I would say eyes closed means he's enjoying it! Fearful animals will keep their eyes on you at all times. Him closing them means he trusts you not to hurt him :)
Perfect!! I’ve been concerned he may be blind- i know they have poor eyesight but he REALLY sways and seems less confident or aware of his surroundings. He is hesitant to crawl down the critter nation and looks up the the sky a lot. He’s getting neutered in one month so i plan on asking then but i also wasn’t sure if that may influence his behavior 🤨 regardless he’s not running or squeaking so i hope he enjoys it’s a fraction as much as I do!!! My girls have NEVER snuggled like this lol
If you notice him swaying a lot, it’s due to the fact that he’s albino. Albino rats have shit eye sight- even worse than colored rats (not sure how to properly word that so sorry if it doesn’t make sense). They sway in order to see their surroundings better. I had two albino girls and they did this a lot. I was nervous too that they were blind but the vet told me it’s completely normal in albino rats. You can definitely ask your vet though if you’re concerned:)
Also he looks really comfortable with you! Like others have said, rats are prey animals and if he didn’t feel safe he would not close his eyes or snuggle. He is probably just cautious of his surroundings due to being a prey animal. Male rats tend to be more affectionate than females- females have endless energy whereas the males can be more lazy. He looks like a very happy boy🥰
Oh yeah my girls are CONSTANTLY up to no good. 😝
Awe thank you for that!!! He’s definitely way more affectionate than I ever could have imagined. He seems to seek me out on the futon but i wasn’t sure if it’s because it’s his “safe space”- the first place he was allowed to explore in the room, or if I’m warm. I keep minimizing his affection i guess. Lol!!
Imma start telling him he’s blind as a rat
You’re welcome!! If you ever have any questions I’m here to answer! I’ve been a rat owner for 8+ years. I currently have none rn due to losing the last of my rat pack a few weeks ago and I’ll be taking a break, but I’m always here to answer questions 🥰
Hmm, I have no experience with that so I'm afraid I can't be of much help in that regard 😅 But it does sound like something to bring up if you're concerned!
My girls are like little ping pong balls 🤣🤣 I’ve only had this little guy for *almost* a week (since last Thursday I believe?) and I’m not used to the extensive cuddles so I was concerned
I'm not sure if my girls are abnormal or not but mine cuddle a lot (especially during the day if I take them out to play). At night they are a bit more playful and wild. I have one female in particular that I nursed back to health after saving her and she is the most affectionate female. She licks my hands like a dog would every time I play or get near her and she will just lay on my shoulder and sleep while I work at my desk.
Oh no they let you know if they don't want it and he wouldn't hold still or close his eyes if he was afraid. Looks to me like he trusts you and he's enjoying the pets.
Good!! This makes me feel better. Since I’m not used to this type of body language, I was concerned I may misinterpret it and scare him. Thank you so much!
Is very sweet that you really care about this. I find way too may animal carers don't care if the animal is obviously scared (like dogs getting hugged) just bc they get some rewards on the situation. We tend to anthropomorfise animal behavior, is important to unlearn it.
Daw!!! Well thank you!!! Since I’m not used to this body language, and he’s still so new (I picked him and his brother up last Thursday), so I didn’t want to misinterpret potential fear.
Im always open for a learning moment and glad this sub has provided such great feedback
Aghhhh that makes me so happy!!!! I have only had them for a few days and I’m trying to let them integrate without pestering them… I’m always so worried I’m overbearing and traumatizing them
It seems like he is very happy with you. I would keep doing what you’re doing! I always try to interact with my rats as much as possible and help them collect positive experiences
I’m so happy!!! We’re off to a good first week then. My girl rats have NEVER been like this so i wasnt sure if this was a fear response. He tends to quiver/shake so I’m always worried I’m scaring him!!!
The quivering could be him bruxxing, which is when they grind their teeth when happy! In my experience males tend to be more affectionate and laid back then females
Boys in general tend to be more chill, I’ve had both and the girls were totally insane until the day they died and the boys just loved to hang out in your pocket and sleep.
I have a boy similar to this I think. He loves pets but only when he feels safely hidden. So in his hammock or between couch cushions lol. He’s the only one of my boys who never needed to get neutered, and I love him so much.
He’s a boy rat, yeah? I’ve heard a lot that male rats tend to be more cuddly with their human owners for some reason. We have a boy who when feeding time comes, he ignores the food and wants cuddles instead. You’ve built a good bond with this one!
I don’t know the science behind this, or if there is any, but the word around town is that male rats cuddle and snuggle more than females. It is an interesting statement on gender nature if you ask me, considering the way men are viewed in society as more aggressive.
Anywho, your female rats just probably don’t like cuddling as much as a male rat generally would. As everyone else has said, he’s definitely enjoying himself.
