Do Rats Take Baths?
WouterRats don’t typically need baths, but a warm bath is sometimes a good idea for your rat. This is particularly helpful if your rat has a bad odor or smells bad. Bathing your rat can also help to remove any buildup of dirt and potentially harmful pests. You should also give your rat a treat afterward to reinforce its positive memory of the bath.
You should only bathe your rat as often as needed, based on its age, mobility, and health. When giving a bath, you should use warm water and no shampoo, and try to keep the water as warm as possible. Occasionally, you can use a no-rinse shampoo, which does not contain perfumes or chemicals, but it is not recommended for regular bathing. Instead, use a lathering shampoo that is mild enough for your rat.
Even if your rat can self-groom, it can become dirty if its environment is not clean. To make sure your rat stays clean, you can try “sponge” baths and tail cleaning, as these require less stress for your rat. You should also make sure to keep bath time short to minimize the stress for your rat. Some rats can’t self-groom, so if your rat is overweight, injured, ill, or elderly, a bath may be necessary. Poor hygiene can lead to additional problems and complications, which you don’t want.
Many animals mark their scent by rubbing a gland on their bodies. Dogs, for example, “tinkle mail” to communicate with other dogs. Pet rats often mark their scent by peeing or rubbing themselves against something, and this behavior seems particularly common in males.
