’s also eating, drinking, defecating and urinating normally. It still is very helpful to have new rats checked out by a vet soon after bringing them home. This helps them establish a doctor/patient relationship, gives your vet an idea of their “baseline” health, alerts you to any problems you may not have noticed and gives you peace of mind knowing they’ve been checked out and that you have a vet you can call on about their health.
CongRATulations on your new family members!
Let me know if you have any questions in the future—I’m happy to help any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
hi, i have 2 rats and one of them is on meds because she had the beginnings of a URI. my only concern is that she still is congested in her nose. Her lungs sound fine and the doctor said it shouldn’t be something i should worry about, but she’s been on meds for a week now, all her other symptoms have gone away but she still has crackling nose breath like her nose is stuffed up. she has never had the red stuff coming from her nose or eyes, just clear snot from her nose.
Hi Aspen,
You are right to be concerned about your rat if she is still sounding congested in her nose.
I am fortunate to have a veterinarian who’s extremely knowledgeable about pet rats. I, too, have had rats whom in the past have sounded congested in their nose but not in their lungs. My vet prescribed Ofloxacin opthalmic drops. They’ve worked extremely well for alleviating nasal congestion.
I would tell your vet you’d like to clear up your rat’s symptoms completely. Ask if they’d be willing to prescribe Ofloxacin eye drops (or something similar) in order to clear up your rats’ nasal congestion. Either that or find a vet who’s more knowledgeable and motivated to keep your rat as healthy (and symptom free) as possible.
By the way, I’ve never seen as rat have “clear snot” coming from their nose. (I’ve only observed porphyrin.) In any case, clearing up all symptoms is a good idea for keeping your rat as healthy as possible.
I hope my response has been helpful. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have additional questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine |About Pet Rats
My rat soon died after I heard those noises
Hi Braydon,
I’m so sorry to hear your rat died soon after you heard it making sounds. I’m not sure if you have other rats remaining and whether or not you’ve since learned more about pet rat respiratory disease. As you’ll read in the link, most rats are born with respiratory disease. There are many symptoms to look out for besides just the sounds they make. One of the main symptoms is porphyrin.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about your rat dying. My heart goes out to you. It’s so hard to learn everything there is to know about pet rat illnesses especially in the beginning.
I hope if you have other rats that they are doing well.
Let me know any time you have questions and if I can help in any way.
Jasmine
Hi.. How easy will it be to semi-domesticate a couple of wild house rats? I have 1 believed to be a Male, approx 6mos old brown who lives consistently beneath an unused dresser and a craft pile of “junk”. He also seems to have a sweet little visitor who I’m assuming is his girlfriend because she’s smaller and very sassy, only comes to visit when her “other” home elsewhere in the house is being disrupted by noise, and she helps herself to his food when she comes for a stay. He is often happy to see her, if you know what I mean, and she will tease him pretending she’s not interested once it’s time to get frisky, she will make healthy sounding vocal ehts and nuhnts kinds noises, like she is saying “uh, what kind of girl do you think I am” but they never fight. She will typically stay a day or two, and knows where I place their food outside the dresser where they can forage it back into the recesses of darkness beneath the dresser.
He recently began hunting mice! 2 kills in 10min in the middle of the night! He heard me scolding the intruders for getting into my bread (his food). I have taught him to ask for bread but not steal it. He is very territorial of his half of the room and sometimes patrols it. Now that he’s got the taste for blood, should I be at all worried that he might attack me or get me confused for one of the intrusive mice? I talk to him and make sure I use the same words when feeding him, I use pitch and tonation to try to either encourage or discourage his behaviors. Mostly he and I sit around doing a whole lot of listening. I notice that he bruxes when we forget about each other and I am just living my natural life, like having company over and chatting human to human, he seems to really enjoy that. Also, when I am sleeping I hear him bruxing sometimes . He does not ever fully show himself to me, his girlfriend Holly is more open and unafraid of being seen. Baby has just recently stopped before going under the dresser long enough for me to get a good look at him, and when snatching up the proffered bread, this time laid a little further away so he would have to show himself, after about 4 hours he finally poked his head out and grabbed the bread. Do you think these two will ever approach me or make friends with me? Will they ever be considered as my pets or will they always be wild? In the beginning, Baby (the male) got himself caught on a piece of glue trap without the board and he was quiet the entire time, he shuffled himself and the glue paper underneath the dresser where he now lives, and he shook himself free of the glue paper, minus his tail :( will his tail grow back? I haven’t seen him outside long enough to see his tail).. the same day after he got himself free, he had set up a temporary hiding place to nurse his wounds, and I heard him whimpering over the loss of his tail. During that whole escapade, I spoke soothingly to him and sympathetic tones and promised I would help him if I could. My roommates hate our household pests and would do anything to rid us of them, but I am very protective of Baby and his galpal Holly (if only I could encourage her to stay with us where she’s safer).. my roommates yell at me when they find out I’m feeding them table scraps, and they hate me talking to them and giving them names. There’s no cages, nothing to keep them from doing their daily rat business, but I wonder if I will ever have the chance to pet them or learn how to handle them so I can take them to the vet, or teach them tricks… what is the natural lifespan of this type of animal? Not very long, because they move in gangs and attack each other, especially in the kitchen. I think Holly will come up missing before Baby and I even notice she’s gone. Will another female find him up here? Are females territorial at all? Do they mate for life? Are they monogamous ? Lastly, in the event that I have to move to a different apartment, what are the chances of enticing Baby to go with me? What would be the kindest fate that I could give to my friend, provided I am resourceful enough to pull it off? Live trap and set free outdoors?… Leave him to the wilds of the house?… What can I do? I’m compassionate to all earth’s creatures but I don’t want to get hurt in this process. Baby has been with me for about 4-6 months. Also how do they drink? Is that where he’s going when he leaves the room?
