Why Are Rats Always Chewing Things?
WouterRats chew on everything they can get their teeth on, including things like wires, plastic, and even gold. They will also chew through wood, baseboards, and plumbing. If left unchecked, these rats will eventually wear out their teeth to the point that they cannot close their mouths. This will eventually lead to the rat’s death.
This behavior is caused by the availability of the things the rats want to gnaw on. Wires are ubiquitous in homes, especially in places with electrical work. These wires are very small and easily manipulated by a rodent’s paws. Rats also find them useful when making nests out of them.
Rats also use their jaws to grind things. Their jaw muscles are very powerful and run behind their eyeballs. When they gnaw, they can cause the eyeballs to vibrate. This is because the muscles in their jaws are connected to their eye sockets. When they gnaw, their eyes vibrate and this is what they interpret as pleasure.
The bite of rats is particularly powerful compared to other rodent species. The jaw muscles of rats can exert up to 6,000 pounds of force per square inch. This is considerably higher than the bite force of a human. Rats can chew through metal sheeting, plastic, and even concrete.