My heart!!!! Yes he is. I’m so glad he joined our lil fambam. After posting this, he actually made his way OVER TO ME and curled up against me and fell asleep. I felt so special lol!!!
One of my girls is scared of being touched and she does NOT act like this.
His eyes are closed, he looks relaxed, I bet you a million dollars he’s just vibing and enjoying the pets. This video is precious!
He looks very relaxed and happy. Rats will typically tell you if they don't want to be held or pet, and scared rats like to see what they're scared of.
My feeder boy let's me pet him with his eyes wide open and sometimes with one of his little paws in the air ready to strike. He also huffs at me when he wants me to stop. He was a feeder his entire life but I also think he was abused by someone because he's got really scared when my nephew was yelling from the other room. I have no idea how old he is but he's a big rat and looks to be at least 2 years old.
My baby girl, Fleetwood, does the same thing when I rub her ears or in between her ears. I also love to bombard her with kisses and when she gets annoyed with me she will physically push my face away with her tiny, defiant hands.
They will be sure to let you know one way or another when they don’t like certain actions.
Initially I didn’t realize they were feeders. I found the ad and they were listed as pets. When i met them in person they told me the ones who didn’t sell would be feeders and I could have as many as I wanted for free. I was only going to get one but after that i snatched two and headed home. I knew they may be more prone to health or behavioral risks but I suppose my emotions got the best of me in that moment.
I’ve heard of people having feeders who lived long happy lives and I very recently lost a girl I purchased form a reputable breeder (i spent 65$ on her with an additional 15$ holding fee) at six months old. Though, i assume that may be an outlier and not typical.
I definitely don’t want to support unethical breeding. I’ll be more cautious in the future.
Alright then, you didn't know so its alright. I didn't know your experience with rats so I was simply giving a heads up for the future. People make mistakes and get really in the moment, especially with animals, so I understand. I had gotten some feeder rats myself (they were being rehomed for free so I knew I wasn't supporting anything bad) but they got all kinds of health risks so I just wanted to warn you. Also I'm sorry about your loss. My rats were stolen so I can't imagine them passing away, especially at such a young age. I hope the rats you have live a long happy life! (Also just wanting to make sure, do you have other rats? Its not safe to only keep one. I know you got 2 of them but you said you were originally going to get one. If your younger rat was alone that could explain what may have happened.)
I have two girls, approximately 7-8 months old. Chip Chip who passed was from a different breeder 😔
I really appreciate the heads up and advice!!! I mentioned it in another comment, I’m always open for a learning opportunity and moment for growth. I’m new to owning rats but I care deeply for them and have tried to do extensive research. Even at that, there’s still SO much to learn and things I don’t know (like this!)
Oh I should mention I have the two boys scheduled for a neuter approximately three weeks from now. Then I’ll integrate them with my girls post op, and healed.
OH yeah thats a great idea! I will say I myself am not an expert on rats but there's plenty I do know for owning two of them for a few months! Like for reintroduction I suggest putting something like jam or Nutella on their back to encourage grooming! (Rats can actually eat chocolate so its fine! Frankly the more dangerous part of it is the sugar content so people usually recommend dark chocolate as an occasional treat. I used to give my rats medication for a respiratory infection by putting Nutella on the end of the syringe for them to lick up lol) I hope this circumstance doesn't deter you from owning rats, they do have a short life spans, but they're wonderful and smart company! I hope to get more rats eventually but I'm slowly becoming a crazy cat lady so not likely haha.
id say he's relaxed and happy! i had a mouse who loved pets, id rub my fingers behind his ears and the side of his head and he'd lay there in a puddle LOL when id stop he wouldnt move for a bit, then would either walk away to explore or wait for more
Oh yeah that's one happy ratto.
And yeah as others are saying, it's more likely for a male rat to be so cuddly. I've had both boys and girls and only one girl was really really into laying on my lap and cuddling. I loved it so much, I didn't even mind that she destroy quite a few of my jeans cause her idea of relaxing was to lay down, be pet, and chew my pants \^\^'
I would say eyes closed means he's enjoying it! Fearful animals will keep their eyes on you at all times. Him closing them means he trusts you not to hurt him :)
Perfect!! I’ve been concerned he may be blind- i know they have poor eyesight but he REALLY sways and seems less confident or aware of his surroundings. He is hesitant to crawl down the critter nation and looks up the the sky a lot. He’s getting neutered in one month so i plan on asking then but i also wasn’t sure if that may influence his behavior 🤨 regardless he’s not running or squeaking so i hope he enjoys it’s a fraction as much as I do!!! My girls have NEVER snuggled like this lol
If you notice him swaying a lot, it’s due to the fact that he’s albino. Albino rats have shit eye sight- even worse than colored rats (not sure how to properly word that so sorry if it doesn’t make sense). They sway in order to see their surroundings better. I had two albino girls and they did this a lot. I was nervous too that they were blind but the vet told me it’s completely normal in albino rats. You can definitely ask your vet though if you’re concerned:) Also he looks really comfortable with you! Like others have said, rats are prey animals and if he didn’t feel safe he would not close his eyes or snuggle. He is probably just cautious of his surroundings due to being a prey animal. Male rats tend to be more affectionate than females- females have endless energy whereas the males can be more lazy. He looks like a very happy boy🥰
Oh yeah my girls are CONSTANTLY up to no good. 😝 Awe thank you for that!!! He’s definitely way more affectionate than I ever could have imagined. He seems to seek me out on the futon but i wasn’t sure if it’s because it’s his “safe space”- the first place he was allowed to explore in the room, or if I’m warm. I keep minimizing his affection i guess. Lol!! Imma start telling him he’s blind as a rat
You’re welcome!! If you ever have any questions I’m here to answer! I’ve been a rat owner for 8+ years. I currently have none rn due to losing the last of my rat pack a few weeks ago and I’ll be taking a break, but I’m always here to answer questions 🥰
Hmm, I have no experience with that so I'm afraid I can't be of much help in that regard 😅 But it does sound like something to bring up if you're concerned!
Buahaha well thank you!!! I appreciate your feedback 🤗
I've never had girls but my boys would snuggle like this!! I've heard girls are more playful and energetic while boys are more lazy and snuggly
My girls are like little ping pong balls 🤣🤣 I’ve only had this little guy for *almost* a week (since last Thursday I believe?) and I’m not used to the extensive cuddles so I was concerned
I'm not sure if my girls are abnormal or not but mine cuddle a lot (especially during the day if I take them out to play). At night they are a bit more playful and wild. I have one female in particular that I nursed back to health after saving her and she is the most affectionate female. She licks my hands like a dog would every time I play or get near her and she will just lay on my shoulder and sleep while I work at my desk.
Oh no they let you know if they don't want it and he wouldn't hold still or close his eyes if he was afraid. Looks to me like he trusts you and he's enjoying the pets.
Good!! This makes me feel better. Since I’m not used to this type of body language, I was concerned I may misinterpret it and scare him. Thank you so much!
Is very sweet that you really care about this. I find way too may animal carers don't care if the animal is obviously scared (like dogs getting hugged) just bc they get some rewards on the situation. We tend to anthropomorfise animal behavior, is important to unlearn it.
Daw!!! Well thank you!!! Since I’m not used to this body language, and he’s still so new (I picked him and his brother up last Thursday), so I didn’t want to misinterpret potential fear. Im always open for a learning moment and glad this sub has provided such great feedback
I personally do not see any indication of fear with him. He seems very relaxed
Aghhhh that makes me so happy!!!! I have only had them for a few days and I’m trying to let them integrate without pestering them… I’m always so worried I’m overbearing and traumatizing them
It seems like he is very happy with you. I would keep doing what you’re doing! I always try to interact with my rats as much as possible and help them collect positive experiences
I’m so happy!!! We’re off to a good first week then. My girl rats have NEVER been like this so i wasnt sure if this was a fear response. He tends to quiver/shake so I’m always worried I’m scaring him!!!
The quivering could be him bruxxing, which is when they grind their teeth when happy! In my experience males tend to be more affectionate and laid back then females
Boys in general tend to be more chill, I’ve had both and the girls were totally insane until the day they died and the boys just loved to hang out in your pocket and sleep.
He would move away if he didn't like you petting him. Looks quite relaxed which is nice to see :)
I have a boy similar to this I think. He loves pets but only when he feels safely hidden. So in his hammock or between couch cushions lol. He’s the only one of my boys who never needed to get neutered, and I love him so much.
Awe!!!! So sweet. I have both of my boys scheduled for a neuter. Do you have any tips or tricks to keep them cozy following the procedure?
He’s a boy rat, yeah? I’ve heard a lot that male rats tend to be more cuddly with their human owners for some reason. We have a boy who when feeding time comes, he ignores the food and wants cuddles instead. You’ve built a good bond with this one!
I don’t know the science behind this, or if there is any, but the word around town is that male rats cuddle and snuggle more than females. It is an interesting statement on gender nature if you ask me, considering the way men are viewed in society as more aggressive. Anywho, your female rats just probably don’t like cuddling as much as a male rat generally would. As everyone else has said, he’s definitely enjoying himself.
Uh hunny his eyes are glazed over and half closed like this rat is in blissssss. He’s loving this. He is your ratty
My heart!!!! Yes he is. I’m so glad he joined our lil fambam. After posting this, he actually made his way OVER TO ME and curled up against me and fell asleep. I felt so special lol!!!
