Why Do Rats Keep Food Inside Your House?
WouterIf you’ve ever wondered why rats keep food inside your house, then you’re not alone. Rats are known for their amazing memory and will often map out rooms in their heads to find food. Once they know where their food is, finding it is very easy. Rats are also physically impressive creatures, capable of climbing trees and fitting through very small openings. Regardless of their size, rats have an ability to get into any home.
To get their hands on food, rats have an incredible sense of smell. Their secondary organ (called the vomeronasal organ) is responsible for picking up a variety of pheromones and chemical smells. In fact, this organ is important in courtship, parenting, and communication among rats. In addition to this, they have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and use this to guide their way to food.
Rats also need plenty of water. They consume between 22 and 33 milliliters of water a day. As such, they should always have fresh, clean water available. Water bottles should be clean and resistant to chewing. It’s best to provide multiple bottles so your rats always have fresh water to drink. A glass water bottle is best, as it is less likely to be contaminated by rats’ teeth.
Rats don’t have a preference for particular foods, which means they’ll eat anything and everything that is available to them. In nature, rats eat plants, nuts, grains, insects, and other food. In urban settings, they also eat pet food, human food, and garbage. But they’ll always try to find new sources of food.
