List of articles № 55

Why Rats Grind Their Teeth

Rats exhibit two distinct patterns of tooth‑grinding that influence the rate of dental attrition. The first pattern, often termed «voluntary bruxism», occurs when animals deliberately gnaw on objects such as cage bars, food pellets, or nesting material.. Date latest changes:

Diagram of Ultrasonic Rat Repeller

Ultrasound operates as a high‑frequency acoustic wave, typically above 20 kHz, a range inaudible to humans but perceptible to many rodents. The wave propagates through air as alternating compressions and rarefactions of the medium, creating rapid pressure fluctuations that stimulate the auditory receptors of small mammals.. Date latest changes:

Can Rats Have a Wheel? Benefits and Recommendations

Enrichment directly influences a rat’s physical health, cognitive function, and stress resilience. Without stimuli that encourage natural behaviors, rats exhibit reduced activity, heightened anxiety, and an increased risk of obesity and musculoskeletal issues.. Date latest changes:

Can Rats Eat Pumpkin Seeds? Pros and Cons

Pet rats require a balanced diet that meets specific macronutrient and micronutrient levels to maintain health, support growth, and ensure reproductive success. Protein should constitute 20–25 % of total caloric intake, sourced from high‑quality animal or plant proteins such as cooked eggs, lean meat, or soy products.. Date latest changes:

Humane Euthanasia for Rats at Home

Recognizing the onset of distress in pet rodents is a prerequisite for humane end‑of‑life decisions. Observable indicators provide the only reliable basis for timely intervention, preventing prolonged suffering. ‑ Rapid, shallow breathing or audible wheezing ‑ Hunched posture, reluctance to move, or inability to support body weight ‑ Dull, glazed eyes and reduced response to tactile stimuli ‑ Persistent vocalizations, especially high‑pitched squeaks ‑ Excessive grooming o. Date latest changes:

Why Use Prednisone in Rats

Prednisone is a synthetic glucocorticoid routinely employed in rodent research to modulate inflammatory and immune responses. Its effectiveness derives from several pharmacological characteristics that distinguish it from endogenous hormones.. Date latest changes:

Which Rat Breed Is Best to Keep at Home?

Rats display a range of temperaments that influence suitability for a household environment. Standard Fancy rats : generally sociable, curious, and quick to bond with humans; they tolerate handling and adapt well to new surroundings. Dumbo rats :. Date latest changes:

Can Rats' Claws Be Trimmed

Rat claws are integral to survival, serving several essential functions. Locomotion – Curved, sharp nails provide traction on vertical surfaces, enabling rats to ascend pipes, wires, and tree trunks with minimal effort. Burrowing – Front claws act as excavators, loosening soil and debris to create nests and tunnels that protect colonies from predators and environmental extremes.. Date latest changes:

What to Feed a Pet Rat Besides Specialized Feed

Protein is essential for growth, tissue repair, and immune function in domestic rats. Adult individuals require approximately 16–18 % of their diet to be protein, while juveniles need 20 % or more to support rapid development. Rats weighing 200–300 g typically consume 15–20 g of food daily;. Date latest changes:

What to Do If a Rat Breaks Its Leg

When a rat sustains a leg fracture, the first visual cue is an abnormal shape of the limb. The bone may appear shortened, twisted, or displaced relative to the opposite leg. Swelling often accompanies the deformity, creating a noticeable bulge that can obscure the normal contour of the foot and ankle.. Date latest changes:

Video: How a Rat Baths in the Shower

The video depicting a rodent cleaning itself in a shower was first made publicly available on a major video‑sharing service in early 2023. The initial upload employed the platform’s standard high‑definition preset, ensuring playback at 1080 p with a frame rate of 30 fps.. Date latest changes:

What You Need to Know Before Getting a Rat

Rats thrive on interaction with their own kind. A solitary rat often exhibits heightened stress, reduced activity, and a propensity for repetitive behaviors that can progress to self‑injury. Providing a conspecific companion mitigates these risks and promotes natural social rituals such as grooming, nesting, and play.. Date latest changes:

What to Do If a Rat Refuses to Eat and Drink

When a rat stops eating and drinking, observable behavioral shifts become the primary source of information about underlying problems. Rats that refuse food and water often display one or more of the following changes: Reduced activity levels, lingering in corners or remaining motionless for extended periods.. Date latest changes:

Influenza in Mice: Prevention and Treatment

Influenza viruses that cause disease in laboratory mice belong to several subtypes of the Orthomyxoviridae family. Researchers have generated mouse‑adapted variants of human, avian, and swine isolates to achieve robust replication and measurable pathology in the murine host.. Date latest changes:

How to Poison Mice: Safe and Effective Methods

The use of toxic baits for rodent control introduces several health risks that affect humans and non‑target animals. Direct contact with concentrated poison can cause skin irritation, respiratory distress, or systemic toxicity if absorbed through cuts or mucous membranes.. Date latest changes:

Hedgehog Hunter: How Small Hedgehogs Catch Mice

Hedgehogs are active hunters that regularly capture mice, contradicting the popular image of them as passive garden visitors. Their natural diet includes a wide range of prey, and misconceptions about nutritional needs can lead to inappropriate feeding practices.. Date latest changes:

How High Can Mice Jump?

Mice routinely achieve vertical displacements of 30–45 cm, equivalent to 10–15 body lengths, demonstrating extraordinary power output for their size. Skeletal muscle in these rodents is dominated by fast‑twitch glycolytic fibers. The proportion of type IIb fibers can exceed 70 % of total fiber count, providing rapid force development and high shortening velocity.. Date latest changes:

Wormwood Against Mice: Does This Folk Remedy Work?

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is employed in traditional rodent control, but its chemical constituents pose measurable hazards to people and domestic animals. The plant contains thujone, a neurotoxic monoterpene, and sesquiterpene lactones that can provoke allergic reactions.. Date latest changes:

Insulation Materials Not Eaten by Mice: Options

Mice infestations often originate from the dual attraction of food and shelter; insulation that supplies either can become a target. Materials that contain organic fibers, starches, or waxes serve as edible resources, while loose, porous structures offer nesting spaces.. Date latest changes:

Which Scents Mice Dislike: Prevention Secrets

Mice rely on a highly developed olfactory system to locate food, assess threats, and navigate their environment. Airborne molecules enter the nasal cavity and bind to receptors on olfactory sensory neurons. Each neuron expresses a single receptor type, and the combinatorial activation pattern conveys the identity and intensity of an odor.. Date latest changes:

Do Mice Live in Basalt Wool?

Basalt wool is produced by melting natural basalt rock at temperatures above 1,400 °C and extruding the molten material through fine nozzles to form continuous fibers. The resulting fiber matrix is bound with a phenolic or inorganic resin to create panels, rolls, or batts used for insulation.. Date latest changes:

Why People Fear Mice and Rats

Rodents are vectors for numerous pathogens that affect humans, creating a rational basis for widespread apprehension. Their close proximity to food stores, waste, and human dwellings facilitates the transfer of infectious agents through urine, feces, saliva, and bite wounds.. Date latest changes:

At what age do kittens start catching mice

The neonatal period in domestic cats spans the first two weeks after birth. During this time kittens are blind, deaf, and completely dependent on the mother for warmth, nutrition, and stimulation. Growth is rapid; body weight typically doubles, and the digestive system begins to mature enough to process milk exclusively.. Date latest changes:

How a Mouse Got Into a Beer Barrel: An Amazing Story

The Fermentation Station opens at dawn, when temperature gauges stabilize at 18 °C and the first batch of wort is transferred from the mash tun to the fermentation vessel. Operators verify specific gravity, record the reading in the logbook, and attach the appropriate yeast strain—ale, lager, or specialty—according to the production schedule.. Date latest changes:

Names for Female Rats: Ideas

Pet rats captivate owners with high intelligence, strong social bonds, and adaptable temperaments. Their ability to learn tricks, solve puzzles, and respond to human interaction rivals that of more traditional companions. Small size and modest space requirements allow placement in apartments or homes without extensive modifications.. Date latest changes:

Rats in space: amazing facts about interstellar rodents

Soviet scientists incorporated rats into their space program to obtain data that could not be gathered from larger mammals. The small size of rodents allowed precise control of diet, environment, and instrumentation, making them ideal for repeated physiological measurements under micro‑gravity conditions.. Date latest changes:

Rat Elimination Methods: Overview

Recognizing rat activity is essential for effective control measures. Early detection allows prompt intervention, reducing damage and health risks. Dark, pellet‑shaped droppings, typically 0.5 cm long, found near food sources, walls, or along runways.. Date latest changes:

Why Do Rats Shiver?

