How Do Rats Go to Sleep?
WouterYou might be wondering, “How do rats go to sleep?” Well, they can sleep in a variety of positions. One common position is resting on their paws with their head on the ground. A rat may also lie on its side and stretch its legs. Although a sleeping rat may twitch occasionally, it is more likely to lie still. A moving rat, however, means it is awake.
Rats generally spend the day sleeping and are awake at night. They are most active at night, when the sun sets and they are ready to play. Rats are not a threat to humans, but it’s not safe to sleep with them in the house. They should be removed from the house as soon as possible.
Rats typically sleep for 12 hours a day. They go into a light sleep phase for four hours and then switch to a deeper stage for two hours. They may also wake up periodically to groom themselves. Single rats may sleep longer than those in groups. It is not known if a single rat experiences REM sleep, but it is likely that the two different stages of sleep are completely different from each other.
Rats usually do not experience pain when they are asleep. However, when they are in pain, they may experience discomfort and can even suffocate. In such cases, a veterinarian may use a gas anesthetic to put the rat to sleep. It is important to note that this method is only recommended if the rat is in serious respiratory distress.
