Why does my rat yawn

[Karenin]

I was petting my rat when he was in his hammock and he yawned five times! Does anyone know why they do that? I didn’t even pet him for that long.

 

[Big Schpog]

Rats, like humans, yawn.

 

[Karenin]

Oh ok. I was just wondering if he was nervous.

 

[shaunavalon]

It is often ghastly and fascinating to watch them yawn - when they make big yawns it looks like they are turning their whole mouth inside out

Your rat was probably sleeping when you started, and this results in them yawning, much the same as humans - we yawn when we come out from shallow breathing phases like sleep.

The has been some association with yawning behaviour and environment - rats in a stressed state will avoid yawning. I guess that it means your rat is happy and comfortable around you, and you woke him up and he was not bothered by that or by you and felt it was safe to yawn and chill out with you.

 

[Karenin]

It is often ghastly and fascinating to watch them yawn - when they make big yawns it looks like they are turning their whole mouth inside out

Your rat was probably sleeping when you started, and this results in them yawning, much the same as humans - we yawn when we come out from shallow breathing phases like sleep.

The has been some association with yawning behaviour and environment - rats in a stressed state will avoid yawning. I guess that it means your rat is happy and comfortable around you, and you woke him up and he was not bothered by that or by you and felt it was safe to yawn and chill out with you.

That’s good. I’m glad he was happy!