Rats shiver as a physiological response to maintain core temperature when ambient conditions drop below their thermal comfort zone. The process relies on rapid, involuntary muscle activity that converts chemical energy into heat without producing external movement.. Date latest changes:

Do Rats Eat Onions

Rats are classified as omnivores, meaning they obtain nutrients from both animal and plant sources. Their natural diet includes seeds, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates, allowing them to adapt to a wide range of environments. When presented with onion material, rats may sample it, but several factors limit regular consumption.. Date latest changes:

Rat IQ: How Intelligent Are They?

Intelligence in animals is commonly defined as the capacity to acquire, retain, and apply information to solve problems, adapt to changing environments, and exhibit flexible behavior. Researchers operationalize this concept through observable traits that can be measured across species.. Date latest changes:

Should Rats Be Bathed? Proper Rodent Care

Rats maintain hygiene through a series of instinctive grooming behaviors that eliminate dirt, parasites, and excess oils. Their short, dense fur and sensitive skin require regular attention, which they provide without human intervention. During grooming, a rat performs the following actions:. Date latest changes:

Diet of Hand-Reared Rats: Recommendations

Hand‑reared rats require a diet that supplies sufficient protein, fat, vitamins and minerals to support rapid somatic growth and neural maturation. Protein levels should range from 18 % to 22 % of caloric intake; essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine and tryptophan must be present in balanced proportions.. Date latest changes:

Selecting and Purchasing a Cage for a Dambo Rat

When acquiring a cage for a Dambo rat, physical health must guide every decision. The enclosure directly influences musculoskeletal development, respiratory function, and skin integrity. Adequate space prevents skeletal strain and encourages natural movement.. Date latest changes:

How Often Do Street Rats Reproduce?

Street rat breeding cycles respond directly to the surrounding environment. Temperature fluctuations dictate gestation length and litter size; warmer periods accelerate ovarian activity, while colder months suppress it. Food abundance, primarily from human refuse, determines the energy budget available for reproduction, with high waste concentrations enabling multiple litters per year.. Date latest changes:

Do Cats Hunt Rats?

Cats possess innate predatory instincts that drive them to stalk, chase, and capture small vertebrates. Their hunting sequence includes detection, fixation, pounce, and kill, each stage supported by specific sensory and motor adaptations. Vision:. Date latest changes:

What Does Rat Meat Taste Like

Rats have been incorporated into diets across several regions for centuries, providing a reliable protein source where livestock are scarce or costly. In Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, wild and farm‑raised rats are grilled, stewed, or fried, yielding a flavor described as mildly gamey with a subtle sweet undertone, comparable to dark poultry.. Date latest changes:

What to Do About a Tumor in a Rat

Mammary tumors are among the most common neoplasms observed in laboratory rats, particularly in female strains with a predisposition for endocrine‑responsive growth. These lesions typically arise from the epithelial cells of the mammary gland and can progress from benign adenomas to aggressive carcinomas.. Date latest changes:

Do Rats Eat Eggs in a Chicken Coop?

Rats are drawn to chicken coops because the environment offers multiple resources that meet their survival needs. Food availability is the primary lure. Coops contain feed, grain, scratch kernels, and occasional spilled crumbs. Even small amounts left in feeders or on the floor provide high‑calorie sustenance.. Date latest changes:

Water Rat and Otter: Differences and Photos

The aquatic rodent commonly called the water rat and the semi‑aquatic carnivore known as the otter are frequently confused, leading to persistent myths that distort public perception. Misconception 1: Both species belong to the same taxonomic family.. Date latest changes:

Animals Similar to Rats but Larger

Rodents belong to the order Rodentia, the most diverse mammalian group, with over 2,800 species occupying nearly every continent. Their defining feature is a pair of continuously growing incisors in each jaw, equipped with enamel on the front edge and softer dentin behind, creating a self‑sharpening cutting edge.. Date latest changes: