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How do you know if a rat is angry?

Rats are often misunderstood creatures. They make great pets when properly cared for, but they do have the potential to bite if feeling threatened or scared. Knowing how to recognize signs of aggression in rats can help owners avoid getting bitten and keep everybody safe. Here’s a guide on how to tell if your rat is angry and what to do about it.

Watch the Rat’s Body Language

A rat’s body language is the most telling sign of its mood. An angry or aggressive rat will display some of the following body postures and behaviors:

  • Puffed up fur – When feeling threatened, a rat will puff up its fur to appear larger and more intimidating.
  • Raised haunches – An angry rat raises its hindquarters off the ground and arches its back, ready to lunge forward.
  • Sideways stance – Facing a threat side-on allows the rat to bite and scratch with its front paws while kicking with its back legs.
  • Fast nibbling – Rats will often nibble or lick themselves when stressed. Fast, agitated nibbling may signal mounting aggression.
  • Chattering teeth – Angry rats will chatter their teeth rapidly as a warning.
  • Lunging and biting – If provoked, an angry rat may make sudden lunges or quick bites toward the threat.

A rat that displays a combination of these behaviors is clearly agitated and defensive. Give them space and avoid interacting until they calm down. Never attempt to touch or pick up an angry rat.

Listen for Aggressive Squeaks and Noises

Along with body language, angry rats use vocalizations to signal their displeasure. These include:

  • High pitched squeaks – Short, rapid squeaks often accompany lunging or biting.
  • Teeth chattering – The audible chattering of teeth serves as an obvious warning.
  • Shrill screaming – Some rats will let out a shrill screech or scream when biting defensively.
  • Hissing – Hissing indicates total aggression and imminent attack.

Rats normally vocalize at frequencies humans can barely hear. Angry squeaks, screams and chatters fall into our hearing range, helping us recognize when a rat feels threatened. Take any loud rat noises as a sign to give them space.

Watch for Biting and Scratching

Hopefully aggressive body language and noises are heeded so actual biting and scratching doesn’t happen. But those are of course definite signs a rat is angry and feeling defensive. Bites can range from small warning nips to deep wounds. Scratches are also common as rats will aggressively lunge and claw with their front paws.

Any wounds caused by rat bites should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid infection. Bites and scratches from even pet rats can introduce bacteria deep into skin and tissue. Seek medical attention for bites that break the skin.

Notice Territorial Marking

Rats are highly territorial, especially when it comes to their housing. They mark their territory by rubbing scent glands near their mouths on surfaces. Angry, aggressive rats may frantically mark their territory with musky secretions when they feel it’s being encroached upon.

Excessive scent marking around the cage is a sign of stress. It signals something is disturbing the rat and making it act defensively. Try to identify and remove any environmental stressors.

Be Wary Around Mother Rats

Mother rats with pups are hardwired to be protective and aggressive. They will attack anything perceived as a threat to their young. Even normally docile rats can bite or scratch when defending their litter. It’s best not to handle mother rats at all until the babies are weaned and separated.

Reduce Environmental Stress

Rats don’t usually bite out of pure aggression. More often it’s fear that causes them to be defensive. Things that commonly stress out rats and provoke biting include:

  • Loud noises
  • Bright lights
  • Unfamiliar people
  • Other pets
  • Being grabbed or restrained
  • Overcrowding
  • Insufficient food and water
  • Lack of nesting material
  • Dirty living spaces

If a rat is frequently acting aggressive, take steps to reduce environmental stressors. Make sure their habitat is quiet, dark, spacious and filled with enrichment. Introduce new people and pets slowly. And be sure you aren’t contributing to stress by handling the rat roughly.

Check for Underlying Health Issues

Sometimes there’s an underlying health reason for a rat’s change in temperament. Pain, illness or discomfort can cause rats to bite defensively. Be on the lookout for signs your rat isn’t feeling well, like:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Weight loss
  • Labored breathing
  • Discharge from eyes/nose
  • Limping or stumbling

Schedule a vet visit if you notice any of these symptoms along with increased biting or aggression. Get your rat medical attention to diagnose and treat the issue.

Use Proper Introductions

When introducing rats to each other for the first time, aggressive biting is always a possibility. Proper precautions must be taken:

  • Quarantine new rats before introducing them
  • Let rats get used to each other’s scents before meeting face-to-face
  • Introduce rats together in a neutral area, not a cage
  • Supervise all initial interactions in case fights break out
  • Separate them again if aggression occurs and reintroduce more slowly

With proper introductions, rats can usually work out differences and accept each other peacefully. Rushed introductions often lead to biting, so be patient.

Handle Aggressive Rats Gently

Biting often happens when rats feel mishandled and defensive. Pick them up gently by scooping under their torso, not by their tail. Support their feet so they don’t dangle. Approach slowly and avoid restraining them or squeezing them tightly.

If a rat is prone to biting, consider letting them climb onto your hand first before lifting. And offer treats to help them associate handling with positive things. Remain calm and move smoothly when holding an aggressive rat to avoid startling them.

Use Bite Training

For rats that are prone to biting, “bite training” can curb the behavior. Whenever they nip during handling, let out a high-pitched squeak of pain. Rats naturally understand this and learn that biting hurts. Squeak even for test bites where skin isn’t broken so they learn pressure hurts too.

This technique may take persistence, but it communicates that their biting causes harm. Consistency is key, so everybody that handles the rat should use the same squeak feedback method.

Avoid Punishment

Never punish a rat for biting, as this will only make them more aggressive and mistrustful. Likewise, don’t punish rats for giving warning signs like hissing or teeth chattering. This teaches them those warning signs don’t work and leads to bites coming without warning.

React calmly to bites and other aggressive displays. Separate yourself from the rat safely. Don’t yell, hit, or handle them roughly. This will intensify their fear and defensive reaction rather than curb the behavior.

Use a Thick Glove

Welder’s gloves or other thick leather gloves can protect hands when handling a biter. But gloves should only be temporary while trying to correct the aggression. Rats need human contact to socialize and thrive.

If gloves allow you to stay calmer during handling, use them sparingly. But also work on addressing the root of the aggression through the other techniques discussed here.

Avoid Keeping Aggressive Rats

In some cases, aggression can’t be sufficiently curbed to allow safe handling. Rat bites can cause dangerous infections, so ongoing hard biting isn’t safe to live with.

As a last resort, re-home severely aggressive rats to an experienced owner able to interact with them safely. Or consider euthanasia if no suitable home is available. Don’t continue living with a dangerous rat if other methods haven’t solved the aggression.

Conclusion

With attentive care, most rat aggression can be prevented entirely or successfully managed if it arises. Look for the warning signs and de-stress their environment. With time, consistency and positive reinforcement, biting tendencies usually fade away.

Pay close attention to your rat’s body language, noises and handling tolerance. Intervene at the first signs of trouble before bites occur. While nips can happen with any rat, ongoing hard biting must be professionally addressed or re-homed.