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Post by doctorbob on May 3, 2009 23:30:47 GMT -4
I looked and did the search for a topic discussing the noises a rat might make in different situations and not seeing one right away, I'm making a new post. One of ours (Silver) does this chirp or "cluck" occasionally. And it's usually when she's happy, such as being groomed by somebody else in the cage. I just wondered what it meant and started a google search. But I don't like a lot of what I'm finding. I've read some sites where people say this chirping is bad and is a sign of an existing or impending respiratory infection. I've also seen sites where they say such noises are dependent on what the rat is doing and what kind of mood they're in and aren't necessarily a bad thing. Silver has always done this; even since she was a month or two old. And she has recently had a check-up at the vet and received a clean bill of health.
Anybody have insight on this? I don't want to panic for something she just does when she's happy... And I certainly don't want to ignore an actual medical condition; especially one that could possibly be fatal, considering how quickly her predecessor passed on with an actual deadly respiratory infection.
Any replies are appreciated.
Thanks, db
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Post by adoptaratcanada on May 4, 2009 0:36:08 GMT -4
First off, if she's always done this and has had a recent check-up, I'd say you have nothing to worry about. You're sure it's not bruxing? That's sort of a grinding sound which they do when happy. When my rats have boggled (eyes pop out and wobble around when happy) they also make a "ch-ch-ch-ch-ch" sound that corresponds with the eye wobbling. I'm suspecting *that's* the sound you're noticing. The bruxing and the boggling often go hand in hand. That said, you're right, rats generally don't make vocalizations. Generally screeching if caused pain is the only one I can think of....oh, and tiny squeaks if a friend is grooming them too stong. Beyond those, other sounds would be cause for concern. It took ages to find a half decent video of a bruxing rat!! Lots *of* them, but there's either too much background noise or the person has created a music track for the video! This was about the best I could find. You may have to turn up your speakers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDCO1bxhUGc
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 4, 2009 18:37:48 GMT -4
One person's opinion. . .>> mine hiss when they're mad, it kind of sounds like a low squeak; they squeak, like little chirps; they squawk, like loud kissy noises; and they grunt, it kind of sounds like "Hnk,Hnk, Hnk" when I give them something yummy to eat. They also talk to each other and Dodie...my alpha female...makes sniffy noises when somebody is in her spot or tries to get between her and the yogies. << >> Mine make a huff huff huff sound when thier irritated or mad. When thier happy they sound like eeeep eeeeep eeeeep. It is so fun to listen to them when they are playing with each other << >> there are the bruxing noises which can be happy or upset. there are peeps and cheeps and warbles and such which individual rats make on a personal preference basis. << >> some squeak more than others, some you will never get a sound out of. There is also what can only be described as a soft grunting which comes from deep within them. this is the only audible part of a rat's utrasoninc voicings you can hear. << a great place to hear all kinds of rat noises is www.ratbehavior.org/norway_rat_vocalizations.htmand for a really good recording of rat bruxing you can listen to: tails.angelratdesigns.com/audiovideo/celia.mp3 << Here is a chart with the sounds themselves: www.ratbehavior.org/norway_rat_vocalizations.htmSOUNDS RATS MAKEThat should answer your question.
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Post by doctorbob on May 4, 2009 22:25:03 GMT -4
Hey thanks for all that info. I know the illnesses our rats can get are serious and we should take them seriously. But man, there are some folks out there who would have you believe every pet rat is in a constant state of dropping dead. And that's just not the case. As we've seen here (and I've seen in our rats), sometimes they do cluck, click, chirp, bark, squeak, scream, hiss, pop, and call you George when they're not sick at all... Thanks again. I appreciate the info on bruxing and also the links. Got some reading to do. db
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