Why Does My Rat Want to Get In My Mouth?

Have you noticed that your rats love to claw at your face, trying to find a way into your mouth?

It’s fairly awkward, especially for those who aren’t used to this type of behavior from their pets. Even more so if the individual is a visitor who is casually playing with someone else’s pet rats!

why does my rat want to get in my mouth

Do All Rats Play “Dentist”?

It should come as no shock that this behavior is very common (and quite frequent) among pet rats. As a matter of fact, it’s more unusual for a pet rat to not engage in this behavior. Those that don’t tend to be more independent and unimpressed with human interaction; or, they’re simply more timid or scared.

Why Do Rats Try to Get Inside of Your Mouth?

Rats eat an insane amount of food. If you’re not careful with a rat’s diet, you’ll wind up with a very obese pet who refuses to do much aside from eating and sleeping.

Thus, rats are always on the hunt for the best foods, which they know you have. They also know where that food goes, and they’re not ashamed to go in search of leftovers….. inside of your mouth.

That’s right! They’re always trying to find out what you’re eating and where it all went. If you’ve ever had a rat run up, rob your plate of food, and bolt for the underside of the nearest piece of heavy furniture, you know that they love to scheme and plot for food. They are shameless animals, and they love to take your food. Sneaky buggers, but you gotta love them!

Should I Let My Rat Get Inside of My Mouth?

Of course, no one can tell you what you can or cannot do; I will say that many rat owners allow their pet rats to climb in their mouths and do a bit of ratty dentistry. However, I was never one of those people; as much as I love my rats, the idea was very unsanitary for me. I also won’t allow a dog to lick my mouth, though; many others do.

From a health standpoint, I would not advise allowing your rats to get inside of your mouth. Even if your rats are 100% healthy, they don’t exactly wash their paws at the kitchen sink (thus, their little paws aren’t clean). It sure is cute, but the thought of what could enter your mouth during that process churns my stomach.

How Can I Get My Rat to Leave My Mouth Alone?

First of all, don’t play with your rats immediately after eating a meal. This is just inviting them to investigate your hands, face, and mouth. The fresh scent of food lets them know something tasty is (well, was) close by.

Next, be sure that your rats have enjoyed a lovely little meal before you play with them. While rats are bottomless hungry pits, they will be less likely to attempt to tear your mouth open if they’ve got nearly full bellies.

Lastly, discourage behavior when it occurs. If the rat has become insistent about accessing your mouth frequently, simply set him or her down repeatedly until their attention is diverted towards something else. This might mean you’ll set down a rat 3,619 times today, but you’ll eventually get the message across.

The video below is an example of what so many rats attempt to do to their owners:

Have You Ever Thought About Teaching Your Rat Tricks?

dumbo rats

I stumbled across a fun little video that could be helpful in training your pet rats to do tricks!

I know many of our readers have already done some training with their rats, but a few of you have mentioned wanting to try to train your rats.

This video recently made its way into my feed, and I thought it would be a valuable share.

Not Just for Show: Stimulating the Mind

As you may already know, rats are incredibly intelligent animals who are capable of some impressive skills for their tiny size (especially when you consider how small their brains are!) Rats are capable of mapping out and memorizing massive areas, they can predict events and some cause and effect scenarios, they are capable of learning both simple and complex tricks or commands, and they quickly read patterns.

Obviously, rats do not receive the attention they deserve for the smarts that they have!

Teaching your rat tricks isn’t just for entertainment value, either. I know some may argue that training a rat to do tricks is selfish; but it is not. Rats require and enjoy the mental stimulation that comes with learning behaviors, repeating them, and successfully gaining whatever the reward may be (freedom, food, treats, a cozy new toy or hammock, etc.) Therefore, training a rat to do both simple and complex tricks is actually good for your rat’s mental well-being, as well as his or her physical well-being.

Without further ado, checkout the video!

Why Do My Rats Fight At Night?

Have you ever woken up to a battle royale going on in your rats’ cages? For many rat owners, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence.

Rats are nocturnal animals by nature, meaning they’re much more active at night. You’ll frequently see them napping the day away.

When you’re home, you’ll notice they’re much more active when you wake in the morning, return from work or school, and when you’re eating (go figure, they want a nibble!)

If you’re consistently waking up to squeaking each and every night, it’s probably time to figure out why…

Why Does My Rat Always Run for the Floor, Under Furniture, and Behind Tables?

Rats are known for their incredibly curious natures.

One moment, your pet rat might be trying to sneak inside your shirt; the next, it’s headed straight into your bag of chips!

At some point, though, your rat will learn that the world is far more vast than the bed, couch, or cage that it lounges around with you….

At that point, you’re in for tons of fun! (or, maybe not… some rats are truly mischievous!) Read more

When Can Baby Rats be Weaned and Leave Their Mother for New Homes?

So you have a litter of baby rats, and you just don’t know what to do with them. Most importantly, you don’t know when to take them from the mother rat, wean them, and take over their care. The female rat will eventually become slightly annoyed by her babies, so be sure that she has a place to “escape” to; a place that the babies cannot get to. A high hammock is a good option. You will see her begin to get antsy when the babies begin running around, between 2 and 3 weeks old. So when exactly can you free the doe from her maternity cage, and let the kits fend without their momma? Read more

Rat Training Miracle: What’s a Pee Rock, How Do I Use It?

 

A pee rock is a rock that is sworn by in the world of experienced rat owners, trainers, and breeders. Pee rocks are named as such because they are used to encourage territorial marking and urination. They are placed inside of a rat’s litter box, persuading the rat to use the box instead of the cage. If you haven’t tried the pee rock, you should today! It is one of the most useful tools when training rats to use a litter box. We’ll even show you where to get them! Read more

A Breeder Sold Me Sick Injured Animals: What Do I Do?

A Breeder Sold Me Sick Injured Animals: What Do I Do?

bumble foot in pet fancy rats

this is a guinea pig, but it is exactly the same as rat bumble foot. Very gross, very painful, and very difficult for a rat to go through.

Rat breeders and rescuers make it possible for owners and prospective owners to find ratties to adopt and love. However, not all breeders are created equal. Some breeders are poor quality “feeder breeders.” These breeders do not take care of their animals as they should, significantly increasing the risk of a sickly animal. If you have purchased a sick or injured rat from a poor quality breeder, there are several steps that you can take. Read more

How to Teach an Old Pet Rat NEW Tricks!

How to Teach an Old Pet Rat NEW Tricks!


Rats are completely capable of being trained to perform tricks and simple commands. Owners train rats to exercise the rats’ minds and display their intelligence. There are hundreds of tricks, commands, phrases, and games that rats can learn very quickly. The owner must be prepared to spend several hours training the rat to execute particular commands and tricks, much like a dog or any other pet. Rats actually ENJOY learning new things, as they have a need for mental stimulation.

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