What the... Mice Nibbles - Paw Talk

skybaby87 · #1 04-06-2008, 12:40 AM

Just noticed something they've been doing that's rather odd. They want to chew on my NAILS! They also nibble (very gently, but they can get carried away) on the tips of my fingers. Now, they haven't hurt me, although if they do start to get carried away, I gently thump (gently is the key word, I'd never hurt my girls) them back with my finger and give mad sounding "no" and they seem to understand they went too far.

I don't understand this new fascination with my fingers! I always wash my hands after handling food and before touching them. So I know they can't possibly be thinking I'm food lol But I just don't understand it, they have plenty of toys to chew on. I put in more chew sticks last night. And the first thing they do tonight is start nibbling on me!

It doesn't hurt, and they aren't being aggressive. I just don't get it. Is this normal?

laydeerodentzz · #2 04-06-2008, 04:22 AM

I dont think it's aggressive behavior. I think they are probably grooming you, they probaby try and trim their own nails down when they get to long as part of their grooming prossess, so if they think your nails are too long they might be trying to groom them down for you lol... but I really dont think its a bad thing, if they are not hurting you or anything

Tessa83 · #3 04-06-2008, 07:00 AM

my girls chew on my fingernails too. i think it's cute. don't thump them.. they aren't doing anything wrong.

mulder · #4 04-06-2008, 11:23 AM

yeah they are just grooming you. rather than thump them, just say eeeep loudly, that'll do the trick

skybaby87 · #5 04-07-2008, 01:49 AM

Just for reference, I don't do anything unless they ARE hurting me lol And thump was probably too strong a word. I thought it might be when I typed it. I assure you I'm not hurting them at all, it's more of a little push. I'd never hurt an animal.

I didn't think about noise, so thanks for the tip, I hope I can do it right so they actually know I'm saying lol

I figured it was probably grooming, I just don't want them getting so carried away. (Sometimes it REALLY hurts. When I said they haven't hurt me I meant they haven't drawn blood.) I do think it's quite cute when they aren't deciding my fingers are too long and need trimming... lol

laydeerodentzz · #6 04-07-2008, 03:45 AM

lol hehe, we were not under the impression that you were hurting them, but maybe if they dont understand the eep, touch the tip of their noses that works sometimes.

mulder · #7 04-07-2008, 09:22 AM

oh heavens i didn't think you were hurting them. i just know an eeeep (like they would do if they didn't like something) works well

Vanilla_Rat · #8 04-07-2008, 03:24 PM

It is just groomng.Some of my mice and rats do it as well.

kristie0593 · #9 04-07-2008, 04:45 PM

the ratties that i really bonded with would always do that to me.i think it's just part of them showing their affection for you like grooming you.

skybaby87 · #10 04-08-2008, 05:18 PM

I know I know! No one thought I was evil! lol I'm just putting emphasis on that lol You have no idea what an AWESOME flame target I am lol

And Cat bit a hole through my nail last night... into the nailbed... ow...

No mice were harmed in the making of this post.

Hehe

mulder · #11 04-10-2008, 10:10 AM

lol silly cat!

skybaby87 · #12 04-10-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulder


	lol silly cat!

She just loves me... I think... Bleeding means love right? lol

It was awful when I had my finger bandaged, every time I put my hand in to say good morning they went nuts trying to chew off the foreign object that's attacking mommy lol

How twisted am I... I had a goldfish named Pig, a cat named Bugs, and now a mouse named Cat lol