I hope all is better now for you and your poor sick rats that you’ve been caring for in the earlier comments.. please get back to me at your earliest convenience. Best Regards! TIF, BABY, & HOLLY
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for writing. You really covered a lot of details in what you wrote. I, personally, don’t think it’s a good idea to befriend wild animals. (The exceptions to this are if they are in serious danger and/or require medical assistance.)
The reason I feel this way is that if you tame or “semi-tame” these 2 rats, they’re going to end up thinking all humans are kind and loving just like you. Which, as you know, they aren’t.
There are people who’ve kept wild rats as pets but usually they get them when they’re babies. A wild rat can become somewhat domesticated but will always remain wild at their core.
No, I do not think the rats would confuse you with a mouse and want to attack you. I think they would only attack you if you were close by and they felt intimidated or threatened by you.
That’s terrible about Baby’s tail. No, rat tails do not grow back. Tails are such an important part of their anatomy. Their tails help them balance and regulate their temperature.
Wild rats live for 1-2 years.
Rats can be dangerous to have loose in your house. It’s not uncommon for them to chew on electrical wiring which can even end up starting a fire. They also frequently chew on wood which could destroy parts of your apartment and furniture. Besides chewing, wild rats can carry diseases which are harmful to humans.
My best advice would be to keep them out of your house. I know it’s been fun and super interesting, but it would be the safest way for everyone to live. It’s a good idea to block off any entrance holes so they’re not able to get inside at all.
It sounds to me like you would love having domesticated rats. They are such wonderful pets and you get to have lots of incredible interactions with them. Another thing you might really enjoy is volunteering for a local wildlife center. It’s an incredible opportunity to not only help wildlife but to also learn about them.
Thanks so much for mentioning my rats…..I did have one rat who most likely had a pituitary tumor. It was difficult seeing him so adversely affected by it. He had to be euthanized mid-May. My remaining rat is doing well for her age and she’s a lot of work! She’ll be 3 in October. I give her medications multiple times a day (including eye drops) and she needs to be nebulized every night.
I hope my response has been helpful.
Take Care,
Jasmine
Hi, I have a rat who’s pretty healthy, but at random, will make a long squeak, almost sounding like a bird, while jumping or running away. It only lasts a second or two. It’s odd, and I’m wondering if it’s a respiratory issue or she just stubbed her toe, or something similar? It spooks me because it is out of nowhere, and right after, she’s normal again.
Hi Rose,
The best way to find out whether your rat is making the sound due to a respiratory issue is to take her in to be examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. You are also welcome to email me a video. (I’ll email you separately with my email address.)
As I’ve mentioned in previous responses, it’s fairly obvious to someone like myself (who’s had rats for over 30 years) whether or not it’s a a respiratory symptom type of sound. When I was new to rats, though, I really wasn’t able to tell whether any squeaks or other sounds my rat made were healthy.
So, feel free to email me a video. Or, even better, take your rat in to be examined by a well qualified rat vet.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or need any clarification.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Just a few days ago I got two rats. They’ve started to warm up to me and everything was going great, but just a few minutes ago one of them started to make a weird sound. Like a mixture of snoring and a squeak. I’m worried about what to do.
Hi Nathanial,
CongRATulations on your new rats!
The sounds you’re describing that you heard your rat making could very well be symptoms of respiratory disease. I would highly recommend you have both of your rats checked out by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. It’s a good idea to have your rats checked out anyways shortly after bringing them home.
Do you already have a good vet? If not, here are some tips on choosing a veterinarian as well as tips on finding one.
Don’t worry too much about the sound you’re hearing. Your rat should be examined within the next few days but, if it is respiratory disease, it can definitely be managed especially when caught early on. Almost all rats are born with respiratory disease, they just don’t all have symptoms.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi! I have two boy rats, Arthur and Marston. I’ve had them for about two months now. Both are very sweet, but Marston is a little more shy. He’s also a more vocal than Arthur, and squeaks a bit while they play fight. Sometimes when I stroke Marston’s head, he makes a light, short squeak. He seems to like it, because he sits there and shuts his eyes. He doesn’t try to run away or anything. But when he squeaks I stop because I don’t want to hurt him or scare him. It seems like he enjoy it, but I’m just paranoid about making him scared. Do you think this is a scared squeak or a happy squeak?
Hi Lea,
That sounds unusual that Marston makes the squeaking sound when you stroke his head. You’re right, if he sits there and closes his eyes, it does sound like he’s enjoying it. This may sound funny, but it could be that the squeaking sound is expressing contentment but the only reason he’s able to make that sound at all is because he has a respiratory problem. It’s very hard for me to say without actually hearing him.
You’re more than welcome to email a video. I’ll be emailing you separately so you can email me back a video. Once you’ve had rats for any length of time, you can tell right away whether or not any sound they’re making is a respiratory symptom or not. In the beginning, though, it can be tricky.
I always advocate taking all rats to a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. It’s a good idea to do this shortly after you adopt them, any time there are new symptoms or changes as well as for regular wellness visits. So, that would be another way for you to find out if the sound Marston is making is a respiratory symptom. A good vet will listen to his lungs and heart (with a rat-sized stethoscope!) and do a full exam as well. That would be the best way to learn whether or not Marston does have any respiratory problems.
Let me know if you have any further questions. I’m happy to help anytime.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi,
I have 2 female, 1 year old rats and they sneeze quite often and after doing some research I think it’s because I was using Carefresh as their bedding. Is aspen a good alternative?
Also one of my rats sometimes squeaks a little bit when she smells things, should I be worried about that and take her to a vet? It’s not loud and it doesn’t sound like she’s in pain. She also gets the red stuff around her eyes but it’s been something she gets since I got her. She cleans it off after a bit when she wakes up. Should I still take them to see a vet?
I’m getting a new cage for them tomorrow and these are my first rats so I’m still adjusting their diets among other things.
Thanks
Hi Anneliese,
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to respond. I’ve been taking care of 2 sick rats and they’ve taken up just about all of my free time outside of working full-time.
Aspen is supposed to be safe. For more information you can read my page on pet rat Bedding & Litter.
The squeaking sounds you described are not normal. By that I mean squeaking is not a healthy sound for a rat to make—unless it’s made when they’re caught by surprise or while they’re playing. Since she gets porphyrin around her eyes, that’s a sign she probably does have some degree of respiratory disease. Even if she’s had this since you’ve gotten her, that doesn’t mean it’s not a symptom of disease.
Have you taken them to the vet for a wellness check since you’ve gotten them? That would be the best way to find out if they’re having any problems. It’s always a good idea to take any new pets to the vet within the first few weeks of adopting them.
You sound like you’re doing a great job with your first rats. It does take time to figure out their unique needs. I’m impressed by all you’re already doing!
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions. I hope to be able to respond more quickly in the future!
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hey i just got a rat and the rat was falling asleep on me but then kept making small squeeking noises til i moved him and woke him up a bit and its stoped since, what is it and is it bad?
Hi There!
Squeaking noises can be a symptom of respiratory disease. Have you taken your rat to a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats yet? I highly advocate taking all new rats in to see a vet within 1-2 weeks after adopting them. After that, it’s a good idea to bring them in to see a vet every 3-6 months—even if they seem perfectly healthy.
Taking him in to see a vet will give you great peace of mind. Even if the vet ends up telling you he’s perfectly healthy, at least you’ll know. It’s also a great way to establish a relationship with your rat and their veterinarian. Your vet will gain a baseline understanding of your rats’ health and your rat will begin getting used to going to the doctor and being examined.
Hope you’re able to take him in to see a vet soon. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
My rat makes a sort of “peeeeeeeew” sound when he sleeps. I’m not sure how to describe it but that’s the best I can do. He’s only just started doing it now and he’s about 3-4 months old
Hi Amber,
I would make sure to get him checked out by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. This is the best way to find out if the sound is due to some sort of respiratory illness. It is not normal for rats to make sounds while they’re breathing including while they’re sleeping. Throughout my many years of having pet rats I have had lots of the rats who had respiratory problems make sounds while breathing during sleep.
You are always welcome to email me a video. I’ll be emailing you to let you know I responded so you’ll have my email address if you do want to email a video. I really do think it’s best to have your rat checked out by a vet, though.
That’s great you noticed he’s making this sound. You sound like a wonderful pet rat parent.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions in the future.
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello!
I have 3 rats, I’ve noticed that the youngest makes small high-pitched squeaks when interacting with the others, or even just whenever she sees them or me. She doesn’t seem to be afraid, but they don’t really sound like happy noises. I first noticed them when the other rats were grooming, and thought maybe they were nipping her, but upon further investigation it really didn’t look like anything was wrong. I’m very new to rat ownership, these three being the first I’ve ever had, and I haven’t been able to find anything that explains why this might be. Is she just especially vocal or is there something wrong? One of the other rats makes similar squeaks but much less frequently, and it seems to be only when she’s getting annoyed with the others, and/or she’s tired of playing.
Hi There!
You’re asking a good question. In general, most rats don’t vocalize very often at all. It’s interesting to hear, though, that your youngest only makes the high-pitched squeaking sounds at very specific times. Even so, it’s really not typical that a rat would make any sounds consistently such as when seeing you or another rat.
You are more than welcome to email me a video so I can see and hear your rat making the sound. I’ll be emailing you as well so you’ll have my email address.
The other thought I have, though, which would probably be even more helpful is to take your rats in for vet appointments. Have you already taken them in to see a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats? I recommend taking in rats for check-ups within a couple of weeks of bringing them home. After that, I recommend regular wellness check-ups as often as every 3-6 months depending upon their age and health status. That would be the very best way in which to find out if there is a respiratory problem with any of your rats.
I’m excited for you getting your first rats! Feel free to email the video as well as to ask any other questions any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hey I’m worried but not about my rat she makes a sneeze noise but I’ve looked up when a rat sneezes the sound is completely different I’m just wondering if I should be worried or is that noise normal
Hi Charlie,
If your rat is making any type of sound that you think could be a sneeze it could possibly be a symptom of respiratory disease. Have you taken in your rat to see a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats? It’s always a good idea to have rats checked out by a vet and to do so even if your rat seems perfectly healthy. I’d much rather take my rat in to see the vet and find out she’s fine than not take my rat in and find out later that she had a problem I could’ve prevented from getting worse.
Take care and hope you can get your rat in to see a vet soon.
