Can Rats Hold Their Pee?
WouterIt’s important to learn your rat’s signals for when it’s time to pee and when it’s not. You don’t want to push it or make him play when he’s not ready. Also, keep some paper towels near the cage as a litter box, and check them every half hour or so to remove small amounts of urine.
Peeing is a common activity among rats and is a way for them to communicate with other rats. Their pee contains a lot of information, including the age of the animal, its social status and its stress levels. The behavior is instinctual and most commonly occurs in males. Peeing typically begins at about 50 days of age, and the frequency decreases once the animal is neutered.
Rats also use their sense of smell to detect new food items, and will eat only a tiny bit in order to test them out. They also eat non-food objects to settle their stomachs. Clay is the preferred indigestion remedy for rats. In contrast, mice and guinea pigs don’t vomit.
Rats are notorious for having very small intestines, and many people are concerned about their ability to hold their pee. Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to tell whether a rat can hold their pee in a container. In most cases, rats will not hold their pee if they aren’t ready. The best way to handle this situation is to approach it slowly and gently, and try not to startle the rat. Likewise, it’s best not to attempt to hold it when it’s eating, drinking, or sleeping.
