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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / September 2004Female urine marking
My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female doesn't either. But Maggie, my 1-year old hairless girl is a marking maniac. She marks everything, especially me, over and over. Is this a behavior only done in new surroundings, when they're nervous, or is it just a habit that will never go away? Unfortunately I really have to limit where Maggie goes during out time because of it. I mean there are little drops EVERYWHERE. She never, ever actually pees anywhere though. Meghan > My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female > doesn't either. But Maggie, my 1-year old hairless girl is a marking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Meghan I have the same problem but I don't fret about it. I think she is just trying to mark her territory since you have more than one rat. I have two and my older one never did that until the new one came. Sara > My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female > doesn't either. But Maggie, my 1-year old hairless girl is a marking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Meghan Yep, some rats just like to mark everything. Marking you is a very sweet sign, you belong to her. ;) I don't care about the pee marking... my rats can do what they want. lol  SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 > My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female > doesn't either. Wait. Some 'mark' more than others, but they all mark. > But Maggie, my 1-year old hairless girl is a marking > maniac. She marks everything, especially me, over and over. Is this a > behavior only done in new surroundings, when they're nervous, or is it just > a habit that will never go away? All of the above. Consider it a sign of affection that they do when nervous/excited and a natural reaction. Since rats have poor eyesight (but remarkable memories) they use scent as a way to 'remember' things. > Unfortunately I really have to limit where > Maggie goes during out time because of it. 3 words- old bed sheet. Throw one down in their play area and let her/them mark all day, toss it in the wash (sans ratties), and it's all good. :) SignatureSuper Mike "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] > > My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female > > doesn't either. > > Wait. Some 'mark' more than others, but they all mark. I thought so too... but my hairless male does not mark at all. Which I find very odd. SignatureJoanne Mom to 11 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 > I thought so too... but my hairless male does not mark at all. Which I find > very odd. Very odd indeed. Especially for a male. Is he mature? Perhaps he just marks certain areas (like in his cage only). SignatureSuper Mike "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] > > I thought so too... but my hairless male does not mark at all. Which I find > > very odd. > > Very odd indeed. Especially for a male. Is he mature? Perhaps he just > marks certain areas (like in his cage only). He's 14 months old and he may very well mark in his cage, but I must say I often find him using the litter pan. SignatureJoanne Mom to 11 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 What interesting little fuzzy creatures! I am honored now to know that marking me is a sign of "ownership". I thought she just got nervous every time she ran across my arm. Now that I think about it, she does come running when I call her name, or when I come into the room. It's so rewarding when your patient weeks of letting them get to know you (and like you) finally pay off! :-) Meghan > My two young boys don't mark anything yet, and Hailey my older female > doesn't either. But Maggie, my 1-year old hairless girl is a marking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Meghan Rats are the only pets I know of who's owners say things like "Look! She peed on me! Aww!" lol I get my share of mysterieous little drops on me too. Fortunately it seems to be tapering off. Geezer > What interesting little fuzzy creatures! I am honored now to know that > marking me is a sign of "ownership". I thought she just got nervous every [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> >> Meghan > Rats are the only pets I know of who's owners say things like "Look! She > peed on me! Aww!" lol [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Geezer They do it for three reasons: To mark territory, to mark paths so they can find their way home, & to mark family members or loved ones. Occasionally marking becomes kind of spastic & annoying; they overdo it when they feel worried about life. For females a little dab will generally be plenty, but males sometimes drag their behinds all along an arm or pantleg to mark you good & well with a long streak of pee as proof you are His and His Alone. The cleaner you start your day, the more UNmarked you smell to a rat, so they especially love to mark all over someone who doesn't seem to be properly marked. They do it less if you already smell proper to their senses. Sometimes having a special "rat shirt" to wear for the rats, one that isn't cleaned too often, limits how much marking they feel they have to do. But a healthy rat's urine is usually close to odorless by our own senses, & not injurious when fresh. It only smells bad when it gets stale & bacteria start growing in it; the amonia smell is bacterial waste. Average human hygiene usually means there's no worrisome risk to being marked by a ratty. -paghat the ratgirl Signature"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher. "Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature. -from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers" Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com I always wondered why one of my fellas would walk by my hand but one of the back legs would always stop on my hand and when he was done marking would walk away. I attributed it to him wanting to mark me as his own -it's nice to have confirmation! How fun! You know, it is only rat owners that get excited when peed on -my husband gets quite a kick when I say, "Oh look honey, he's pooping in the litter box! What a good little boy!" -Lisa the rat whisperer > I always wondered why one of my fellas would walk by my hand but one of the > back legs would always stop on my hand and when he was done marking would [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > -Lisa > the rat whisperer And what a wonderful moment it is when you spot rattie using the litter pan. It just makes me so proud. SignatureJoanne Mom to 11 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 |
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