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello so I’m new to rats and my make rat often makes sounds like he’s scoffing. And a separate thing is my female rat it’s hard to get her to calm down she doesn’t bite she’s just very anxious? She’s always burrowed under the bed in her cage.
Both rats were originally rats bread to be fed to snakes, however my mothers snake would not eat them and so I am rehabilitating them and giving them a home (me) and I have a vet appointment soon, because I would like them both neutered. I didn’t intentionally get a male and female.
Hi Brianna,
First of all, my apologies for taking so long in which to respond. I have a rat who’s been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor who’s also keeps had a series of abscesses on his face. He’s been consuming almost every spare moment I have aside from working full-time. Normally I can respond a lot faster but I’m currently struggling to catch up with responding to everyone.
That’s so great you rescued your rats from being fed to snakes. Your female rat may have trouble calming down because she’s….well….female! Girl rats, especially young girl rats, are extremely busy. They usually have places to go and things to do. Boy rats are much more docile and easier to get to know. Also, if your rats were bred to be fed to snakes they were probably not socialized much while they were young. Have you read my post Transforming Your Rat: from shy to social butterfly? It might give you some helpful tips.
Have they already been to the vet? They probably have by now. That’s so wonderful you made an appointment for them soon after adopting them. Your vet has probably already listened to their lungs and told you whether or not your male rat might have respiratory disease symptoms. You may also already be aware that spaying your female rat can be especially helpful for her health long-term.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the future. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to respond a lot faster next time!
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
My rat is making a noise similar to the one in the video, but its only when shes squeaking. I know her squeak changed. It is very odd and im worried about her. What should I do?
Hi Natalie,
I apologize for taking so long in which to respond. Is your rat still making the sound?
I always recommend taking your rat to the vet when there’s anything unusual or if anything’s changed. I also recommend even taking rats to the vet just for wellness visits.
Also, it’s not typical for rats to squeak frequently. You might hear a squeak when rats are playing or if you pick up your rat suddenly and they become afraid….but it’s really not a regular sound you should be hearing. It’s definitely not a normal thing for a rat to be squeaking while they’re by themselves and nothing is going on around them. If that’s what’s happening it may be that your rat is wheezing, not squeaking. It could be that your rat has a respiratory disease.
I have pages on my website on when to take your rat to the vet as well as how to choose your veterinarian and online directories of pet rat veterinarians. (In case you haven’t already seen them, you might find these pages helpful.)
I hope my response is helpful for you. I also hope your rat is doing okay. Feel free to let me know if you have any additional questions any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
My boyfriend and I adopted two rats from a breeder in December.
One of them sneezes , but only when he’s excited. (When he sees us, we let him out of the cage, or when he is playing). Should we be worried ?
Thanks!
Hi Hannah,
Sneezing multiple times a day can be a symptom of respiratory disease. Have you already taken your rats in to be examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats? It’s a good idea to have all new rats checked by a vet within 1-2 weeks of bringing them home. A great vet will be able to let you know after examining your rat and listening to his lungs and heart with a stethoscope whether or not he has a respiratory illness.
Let me know if you have any further questions. I’m happy to help anytime.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello,
I just got a new rat recently and she has been making a sneeze noise but it’s more like she’s forcing air out of her nose. She only makes the noice when she is startled or after running on her wheel. I clean her cage often and her bedding is not cedar or anything bad. I have another female rat in the cage with her and she is perfectly healthy. Should I be concerned and is there anything I should do to help her/should I contact my vet.
Update:
I’m pretty sure my rat isn’t bruxing but she is making a low chirp or even a croak in her throat. She only does this when excited or after she has run around. Is this a respiratory problem and should I get it checked out?
Hi Jo,
I want to apologize for taking so long in which to answer your question. My 2 rats have been very sick and have required treatments and medications several times a day. I also work full-time. Then, we had an ice storm during which our power (and internet) were out for 8 days! Normally I’m able to respond much more quickly but this has been an especially difficult time. I really appreciate your patience and understanding.
Meanwhile….has your rat continued making the sounds you were describing? And, if so, have you taken her to the vet? I definitely think it’s a good idea to have a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats examine her. In fact, I think it’s a good idea for all new rats to be seen by a vet within the first week or two after bringing them home.
The sounds you described your rat making do sound like they could be symptoms of a respiratory problem.
Again, my apologies for taking so long in which to respond. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you now have further questions or if I can help anytime in the future.
I hope your rats are both doing well!
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Thanks for the video. I’ve never had rats before, got a pair a week ago, on Wednesday night one started making sounds like in the video, I found this page on Thursday evening by which time he was constantly making the noises just like in the video. I was ready to phone the vet first thing Friday morning but when I came to check on him on Friday morning he’d stopped entirely!
I gave the cage a clean on Thursday so hopefully that’s it, I’ll have to clean it more often for them. Will keep a close eye on him (not that I could do anything else, constantly demanding all the attention all the time that one!)
Hi Thomas,
Has your rat gone back to making the sounds again? Hopefully not. Either way it’s still a great idea to have both of your rats checked out by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. I’m a big believer in establishing a relationship between each of your rats and a well-qualified veterinarian. It really helps to take them in for a wellness check within a few weeks after bringing them home. Even if they’re perfectly healthy, you can still learn something about your rats each time you bring them to the vet.
Regular cage cleaning can also definitely help keep your rats healthy—especially when it comes to respiratory issues.
