GROOOOOOOOOOOSS!!!! Have you ever had a rat do this???

[mnmjenn]

:gaah: I don't even know where to post this... diet? Behavior? Distasteful events?

Ok... I know that dogs will eat their own poop sometimes... but rats???
Tonight we caught Susan in the litter box picking out a delectable morsel :sick2: and, well, you know... BLECK!!!!
Have anyone else's rats ever done this? We've given them a lot of veggies in the last 2 days... maybe she's just snacking on the left-overs. (Oh now I'm grossing me out. Time to stop!)

Any health concerns to be aware of with this... this... particular entree? :doh:

 

[Moon]

LOL, this does indeed happen.

Not tasty to think about, though. *ick*

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

:sick2: I am very glad I have yet to witness this

 

[rat.charmer]

Yup....I try not to think about it too much when they come up to kiss me haha

 

[Cityratt]

if it helps to justify it at all....they eat it to gain fermentation products (VFAs) which are produced by bacteria within their colon and cecum (i believe) - because rats are hind gut fermenters
they cannot absorb these nutrients across their intestinal lumen so the only way to get them is to eat them :wink:

They're kinda like reverse cows.....

 

[mnmjenn]

:holysheep: She was "cleaning" my teeth the other night.
Sick. :huh:

 

[keysong]

Yup, it's even got a fancy name - coprophagy.

 

[mnmjenn]

Ok, well... I'm glad there is a real biological reason for it... I think...

 

[keysong]

Just remember - it's for their health. Might make you feel a bit better about it :wink:

 

[lilspaz68]

Its called coprophagy and very normal Rats are usually pretty discreet about it so thats why you haven't noticed until now :lol:

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/coprophagy.htm

 

[RatsForever]

:holysheep: She was "cleaning" my teeth the other night.
Sick. :huh:

:laugh4:

I try not to think about it.

 

[lj]

I've never seen it. Thank God. But I can't say they've never done it. :sick2:

 

[jorats]

I'm usually quite ok about it... until they pick up a soft poop to eat. Then I'm done. :sick2:

 

[mercurydust]

I would say something smart....but I just cant stop laughing...omg lol soft poops-I am grossed out and dying from laughter at the same time. :laugh4:

 

[jujubeespmud]

:laugh4:

In the four years I've had rats, I just saw this for the first time 2 nights ago! I thought I was seeing things...cuz I had just cleaned out the cage and I knew there maybe was 1 or 2 terds on the cage floor and I thought I saw her grab one and eat it! I wasn't sure, but I could have swore it was her poop! I know rabbits do this, so it doesn't suprise me that rats do. The being discreet is hilarious!

 

[Godmother]

Mine are very discreet, also. Thank heavens for small mercies!! They know that I would be grossed out and wouldn't kiss them for a few minutes. :lol:

 

[MeaganMonster]

Funny that I came across this post today - I caught Marshmallow doing that this morning haha.
My Hubby doesn't think it's so funny though, she ate the poop she just dropped on him!!

 

[LA]

I knew this happened but if I don't think about it, it doesn't happen :mrgreen:

 

[dubchick]

I knew this happened but if I don't think about it, it doesn't happen :mrgreen:

here here!! lol

 

[benzin.fox]

What happens if a rat poops through wire into a tray. Are they in danger of not meeting the poop requirements for their digestive systems?

Should i remove the wire? I put it in there so they could poop through it likein their old cage and they took it to it immediately.