Understanding rats
Understanding rats and their body language
While I’m building the first prototype and looking for different technical solutions, I need to understand better, what kind of behavior I will need to express through the technology
A rat uses its body position, posture, head and ear position, fur, and tail to communicate.
Some of the most common signs:
* Intense fear or pain will result in a long scream. A rat that is only annoyed will give a short squeak or a longer whiny squeak. This is especially common when one rat is picking on another or trying to steal food.
* A rat that is uncertain or afraid will twitch his ears back and forth and shrink backward.
* A curious rat will often tip his or her ears forward and either move its head in that direction or reach up and sniff the air.
* Rats often push things away when they don’t want them, such as a piece of food or even when they don’t want to be petted. Other times, they may just turn away or leave.
* Some rats wag their tails slowly when you pet them, as to show contentment.
* Many times rats may swing their tails wildly when they are picked up and feel insecure. This is why, when holding rats, you must always support their feet.
* If a rat rattles or flicks his tail back and forth, he is probably experiencing some sort of social distress or sees something that worries him.
* Relaxed rats, especially rats that are being petted, will grind their teeth together to express contentment or happiness. This is called bruxing. Sometimes while a rat is bruxing, his or her eyes bulge in and out.
* Rats mark their territory by leaving drops of urine where they have walked. This is more common in males, and can be reduced by having him neutered.
* A rat that is feeling aggressive will puff out his fur and hunch his back. Do not handle a rat in this position, as he may bite. If he or she is threatening another rat, remove the victim immediately. Aggressive rats should only be picked up in a towel. Keep in mind, though, if a rat has no reason to feel aggressive and seems lethargic, puffed up fur can mean the rat is sick. Sometimes they also puff their fur when they’re cold.
* Rats that want to be petted approach humans with their heads low.
* Rats that are feeling playful will scamper around, sometimes in a circle, but often in a jerky, crazed manner.
//Consider an order of applying these to the artificial rat(!)