Don’t hesitate to let me know any time you have questions. By the way, congRATulations on getting your first rats! You’re probably already having a ton of fun with them. :)
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi
My new rat has made this chirping sound today , but only for 2 or 3 minutes while he was trying to escape off the sofa. I have been getting them out for 30 mins a day in a play pen to try and tame them, as I have only had them for 2 weeks. He didn’t make the noise when he was in his “play pen” but then I put him on the sofa and he was running around looking for an exit (scared perhaps) and began making the sound. I put him back in his cage and the noise immediately stopped.
If the noise does not occur constantly, does that mean it may have been him making the noise because he was agitated? Rather than ill? As like I said, the noise stopped at soon as I put him back in his cage.
Thanks very much
Hi Alice,
It is not unusual for a rat to make the sound you described if they’re feeling stressed. It could have been that being on the sofa was stressful enough for your rat to make the chirping sound—especially if this was an area that was new to your rat. Even if the area isn’t new, rats can also become distressed just by smelling an unfamiliar smell. (An example would be if they smell a nearby cat.)
That’s a good sign that the chirping sound stopped as soon as you placed your rat back in his cage.
I would continue to closely observe and listen to your pet rat—you’re already doing a great job of this. If you continue hearing the sound, I would recommend taking your rat in to be examined by a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats. That way you can determine whether or not your rat might have the beginnings of a respiratory problem.
Thanks for asking your great question. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I just got two young females today. I’ve put them in a cage with the correct substrate etc and they have been sniffing their new surroundings and sometimes make a really loud sort of sniff sound? I don’t know if I’m just being a bit paranoid because they’re new or not.
Hi Tom,
CongRATulations on your new family members! I’m excited for you.
Are they still sniffing loudly? It’s okay to be paranoid—-rats get sick fairly easily so I’d rather err on the side of being paranoid than being too nonchalant about their health. It could be normal to be sniffing loudly at their new surroundings but, if it were to continue, it could be a symptom of respiratory disease.
Have you taken them in to see a veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats yet? I advocate bringing all new rats to the vet within a week or two of bringing them home. That’s the best way to know if they’re healthy and it’s a great way to establish a relationship with a good vet.
I want to apologize for taking so long in which to answer your question. My 2 rats have been very sick and have required treatments and medications several times a day. I also work full-time. Then, we had an ice storm during which our power (and internet) were out for 8 days! Normally I’m able to respond much more quickly but this has been an especially difficult time. I really appreciate your patience and understanding.
I hope your rats are no longer sniffing loudly. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions. I’m happy to help any time.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello,
My rat is making similar noises as in the video. He has been doing this for awhile, been through two rounds of medicine, and keeps doing it. He only does it when he’s playing though, never when cuddling or in his cage. Could it be asthma? Should I see the vet again??
Hi Izzie,
Thanks for your great question. You mentioned that your rat has been through 2 rounds of medication. It would be helpful to know if your vet tried more than one type of medication as well as for how long each round of medication lasted.
The main thing I can say, though, is that if your rat is continuing to make sounds while breathing then, yes, it is a good idea for you to contact your vet again. Often times there are 2 main reasons a rat is still making sounds after being medicated: 1) After being on the medication for 3-4 days, there was no improvement in symptoms. At this time the rat should’ve then been switched to a different medication. 2) The medication was working well initially but the rat wasn’t on the medication for a long enough period of time.
It definitely is possible for you to eliminate any symptoms of respiratory disease. In many cases you can just call your vet and let them know your rat still has symptoms. Often they’ll give you instructions for what to do next over the phone—usually either a new medication or staying on the medication that was previously working for a longer period of time.
However, if it’s been a couple of weeks since your rat has seen your vet AND your rat has worsened, then it’s a good idea for you to bring your rat in for a recheck.
So keep following up and don’t give up!
Let me know if you have any additional questions any time. I’m not sure whether or not you’ve seen my page on Pet Rat Respiratory Disease. (I included the link here in case you haven’t seen it yet and in case you find it helpful.)
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello,
The symptoms have not worsened they have stayed the same over a few months. I’ve switched bedding and removed any scented things so I don’t know what the cause could be. They both had doxy and baytril and they have no other symptoms other than some sneezing sometimes. No porphyrin, no visible breathing difficulty, and the sound only comes when one of them is running around or excited, never in his cage or while still.
Hi Izzie,
That’s great the symptoms have not worsened. That’s also good that you removed anything scented from their environment. I’m not sure what type of bedding you switched from or to but, as you probably already know, it’s important that their bedding is dust-free.
From what you wrote, I’m not sure if both or if it’s just one of your rats who’s having the symptoms. If only one rat is having the symptoms, only that one rat needs to be treated. The idea behind this is that pretty much all rats already have mycoplasma from birth. They only need to be treated, however, if they’re exhibiting symptoms.
It’s good that there’s no porphyrin and no visible breathing difficulty. If the sound only comes when your rat is running around or excited, it could still be symptoms from respiratory disease. I would definitely follow-up with your vet. If they’re unable to help, you might want to consider getting a second opinion from a different vet.
Let me know if you have further questions. I’m happy to help any time
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi I’ve got two female rats and they’ve been squeaking at night and I don’t know if that’s good or bad could someone tell me please thank you
Hi There!
Are your female rats only squeaking at night? If they’re only doing it at night it could be that they’re playing. The main thing to check on is to see if they’re making sounds while they’re just breathing. Any type of sound made while they’re simply breathing is usually a sign they have respiratory disease. The sounds can range from a honking noise to wheezing to squeaking. The sounds would be heard at different times of the day, not just at night.
Let me know if you have any additional questions. Feel free to provide more information if you think it would help me better answer your question.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
my rat has been making honking and wheezing sounds since the day i got him (friday dec. 25). i know he’s sick, but my family says they don’t care and they won’t take him to the vet. is there anything i can do to help him on my own, or should i just beg until my rat can get vet care?
Hi Ari,
Your rat absolutely needs to be seen by a veterinarian (who’s knowledgeable about and experienced with pet rats). Show your family this web page as well as the page on Pet Rat Respiratory Disease. Let them know your rat can die if it’s not seen by a qualified vet and given the proper medication(s). Also, let them know the sooner you take your rat in the easier it will be to treat him as well as less expensive than if you were to wait.
I’m thinking positive for you and your rat! Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions.
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi my rat makes short squeaking noises when eating, or just laying down . It’s just like squeak,squeak,squeak quite fast for about 15 seconds, she does it quite frequently and i don’t know wether this is communication, her been happy, or her been stressed/ill.
Hi There!
The sounds your rat is making could be symptoms of a respiratory disease. I would definitely take her in to see a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats. Your vet will be able to listen to her lungs with a stethoscope as well as perform a thorough exam. The sooner you can take her in, the easier she’ll be to treat if she does have a respiratory disease.
If you’d like, you’re welcome to email me a video. I’ll email you separately so you have my email address.
Sending positive wishes for you and your rat,
Jasmine
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
We just adopted 2 rats from a breeder. Our one rat makes this “sniffing noise.” It sounds like 2 sniffs. We aren’t sure what this is and why she is doing this. This is the 1st time we have had rats.
Also…sometimes our rats make a squeaking noise, but I think that is mostly when they are wrestling or grooming each other. Is this noise ok?
Hi Heather,
Thanks for asking your great questions.
Have you taken your rats in to see a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats yet? It’s a great idea to do so shortly after adopting new rats. It helps establish a relationship between your rats and your vet and allows your vet to get a “baseline reading” of how they’re doing. In addition, they may often find something that’s either wrong or about to go wrong that you wouldn’t have noticed yourself. (If you’re interested in more information on when to see a vet, I have an entire page on this topic.)
The “2 sniffs” sounds could be respiratory disease symptoms—-taking her to the vet will definitely help you determine for sure whether or not it’s a problem. However, the squeaking noise made while wrestling or grooming each other could be a normal vocalization—-one rat communicating to the other but not symptomatic of having a disease. Again, your vet will be able to determine their health status after doing thorough exams and listening to their hearts and lungs with a stethoscope.
CongRATulations on adopting your new rats. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions. In the meantime, I hope you’re able to bring them both in to a vet for a new pet check-up.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I just got 2 new male rats they are about 7 weeks old now but they keep sneezing. Their cage is clean they aren’t too hot or too cold and they have settled in well. What do I do about this? It doesn’t quite sound like a respiratory infection yet
Hi Corey,
I recommend you take your rats in to be examined by a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats. I think it’s a good idea to bring new rats to the vet soon after you adopt them anyways. You can read more about why I think this is important on my page, When to See a Veterinarian. After all, the worst thing that could happen is the vet will say your rats are fine….and that’s not a bad thing to have happen, right?
Sneezing frequently can often be the first symptoms rats develop when their respiratory problems are worsening. It’s so much better to catch the problem earlier rather than waiting until their symptoms worsen. In case you missed it in the post above, you might also be interested in reading more about Pet Rat Respiratory Diseases.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you’re able to take them to the vet. Feel free to give an update on how they’re doing and what your vet says during their appointment.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hello, This is long but hopefully informative 4 some rat parents.. I am on my 3rd set of rats. The first 1 died at 4yrs & broke my heart. The second 2 were in a fish tank at a pet store for 2+yrs. They weren’t social but i didn’t want them 2 die, without ever getting 2 stretch & climb.. They enjoyed their big cage & died a year later as old men. But… my 3rd set, I got as lil babies from a breeder.. So busy! They battled with each other & loved on each other just as brothers do. They spent much time out of the cage playing with us. Here’s where it gets tricky. Both babies scratched constantly so i read up on it & treated them for mites. Problem solved but One of my babies always talked & it wasn’t Bruxing. I looked it up online & everything says they talk no biggie so I called the breeder & told her i know the sound of bruxing & this isn’t it.. i was told “some rats just do that when they are happy” ok awesome; ) so for 2yrs that poor baby lived with respiratory disease, I never treated him for. I wish i wouldn’t have asked her & took him to the vet instead. I hate that he suffered & have to live with the fact I didnt care for him properly.. One night he suddenly became lethargic (literally went from running to wobbling & not breathing easily) & his sight went. He may have had a seizure or stroke, but what i found as I looked up symptoms was your site & a post you had on (this is not a healthy sound) It was at that moment I knew he suffered his whole life. I tried to get him in with emergency. I called vets up to an hour away & not one had an exotic pet Dr. On the clock but said they could put him down. I was lucky enough to get an apt 2 towns over at 9am. But he died in my lap at 8am. I failed him! I made an apt for his brother just to get him checked out. Exotic pet Dr’s are few & far between & take time to get into, so please research them & secure a vet for your baby, so you already know where you’ll go should you need it. The vet gave us an apt 6wks out but 2 wks later my other boy started making sounds. I explained 2 the vet what I had just been through & she squeezed me that day. Thank goodness!. He was on antibiotics 6wks & then good 2wks & then on another 6wks & now he is on meds to help inflammation & respiratory disease. He stopped the talking almost immediately after the 1st set of meds but he still stretches out his neck sometimes, especially when eating. Please be on the lookout for that sign as it is usually something constructing their air intake. Luckily, though he has a respiratory issue, for an old guy (almost 3) he runs & plays & naps & gives kisses. He’s adorable. Since his brother isn’t around & i knew he was lonely, I put his cage on a table at the back of our huge couch, i leave it open when we’re home & he goes in & out playing & napping then going back in the cage to potty or eat. He’s a good boy. Im glad we have more time with him & that we can make him happy & feeling loved until it’s his time to go. So please…. secure a vet & be ready if you see anything is different than normal. I have a recording of my Peipei’s noises when he got sick & they were very different from his brothers daily noises. If anyone would like another version of the sound, feel free to ask & if it’s ok to share here, I will. D
Deanna,
Thank you so much for sharing the history of your rats and their health. It’s so helpful to hear about your experiences. I really appreciate your writing about how important it is to have a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats…..and to establish a relationship with one so they’ll be available when you need them.
That’s fantastic that your current rat is almost 3. You’re taking such great care of him. I loved reading about his cage on the table at the back of your couch and how he can go in and out when you’re home.
You’re more than welcome to email me a video of the sounds Peipei made when he was sick. I will post it here if you’d like to send it. It would be great to have a collection of videos of different rats because they can all sound so different yet they are all experiencing respiratory problems.
Thank you again, Deanna. I greatly appreciate all that you’ve shared here.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rat,
Jasmine
My rat is making a long humming noise almost I don’t know what it could be I’ve had multiple rats over the past few years and he’s that first one to make this noise . I’m hoping it’s not something bad .
Hi Makayla,
It is very likely that the sound your rat is making is a symptom of a respiratory disease. Don’t let this scare you totally, though: Although you can’t cure respiratory diseases in rats, you can in most cases keep your rats symptom free.
I would highly recommend taking your rat in to be examined by a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats. A good rat vet will be able to tell whether or not your rat is having respiratory disease symptoms and, if needed, can prescribe a medication that should (in most cases) clear up the symptoms within about 3-4 days. The sooner you take your rat in to be examined, the better. It’s much easier to treat symptoms when they’re not too advanced.
Here are a few other posts you may find helpful:
Respiratory Diseases in Pet Rats
When to See a Vet
How to Choose a Pet Rat Vet
Online Directories of Pet Rat Veterinarians
I do hope you can have your rat examined by a vet within the next few days. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions.
Sending positive wishes for you and your rat,
Jasmine
my rat is making a weird sound, and i have no clue what it is. I’ve googled it, watched videos of rats w respiratory disease, hiccuping, sneezing, and none of it matches. it sounds like he’s coughing, but he’s not squeaking. i previously took him out of a dangerous environment where he was tormented by other rats, and he is the sweetest thing. he likes cuddling with my dogs, and will fall asleep in anybody’s hood. im trying to take the best care for him, and im worried and stumped.
Hi Haleigh,
From what you wrote, the sound your rat is making is likely a symptom of some type of respiratory disease. Have you taken your rat to a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats? If there are any health issues going on, that would be the best way to find out and address the problem.
Do you have a video of your rat when he’s making the sound? If your rat doesn’t make the sound all of the time, it would be especially helpful to show your vet a video.
He sounds like a super sweet boy. I hope you’re able to take him to a veterinarian. Also, the sooner he’s seen by a good rat vet, the easier it will be to help him get better.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Sending positive wishes for you and your rat,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Hi, I recently bought two pet rats from a well known pet shop in the UK and one of them has been making sneezing noises. Initially the shop said it might be stress however after two weeks of it not clearing up, they prescribed anti-biotics. It’s been almost four weeks since I have had them and it is still making noises. I am obviously unhappy that they have sold a sick rat and do not want
To have to keep forcing anti-biotics into him. Any advice would be welcome. I have a video of the noise if this helps.
HI Michelle,
I’m sorry to hear one of your rats has been showing symptoms of respiratory disease.
Almost every rat already has respiratory disease. Most domestic rats are born with it but they don’t always show symptoms. Some only show symptoms when they’re older. The good news is this is something that’s usually manageable.
Does the pet shop where you got your rats have a veterinarian? If not, I would definitely take both of your rats in to see a veterinarian. Only the rat showing symptoms, however, will need to be on medication. I just think it’s a good idea to have new rats checked out by a veterinarian soon after you get them.
When a pet rat is prescribed an antibiotic the symptoms should subside within 3-4 days. If not improved within this time, the vet should be contacted to let them know. At that time the vet will often prescribe either a different antibiotic or add a second one.
You’ll find all of the above information in more detail on my page Pet Rat Respiratory Disease.
My advice is to continue to follow-up with a veterinarian who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats. While working with a good vet you should be able to help your rat be symptom-free.
Let me know if you have any further questions or need any clarification.
Sending positive wishes for you and your rats!
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I have four pet rats currently and I am a new rat owner only starting July this year. I have been anxious about respiratory issues with my rats before when I first got them (sneezing and such) only to find out that there is nothing wrong with them when I went to the vets. One of my rats, Vivi, makes the same noises similar to the video but not all the time, and only does it when she is cuddling with me and for only a short amount of time. My boyfriend and I thought this noise was a sign of being happy or a noise coming from bruxing. Every other time all my rat’s breathing is silent. None of my rats show any sign of illness which my vet has advised me to look out for such as weight loss and lethargy. Could you advise me on this?
