This article has been checked and verified by Veterinary Surgeon Charles Halbert, BVetMed MRCVS (Hons).
There are some common rat noises that once we understand, can help us to know whether they’re happy, annoyed or angry, and more importantly, scared, in pain or unwell and in need of medical attention.
Interestingly, rats also emit high frequency noises that we can’t hear, they simply exceed the abilities of our human ears. A rat’s hearing is ultrasound at 200Hz to 80 or 90 kHz, whereas ours is limited to 16 to 20 kHz, allowing rats to communicate in what our ears perceive as silence.
So, until we have super hearing, here are 8 sounds we are able to hear that will improve our understanding, and allow us to monitor and help care for our rats.
Short Squeak
Sometimes described as a “peep”, a rat’s squeak is usually a sign of a minor disapproval. It is most often heard when they are startled, for example, if you pet them unexpectedly. Another very common cause of a short rat squeak is when your rat is interacting with your other rats, particularly if they’re being groomed by another rat.
It’s generally a non-threatening sound and, unlike a long squeak, doesn’t indicate danger or pain.
Long Squeak
If your rat lets out a long squeak, it is usually a declaration of submission. When rats are play fighting and one of them has had enough and wants to take a break or end the fight, they will let out a long squeak. This lets the other rat know that they are submitting.
It can be quite distressing for us to hear the long squeak, but it is part of your rat’s social development. Always check whether your rat is distressed or injured, but if your rat seems fine, then it’s best to not interfere because your rat has already let their cage mates know that they’ve had enough.
Although, if it looks like one or more of your rats are going to get seriously injured, it’s perfectly understandable (and generally recommended) if you stop the fight.
Scream
I think it’s safe to say that hearing a rat scream would worry any rat parent. It’s similar to a long squeak but much louder.
Fortunately, a scream is rarely heard. It is most commonly heard when young rats are introduced to older rats. Young rats are still learning social skills and establishing hierarchy, and will sometimes scream if unsure of what to do when faced with an older and dominant rat.
It is important to check on your rats immediately if you hear a scream as one or more could be getting injured. If this is the case, then it is best to separate the rats and introduce them more gradually.
A good way of doing this is finding a safe and small room, such as a bathroom or closet where there are no hiding places and you can reach them easily if any problems arise. Then allowing your rats to run around with each other for 10-15 minutes a day, building up to 30-60 minutes.
Wheezing
The reason why your pet rat is wheezing is really important. It could mean the beginning of a respiratory infection or a mycoplasma attack.
Monitoring your rat’s wheezing is a life-saving action all rat parents should carry out when their pet rat is wheezing. To clearly hear their wheezing, take them into a quiet room and hold them to your ear. When your rat is wheezing, you’ll hear a whistling sound when they breathe.
If the wheezing is due to a mycoplasma attack, then it should clear up on its own within 24 hours. However, if your rat’s wheezing continues for more than a day, then they need to go to visit their Vet, who can assess the problem and provide medical attention, which can be in the form of antibiotics.
If you’re concerned about your rat’s wheezing and it hasn’t been 48 hours, but you want the reassurance of Veterinary care, then please do so. Trust your gut, because early antibiotic treatment is significantly more likely to stop an infection becoming life-threatening.
Sneezing
Your pet rat sneezing is common and, generally, not something to be concerned about. However, despite being one of the cutest things ever, a pet rat sneezing is something you should keep an eye on, as it could mean your rat is stressed, unwell or has allergies.
Many things can cause your rats to sneeze such as new places, strong scents like air fresheners or scented candles, new pets such as a new dog or cat, new bedding, allergies to objects, and having a cold.
If one or more of your rats are sneezing regularly, it is time to try and find the source to determine if it’s being caused by allergies. This can be done through the process of elimination.
Simply change something for a few days and see if it improves, like changing their bedding, keeping other pets away from them, removing any air fresheners, not smoking, not wearing perfume, and not lighting incense in the same room.
If the sneezing is accompanied by other issues such as porphyrin secreting from their nose and eyes, wheezing, a loss of appetite, fatigue, or lethargy, then it’s time to head to their Vets, as the sneezing could be a sign of a viral or bacterial illness.
Teeth Grinding
Throughout their life, a rat’s teeth grow constantly. If the teeth are left to grow, they become spiral and imbed themselves back into the rat’s skull.
To prevent this from happening, rats use bruxing to naturally wear down their teeth. You’ll hear when your rats are bruxing because they grind their teeth at a rapid pace.
Occasionally, a rat may grind its teeth in response to pain or stress. You can usually tell whether it’s a good or bad bruxing sound by observing your rat’s other behaviours and symptoms.
There is a rare condition where a rat is born with a misaligned jaw. This condition stops them from being able to shorten their teeth effectively.
So, it’s important to monitor your rat’s teeth regularly, and if you’re concerned that they’re getting too long, then visit the Vet to have their jaw assessed and their teeth clipped.
If your rat does have a misaligned jaw, then your Vet can advise you on how often to bring your rat in to have their teeth clipped, and inform you of any other problems caused by a misaligned jaw.
Adding pumice stone ledges into their cage will give them something to munch on that will grind down their teeth if they’re unable to do it themselves.
Hissing
Hissing noises from a rat are never a good sign! It’s an aggressive noise used to warn potential predators that they are about to attack. Encounters like the introduction of a new pet rat can cause your rat to feel defensive and hiss before attacking the new rat.
It is important to intervene and separate your rats quickly when you hear a rat hiss. It’s best to use gloves to separate your rats because a hissing rat could attack you if you try to pick them up.
Huff
Adorably, sometimes when a rat is grumpy, they huff. When you hear your rat huff, they’re likely annoyed and it’s best to leave them alone for a while, as they will probably need some space.
A little treat may help to cheer them up, but be rest assured that huffing isn’t a sign of any medical problems.
While there is a lot for us to learn about our beloved rattos trying to understand the noises or rats make enables us to provide the care and attention they need.
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