How Far a Rat Can Jump
Rats can jump as high as 36 inches into the air. They can also stretch their legs as far as 13 inches from a flat surface. These animals are often the last to evacuate a sinking ship because of their ability to swim. They can also swim a mile underwater, and can swim up to half a mile on open water. Rats can even swim through toilets and waste pipes.
Several species of rats are excellent jumpers, but the smallest ones cannot jump as high as their larger cousins. This enables them to avoid predators while still making it to their nest. A rat with a high vertical jump is very advantageous for survival and hunting. This is because their hind legs act as a powerful springboard, while their tails aid in maintaining the vertical jump.
Rats have excellent climbing skills, and they can climb trees up to four feet high. They can even climb walls, and can jump 36 inches vertically. Some species can also leap more than 77 centimeters, which is enough to jump over a fence, or onto a roof.
A rat’s incisor teeth are very powerful. They grow about five inches per year. They can chew through a variety of materials, such as soft concrete and fresh concrete.