Are Rats Incontinent? (How They Control Their Bladder

Brown Rat in the rain

If you’ve ever kept rats as pets or dealt with a rat infestation, you’ve probably noticed something pretty gross: they pee everywhere. Unlike dogs or cats that can be house-trained, rats seem to just let loose wherever they happen to be. Are rats incontinent? Can they actually control their bladder at all? Rats are not … Read more

Why Do Rats Tails Get Tangled? (“Rat King” Explained

Thirteen rats with tangled tails on display in a glass case

One of the strangest and most disturbing images you can find of rats is what’s called a “rat king.” Multiple rats literally stuck together by their tails, creating a writhing mass of bodies that can’t separate. It looks like something out of a horror movie. Historical accounts describe finding these tangled groups of rats, sometimes … Read more

Why Do Rats Have Whiskers? (Sensing the World Around Them

Brown Rat on a high rock

Watch a rat move around in dim light and you’ll notice something interesting. Its whiskers are constantly moving, sweeping forward and back like little antennas. They’re not just decorative. Those long, stiff hairs sticking out from their face are doing serious work. Rats use them to gather information about their environment in ways that might … Read more

Why Do People Hate Rats? (History, Health, and Fear

Brown Rat next to a drain

Mention rats at a party and watch people’s faces change. Some people shudder. Others launch into stories about seeing one in the subway or their basement. Almost everyone has a negative reaction, even people who’ve never actually had a problem with rats. This hatred seems almost universal across cultures and time periods. But rats are … Read more