FAQ: Can Rats Swim?
Rats are furry little land mammals, who burrow and climb. Most people would think that rats don’t like water. Just like people, every rat has his or her own personal preferences; some of those rats greatly enjoy swimming!
Can Rats Swim?
Just like cats, dogs, and many other animals, rats are able to swim naturally. While some of us humans still fumble around in the water like we’re drowning, rats will gracefully doggy paddle all the way to their destinations. Rats are pretty magical little creatures.
A rat can enjoy a bath greatly, so don’t be afraid to get them wet!
Can Rats Swim Up Your Toilet from Sewers?
This is a very unlikely scenario. However, we’ve all seen it in a variety of movies and television shows: where someone opens the lid to the toilet, and finds a wet rat hanging out in the toilet bowl. Can rats swim up into your toilet from the sewer? Well, yes. Yes it is possible. Is it likely? Not very!
Drain pipes and sewer systems are a series of open tunnels, all of which a rat can fit in to. If a rat is truly desperate, for example, if it is being chased, it is very possible that it could crawl into the toilet from the drain.
Can Rats Swim Underwater?
Rats generally swim with their heads above the water. This allows them to breathe as they swim. However, rats have no qualms about sticking their heads below the surface of the water, especially if they know there is a tasty treat lurking below the surface. Many of us enjoy placing frozen veggies in dishes of water for our rats; they will bob for the veggies and fish around for them. Rats will swim under the surface if they absolutely must (or if they are compelled to do so for any reason), but it’s not very common.
Can Rats Swim in Chlorinated Water?
Rats can swim in chlorinated water; but I don’t recommend tossing your pet rat into the pool, either. Tap water is chlorinated, but not to the degree that pool water is. Thus, anyone in a populated area who gives their rats a bath or allows them to swim in the tub is likely doing so in chlorinated water. I highly recommend spring water or distilled water over city or county water for rats and humans both, truthfully; but rats will swim (and be just fine) in your chlorinated tap water.
Can Rats Swim in a Pool?
I strongly advise against allowing rats to swim in a pool. There are many chemicals that are used to treat the water in pools, which should not be ingested. We are also expected, as humans, to shower after swimming in a pool. It’s not a good idea to let those chemicals stay on our skin after swimming in the pool; thus, it’s probably not a good idea for rats to be exposed to them, or ingest them while they bathe themselves.
Can Rats Swim in the Ocean?
The ocean is a terrible place for a rat, and winding up there would almost certainly result in drowning. Please avoid taking your pet rat to the beach- he or she could quickly be swept out to sea. This situation would prove terrifying to the rat, as well.
Do Rats Swim in Rivers?
Rats can and will swim in rivers, wild rats. Please don’t release your pet rat to play at a river, because he or she will easily be swept away. Wild rats will cross rivers to find food, mates, new territory, and nesting locations; they will also cross to escape natural disasters, as well. Rats are fierce and fearless creatures, a river simply won’t stop them from getting what they’re after.