Uh...Rat Logs...

[Reptilian]

Hey all-

I know this is a disgusting topic to bring up, but well I have to share.

I took out Emma today. All she does is sit in her hide all day. I think Ruby is bringing her food until night time when I have the closet doors closed. I used to think she never drank any water till I spoted her drinking during the day in which she promptly ran from me and hide.

Getting Emma outta the cage was an issue in itself, considering she didn't want to come. After three shots of trying to grab her I finally cornered her and lifted her up, in which she peed on me.

No biggie. I can handle that. I sent her on my chest and she peed again. I was wearing a white shirt.....not to smart on my part.

She calmed down slightly and ran all over me. (I am standing) Up my shoulder around my neck. Suddenly she leaves me a rat log. Then another then another and another. She comes around front and leaves another which she steps in and smears all over my shirt.

I pick her back up and put her in her cage. She won this round but not the next.

I changed my shirt and washed the white one in the sink. Now onto my questions.

I am assuming since she was so scared she went and releaved herself on me. I am find with that. I can understand her fear. Just are rat logs suposed to smell icky? I guess with her being so little and her droppings so small (compared to a cat or dog), in my mind they wouldnt' smell so bad. But her's do. I mean they are well formed and look like a normal color, so I don't think she's sick. I am just wondering.

Anyway that's the main question. Thanks for listening all!

[Shelby]

Well, fresh rat turds do have a typical.. poopy odor. Once they're dry though, they don't really smell much.

As long as they're well formed (LOL) and not runny, I wouldn't worry.

[Reptilian]

LOL thanks! That's what I kinda figured, but with me being a new rat mommy I just needed some reasurance. I learned my lesson to never where white while holding any animal! LOL.

[mlededee]

i have found that fresh rat poop that comes from a rat that is frightened does smell rather strong. sometimes it is softer than their normal poop would be and so it smears and smells even worse. i don't think you have anything to worry about. i think possibly since it is a forced fear reaction the feces isn't quite as well formed or ready to come out as it would normally be and this can give it the softer texture and worse than normal smell.

[frankykeno]

Part of any animal's flight or fight response is sudden defecation hon. Especially in prey creatures, they dump their bowels and bladder pretty fast when scared and it does seem to smell worse and be somewhat looser than "normal". Keep working with her and she'll likely come around eventually. You might want to interact with her more in her cage for now...just some scratching and petting for now and work up to removing her. Some rats freak when they are suddenly taken from their familar home and colony mates so if she's the nervous type it might be best for now to let her get to know your smell in her space not yours. Also if she sees you making a fuss over the other rat (remove the hide so she can see what's going on) she may approach just because she's curious and also is seeing another rat getting attention and not afraid of you.

Even calm rats will use you as a toilet though and some like to mark you with urine too (seems with me it's always the boys piddling on me lol). Kind of a "I like you human person *peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* now you smell like you are mine!" LOL

I have a couple of colony females that while not mean natured are not overly friendly. If I take them out they wiggle madly to get back in their home and cuddle with their buddies. Then they peek out from the rat pile and give me that "SHE grabbed ME and I don't LIKE that!" disgusted rat look.

[Vomitore]

I tend to lose "control" in defense when my car insurance comes up. Nothing a lil kitty litter and a swat on my nose to get me to learn!

[mlededee]

(seems with me it's always the boys piddling on me lol). Kind of a "I like you human person *peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* now you smell like you are mine!" LOL

i named one of my boys piddle diddle. he used to pee on me every time i got him out--he wasn't freaking out or anything--he likes to come out and play--but he used to piddle on my every time without fail. now that he is older he's a bit better, but i often still get a few excited drips. aah the joys.

[JLC]

LOL...y'all are funny. I bring home a live rat from the pet store every week. Most of the time, it's no big deal...but every now and then, I'll get a scaredy one...and the odor from the box will knock you over when you open it. WHEW!!!

[Reptilian]

Also if she sees you making a fuss over the other rat (remove the hide so she can see what's going on) she may approach just because she's curious and also is seeing another rat getting attention and not afraid of you.

I think I'll take the hide out during play time for her and will stick with scratches and petting until she gets use to me. Much thanks!

[frankykeno]

Well rats are quite intelligent for a rodent and from what I've observed they do in some basic way learn from other rats in the colony so the nervous one seeing the calm one getting attention and treats, it may just work to get her interested enough to overcome her fear of you. I know most of my adult males all learned a single action that my retired big male Casanova does simply by watching him and watching me react to his antics.

Their big water bottle is wired onto the side of their big plastic tub by a wire that runs through two very small holes. When I remove the bottle to refill it, the wire goes a bit slack so Casanova sort of invented this "game". He stands up and tugs on the wire from his side, I tug back. Just a silly thing him and I do daily. After awhile some of the other big males figured this was pretty cool and that Nova was getting all sorts of attention for this so they now try to push each other around to see who gets to tug on the wire with me. Really cute actually other than I have to be really careful when I'm putting the bottle back on and tightening down the wire that I don't catch a rattie paw.