Rat behavior

[Rodie61]

I find this odd. Since the move last June, one of my rats (Gabby - she's nine months old) insists on covering up the main kibble bowl with anything she can find. She didn't use to. The other girls don't seem to mind but I get a bit concerned that she may cover up the food with a soiled piece of bedding or something...not very sanitary. I've tried taking away what she put there but I felt like a heel afterwards, plus she simply goes back and does it again. Can anybody tell me why she has this behavior now?

[pinkie1205]

Shes just hiding her food, its really not a big deal. She thinks shes being smart and stashing it from her friends.

[Mousey]

thats just what some mice and rats do. Mine stash food in their house and every where else.. Maybe in hopes I'll gtive them more food. lol.

[lilspaz68]

Actually the stashing behaviour is a leftover from their wild instincts. Stashing means survival. Rats can be "normal" for ages and then just start this stashing behaviour, and there are also some that are tidy. Your girl sounds like one of those. Its the funniest thing to see a rat put the cat jingle balls into the food bowl. Another rat will go over adn remove it so they can get at the food, and the original rat primly puts it back in again while the other is eating.

[Vanilla_Rat]

My rats stash things,like food and toys...but they never cover their food dishes with shavings.

I do have a mouse that does it tho.My little Milkshake does this EVERYDAY.I have to uncover it and she goes back and covers it again.

[Rodie61]

Thanks everybody. I wasn't worried so much as curious at the sudden change in her. She's a persistant little bugger! lol

[mulder]

my ratty boys do it too, don't' worry it's ok

[Skratikans]

my rat does it too, sometimes she does it under my pillows but mostly she stashes in her house