Hi Chloe,
Thank you for your question. You sound like you’re doing a fantastic job taking care of your new rats—especially since you’re being so observant and are researching and learning about what illnesses and symptoms indicate your rat is unhealthy.
If your rat Vivi is making sounds similar to the ones in the video, it’s likely to be signs of respiratory disease. Bruxing sounds are completely different from the sounds my rat is making in the video. If you’re still unsure, though, you’re welcome to email me a video. I’ll email you after posting this so you’ll have my address for sending a video.
Regarding your vet telling you to look out for weight loss and lethargy: If you were to wait until you observe weight loss and lethargy, it would mean the respiratory disease is in a more advanced stage. When it’s more advanced, it’s more difficult to treat. A rat can actually die from respiratory disease. Rats can go downhill fairly rapidly once they’re sick.The earlier you catch any illnesses, the easier it is to lessen the symptoms and help your rat feel better fairly quickly. In my opinion, it’s waiting too long to get veterinary help for your rat if you wait until your rat has lost weight and is lethargic. Those are more advanced symptoms. Here’s my article on respiratory disease for more information.
Even though your vet said nothing was wrong with your rats when you took them in, it’s better to find out nothing’s wrong than to not go to the vet and learn later on you could’ve prevented or taken care of an illness at an early stage when was easier to treat. I actually think it’s a great idea to take your rats to the vet when you first get them anyways. I wrote an article on when to take your rats to the vet that includes this information as well.
As you can see, I’m a big believer in having a veterinarian check out my rats if they’re showing ANY unusual symptoms. I’ve learned to trust my instincts: If I think something seems wrong, I don’t hesitate to take my rats in for an exam. Rats are more delicate (healthwise) than you’d think. There have been times when I’ve taken my rat in to the vet for a problem I’d found which turned out to be nothing. However, at that same visit, my vet found something completely different that I hadn’t even noticed! It was something that was very important to take care of. This made me extremely thankful I’d taken my rat to the vet.
Make sure you have a vet who’s experienced with and knowledgeable about pet rats. Not every vet who sees exotics is able to examine and treat rats skillfully and effectively. Here’s an article on choosing your rats’ vet in case it’s helpful.
I hope I’ve answered your question and given you information that’s beneficial. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions at any time.
I’m excited for you being a new rat owner and really appreciate your asking your question.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I’ve grown up with rats and I’ve had a pair of 3 month olds that I rescued back in December who, unfortunately, passed away and I’m unsure why. I have a large DIY-made cage using Tespo wire panels. In February I purchased my latest boy Percy from a horrid pet store in a mall in Cheyenne, WY. He was battered and injured from another rat that I saw attacking him when we walked in. He was essentially a feeder bin rat. They’d placed a bunch of 1-1.5year old males who’d never known each other in one big tank. Now he’s the sweetest thing.
He’s always made this odd noise that I can’t quite place, and he’s always sneezed a lot. It is Nebraska, and it is dusty from the dry dirt and high winds, but we keep him downstairs with us where it’s less so. There’s no drainage from his eyes. His poops are fine. He eats plenty and is a glutton for chicken. There’s no vets around this area but judging from my own experience his weight is healthy and he’s plenty energetic, even if sleeps almost all day, which I find normal with rats. He will often scratch himself a little too rough on his shoulder or chin and create sores, which I put coconut oil on. I also give him a bi-weekly coconut oil rubbing and give him 1/6 teaspoon of it in his food daily. I also clip his nails weekly.
My main concern is the noise he makes (generally after he’s woken or if we take him with us on little walks down the street to the in-laws’ house), the consistent sneezing, and the scratches he gives himself. I’ve done what I can and I’m not sure what it is I can do now to help him. My fiancé describes the noise he makes as a deep, throaty noise, as if he’s actually attempting to purr and mimic a cat instead of bruxing.
Hi Darian,
That’s wonderful you rescued your rat, Percy, from a pet store after seeing him being attacked by another rat. You’re right to be concerned about the sounds he’s making as well as his sneezing and his scratching at himself.
From what you’ve described about the sounds he’s making (including the sneezing), it sounds like he probably has respiratory disease. It’s important to take these symptoms very seriously and have him seen by a vet as soon as possible.
You mentioned there aren’t any vets in your area….I have a page on my website that has online directories for finding a good rat veterinarian. If you’re not able to find someone, I’ll be glad to help if you’d like to email me your zip code.
In case you haven’t already seen it, this is my page on Respiratory Disease.
The scratching is also a concern. Percy could have external parasites such as mites. This may be due to the environment in which he was previously housed at the pet store. A veterinarian who’s knowledgeable about pet rats and experienced with treating them can help you with this problem as well as his respiratory issues. On my page about External Parasites you’ll read that Revolution can be a very helpful treatment for external parasites. Revolution is a topical medication that’s only available through veterinarians.
That’s great that you trimmed Percy’s nails to keep him from tearing up his skin too much when he’s scratching himself.
It sounds like you’re doing so much for Percy and that he’s fortunate to live with you. I hope you’ll be able to take him to a vet as soon as you can. The longer you wait to have these types of problems addressed, the worse they’ll become which will make them more difficult to treat.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I’m happy to help anytime and really appreciate your writing to me about your rat.
Best Wishes to You & Percy,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats