https://www.chewy.com/education/small-pet/rat-and-mouse/10-common-rat-behaviors
*Smart, social, and surprisingly affectionate - rats and mice make wonderful pets. The Pet Rat & Mouse Education Hub explores habitat ideas, feeding, enrichment, and bonding tips to help you create the best home for your tiny companions.
Pet rats are intelligent, curious, and full of personality, often displaying a wide range of fascinating behaviors that can both entertain and puzzle their human companions.
Audible sounds like peeps, squeaks, or shrieks often signal discomfort, displeasure, or even pain, while quieter activities such as digging, burrowing, or hoarding are rooted in natural instincts.
Nocturnal by nature, rats are most active in the evening and early morning, making these ideal times for play and bonding.
They may exhibit dominance through behaviors like boxing or “nose offs” with other rats, and affectionate gestures such as licking or gentle nibbling can indicate grooming or a keen sense of smell - especially if there is a hint of food left on the skin.
It is important to understand the context of each behavior, whether it is burrowing for comfort or tail movements used for balance and sensing surroundings.
Other intriguing behaviors include eye bulging - often seen alongside teeth grinding or “bruxing” - which, despite looking strange, typically means a rat is relaxed and content, similar to a cat’s purr.
Whisker wiggling helps rats navigate their space, while their strong sense of smell and natural scavenging habits drive them to collect and hide food or soft nesting materials.
Even subtle body language like leaning on a cage mate or stiff posture can indicate social dynamics within a group.
Understanding these behaviors helps build a deeper bond and ensures a pet rat’s environment supports their emotional and physical needs.
Chewy editorial team helps decode these 10 common behaviors so you can better understand, bond with, and care for your curious companion.
