"will he bite?"

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perigrine - 21 Nov 2007 19:59 GMT

The earlier biting rat post has just made me remember the amount of
people who see the boys (they live next to the front door) and
automatically ask "will he/they bite?" I get other visitors, who do
NOT ask if the cats, or mice, bite, and I am fairly sure that if I had
a dog, they wouldn't ask if the dog bites either. Why do rats - not
mice - 'always' seem to get the "does he bite" question? I'm not
overly fussed about it in general, it just strikes me as strange that
a fairly mild mannered animal gets labeled as a biter, when the common
pets that you should be asking about, never get asked about. I wish
more people had that sort of respect for other pets.

cheers,
M&m

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Joanne - 21 Nov 2007 20:31 GMT

> The earlier biting rat post has just made me remember the amount of
> people who see the boys (they live next to the front door) and
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> cheers,
> M&m

How true... or when they give you that disgusted look, don't get that
for my cats. lol

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Joanne
The Rat Shack
www.jorats.com

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Tracey - 22 Nov 2007 09:32 GMT

> The earlier biting rat post has just made me remember the amount of
> people who see the boys (they live next to the front door) and
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> cheers,
> M&m

I think it may be a rodent thing in general for people to ask if they bite -
maybe because hamsters are notorious for biting (and in my experience
gerbils too!). Also maybe because people feel they can't read the signs of
when something is going to bite with small animals as well as with animals
like cats and dogs (although I've been suddenly bitten and scratched by cats
who were up to that point enjoying being petted!). Of course all the horror
stories are swilling round in people's heads too about 'big, bad, dirty,
nasty rats'. Some of the sweetest, friendliest creatures I have ever known
have been rats, but of course most people would never believe that, however
much you try and tell them.

Tracey

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Marlo - 23 Nov 2007 02:24 GMT

I get that question all the time, too. It's probably because people are
unfamiliar with rats as domesticated pets so they don't know what to
expect. My mother-in-law came for Thanksgiving. She got to meet all five
rats, and ending up holding Buttons who then crawled onto her shoulder.
Another convert! She compared them to kitties, cute and snuggled
together. Then her husband made the usual jokes about how much their
cats would "like" our rats. Hmpf. Mother-in-law still cannot get past
the tail issue, even though both hubby and I explained that tails are
necessary for balance and heat regulation. Oh well, what do you do? I
wonder if tail phobia is some kind of weird instinctual thing linked to
a primal fear of snakes? I think snakes are cool, although I'd never
have any. But I'm not afraid of them. That would be an interesting
study... are people who fear rat tails also afraid of snakes?
-Marlo

> The earlier biting rat post has just made me remember the amount of
> people who see the boys (they live next to the front door) and
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> cheers,
> M&m

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Mandie @k@ Zepherous - 23 Nov 2007 02:40 GMT

>I get that question all the time, too. It's probably because people are
>unfamiliar with rats as domesticated pets so they don't know what to
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>also afraid of snakes?
> -Marlo

I had one of my boys at he vet some time ago and he was snuggled in my
jacket with just his head sticking out,
a lady who was in the waiting room started saying "oh isn't he cute, how
sweet"
and things to that effect, then when he had moved from my jacket she shouted
"OMG. look at his tail, it's a rat"

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jennjenn84 - 23 Nov 2007 05:59 GMT

Thankfully most of my friends have already been around rats, so they know he
wont bite, but my family still cant get over it. I also think that may have
something to do with the fact that they are not around them and dont
understand. But its true, when I show someone a picture of my cat they say
things like, "Oh, how sweet... he is so cute" and then ask questions like how
old, and name and everything like that. But, when I show them Scoot's photo,
I hear things like, "Wow, you have a rat, why?" which is then followed up
with things about how much they hate rats and could never own one and how
terrible they are and kinds of crap. I just wish people would stop looking
at them as just 'rats' and see my perspective as his mommy.

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perigrine - 23 Nov 2007 19:57 GMT

> Thankfully most of my friends have already been around rats, so they know he
> wont bite, but my family still cant get over it. I also think that may have
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> --
> Message posted viahttp://www.petkb.com

I have a 'friend' who always hints that the cats should er..'play'
with the rats and mice. Although I understand where he is coming from
(huge wild rat in the toilet one night), it take a bit of restraint
not to have a go at him, they are my 'babies' after all. Then there
are the people who ask how the cats and rodents get on. The answer is
'quite well' - but they always seem to think cats + rodents = death. I
have two cats watching the mice right now. Yep, just watching, and the
mice are playing, eating and generally wandering around unconcerned.
This is not to say I would expect the cats to do that if the mice were
OUT of the cage though - the rats don't seem to be all that
interesting to the cats. One or other of the cats might stop by the
boys Mansion and have a look in to say hi or see how they are doing,
but thats about all.

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Tracey - 23 Nov 2007 09:46 GMT

I've also heard people say they don't like rat's tails because they remind
them of worms and they hate worms. Actually I don't like worms at all but
rat's tails have never bothered me, even before owning rats myself (and thus
getting to love every inch of my sweet darlings!).

Tracey

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Dewi - 27 Nov 2007 02:31 GMT

> >I get that question all the time, too. It's probably because people are
> >unfamiliar with rats as domesticated pets so they don't know what to
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Tracey

My mum's scared of rat and mice tails. She'll pet their backs though.

Dewo

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Slint Flig - 27 Nov 2007 09:03 GMT

>That would be an interesting
> study... are people who fear rat tails also afraid of snakes?
> -Marlo

I think you have a point. Imagine if the tail were covered in soft fur. I
think people would have a lot less of a problem with it. It's the
"reptilian" look of it that freaks people out.

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2007

"will he bite?"