Vancouver Vets About Rats: Small Animals Amazing Facts.

Rats have a pretty bad reputation. Pilferer, gross, vermin, filthy – you name it, they have been called it! For many people, “companion” is certainly not the first word that comes to mind when they think about rats. However, when you take a closer look you may be very surprised finding that rats are amazing animals.

Rats have had a close relationship with people for a long time. Our towns and cities draw them in, providing a constant supply of food and plenty of shelter. So as we moved around the globe, rats followed – and multiplied. In fact, rats outnumber humans on almost every continent in the world.
Rats are really cool animals with some amazing abilities:

• Rat laughter. Rats make a “laughing” sound when they are happy, such as during play, at feeding time or when someone is tickling them.

• The world though whiskers. Whiskers may well be more important than sight for a rat. More sensitive than our fingertips, tats use their whiskers to create a detailed picture of the world around them. Their whiskers sweep back and forth, about seven times per second, brushing over the ground, objects, food and other rats. Each whisker can move by itself and in different directions. Rats can also extend their whiskers as far as two inches in front of their noses to “see” what’s in front of them.

• Rats are nimble. Rats are excellent climbers and swimmers. They can scale vertical surfaces and walk along ropes and power lines, just like tightrope walkers in circus. With their whiskers helping keep their heads above water, rats can swim for kilometers. They can even hold their breath and swim underwater.

• Rats chat. Rats “talk” with different squeaks. They also talk using ultrasonic sounds only rats can hear. Baby rats have a special call when they want their mother. Another unique noise is made by rats when they are upset – when they smell a predator, are in pain or lose a fight with another rat.

• The big squeeze. Adult rats can flatten and squeeze their bodies through openings as small as a loonie.

• Glowing rats. Rats can see in colors, but they see mostly grays, blues and greens. Rats can also see ultraviolet light, which people can’t see. In fact, under ultraviolet light, their bodies glow so they can easily see each other in complete darkness. How cool is that?

If you keep a rat or many rats as a pet make sure they are healthy and happy. Bring your small companion to our Animal Hospital in Vancouver for the basic health checkup. Our Vancouver vets are highly qualified small animal vets in Vancouver and we will be happy to see you with your little friends at our vet clinic in Vancouver.