2007-03-22 08:06:17 · 6 answers · asked by Heather M 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Dani and all, there's a reason why rats love so much to be petted around the head and ears. It's called allogrooming, http://www.ratbehavior.org/Glossary.htm#Allogrooming
If you watch a group of rats grooming each other you will notice that the grooming starts at the head. This is the first indication that a rat has been accepted as a family member. In the place of another rat you can repeat this same allogrooming with your fingers by petting the rat about the head and ears and this lets your rat know that it is an accepted member of it's adopted human colony. You never know, your rat might groom you back.
Dani has already noticed how relaxed and calm they become when she allogrooms her rats. There are a type of hormones in the brain, called endorphines - the feel good hormone, that are released when the rats are touched in places they enjoy. The same feeling would come over you if someone were to message the back of your neck.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-25 07:39:31 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, i guess it varies from rat to rat but my rats really enjoy being pet on the head, and rubbed behind their ears. Even when they're feeling fiesty, if I start doing that they usually calm right down and will sit still for the longest time. Pet them in different places and see what area they seem to respond to the best
2007-03-22 15:29:56 · answer #2 · answered by Dani 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should pet them right down there spine. Start at the top of there head and go all the way down there back . You could even pet there tail if they like that. anyways you can pet your rat where ever you want ,you just have to pay close atention to your rat and see where he likes to be peted the most.
2007-03-27 12:38:11 · answer #3 · answered by michelle h 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They prefer to investigate you & anything you have in your hands. If you want to pet something get a cat or dog. Most rodents are not into petting or loving.
2007-03-29 10:39:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mine love being pet behind the ears, and the older one also loves if you lightly stroke between his eyes, down to his nose. :)
2007-03-29 14:19:40 · answer #5 · answered by jamie_marfurt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
mine like being rubbed behind their ears and on their cheeks. as long as they are not trying to get away from you when they are being pet they are probably enjoying it.
2007-03-22 19:35:49 · answer #6 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