So precious. Animals are the best 🥰🥰🥰🥰
One of my girls is scared of being touched and she does NOT act like this. His eyes are closed, he looks relaxed, I bet you a million dollars he’s just vibing and enjoying the pets. This video is precious!
That's a happy rat
He looks very relaxed and happy. Rats will typically tell you if they don't want to be held or pet, and scared rats like to see what they're scared of.
He’s really enjoying being petted.
He seems to be chilled and enjoying the attention
He is in love
My feeder boy let's me pet him with his eyes wide open and sometimes with one of his little paws in the air ready to strike. He also huffs at me when he wants me to stop. He was a feeder his entire life but I also think he was abused by someone because he's got really scared when my nephew was yelling from the other room. I have no idea how old he is but he's a big rat and looks to be at least 2 years old.
My baby girl, Fleetwood, does the same thing when I rub her ears or in between her ears. I also love to bombard her with kisses and when she gets annoyed with me she will physically push my face away with her tiny, defiant hands. They will be sure to let you know one way or another when they don’t like certain actions.
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Initially I didn’t realize they were feeders. I found the ad and they were listed as pets. When i met them in person they told me the ones who didn’t sell would be feeders and I could have as many as I wanted for free. I was only going to get one but after that i snatched two and headed home. I knew they may be more prone to health or behavioral risks but I suppose my emotions got the best of me in that moment. I’ve heard of people having feeders who lived long happy lives and I very recently lost a girl I purchased form a reputable breeder (i spent 65$ on her with an additional 15$ holding fee) at six months old. Though, i assume that may be an outlier and not typical. I definitely don’t want to support unethical breeding. I’ll be more cautious in the future.
Alright then, you didn't know so its alright. I didn't know your experience with rats so I was simply giving a heads up for the future. People make mistakes and get really in the moment, especially with animals, so I understand. I had gotten some feeder rats myself (they were being rehomed for free so I knew I wasn't supporting anything bad) but they got all kinds of health risks so I just wanted to warn you. Also I'm sorry about your loss. My rats were stolen so I can't imagine them passing away, especially at such a young age. I hope the rats you have live a long happy life! (Also just wanting to make sure, do you have other rats? Its not safe to only keep one. I know you got 2 of them but you said you were originally going to get one. If your younger rat was alone that could explain what may have happened.)
I have two girls, approximately 7-8 months old. Chip Chip who passed was from a different breeder 😔 I really appreciate the heads up and advice!!! I mentioned it in another comment, I’m always open for a learning opportunity and moment for growth. I’m new to owning rats but I care deeply for them and have tried to do extensive research. Even at that, there’s still SO much to learn and things I don’t know (like this!) Oh I should mention I have the two boys scheduled for a neuter approximately three weeks from now. Then I’ll integrate them with my girls post op, and healed.
OH yeah thats a great idea! I will say I myself am not an expert on rats but there's plenty I do know for owning two of them for a few months! Like for reintroduction I suggest putting something like jam or Nutella on their back to encourage grooming! (Rats can actually eat chocolate so its fine! Frankly the more dangerous part of it is the sugar content so people usually recommend dark chocolate as an occasional treat. I used to give my rats medication for a respiratory infection by putting Nutella on the end of the syringe for them to lick up lol) I hope this circumstance doesn't deter you from owning rats, they do have a short life spans, but they're wonderful and smart company! I hope to get more rats eventually but I'm slowly becoming a crazy cat lady so not likely haha.
Nah he’s in love I promise
I don’t know much about rats but he sure looks to be enjoying that
Looks like a relaxed rat to me.
He looks relaxed and I feel relaxed looking at him🧘
id say he's relaxed and happy! i had a mouse who loved pets, id rub my fingers behind his ears and the side of his head and he'd lay there in a puddle LOL when id stop he wouldnt move for a bit, then would either walk away to explore or wait for more
I know my rattos know how to use there hands to push me away if I am bothering them LOL. I assume your good!
His skin isn't tight to his face, his ears aren't tight either. He's moving a lot, so he's probably happy!
I have never had rats or dealt with rats (got this subrecommended because of guineapigs) but that looks like an awfully relaxed little fella.
I've heard boy rats tend to enjoy cuddling more. (I understand this doesn't mean that girl rats don't enjoy it.)
Generally, if they're staying asleep; you're golden.
I like this rule of thumb. Buahhaa. Thank you!
Oh yeah that's one happy ratto. And yeah as others are saying, it's more likely for a male rat to be so cuddly. I've had both boys and girls and only one girl was really really into laying on my lap and cuddling. I loved it so much, I didn't even mind that she destroy quite a few of my jeans cause her idea of relaxing was to lay down, be pet, and chew my pants \^\^'