Pet Rat Poop And Poop Habits

Committing to a pet is not unlike committing to marriage vows; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. You get to experience all the joys, while simultaneously accepting that it’s not always sunshine and roses. There will be plenty of times when it’s a stinky, dirty experience.

I’m talking about pet poop. All animals do it, but rats in particular are prolific poopers. They can quickly cover their cage floor with tiny pellets, or “raisins” as they are commonly called. So, if you’re going to have rats, you need to know a thing or two about their Number Two. While this is not the most pleasant topic, knowing what to expect and how to spot changes can tell you a lot of about your rat’s health and mood.

Coprophagy

Rats excrete two different types of feces, apparently, similar to that of rabbits. Despite almost three decades of being a rat owner, I never knew this! I only learned about it while doing research for this article when I stumbled upon the Rat Guide’s page about coprophagy (the eating of excrement).

It says coprophagy is normal for rats, but if mine have been doing this, I’ve thankfully never witnessed it. I’ve read people discussing this topic online numerous times, but it was always said to be a rare occurrence and only happened when a rat was missing nutrients. According to the Rat Guide, however, this may be more common than most owners realize. Who knew?

Rat Poop Facts

I can’t find a definitive answer on how often rats poop in a single day, but they have roughly 30 to 50 droppings in that time. You almost have to be impressed by how quickly they can re-pollute a freshly cleaned cage … almost.

Their droppings are most often oblong, but can also be oval, round, or egg-shaped. They are brown or almost black in color, but diet can change this. A healthy rat should eliminate soft, yet solid droppings. Adult rat poop can be anywhere from ½ an inch to ¾ of an inch long, while a baby rat’s pellets are considerably smaller, like that of a mouse’s.

The odor is as expected; it’s poop after all. But, in my opinion, it is not nearly as strong as cat or dog feces.

Foul-Smelling Poop

You may come across some rats whose droppings smell far worse than normal. In my experience, this is a sign of malnutrition. The many unfortunate times I have had a rat with truly noxious poops, they had all been rescued from some sort of neglect or abuse situation shortly before I adopted them. By abuse, I mean hoarders, neglectful owners that starved them, or fed them only carrots or butter (I’m not kidding), and rats dumped outside to fend for themselves. Every one of these rats came to me with such foul-smelling feces that it was as if the odor was emanating out of their pores. It was inescapable, and every inch of them smelled — wrong. I honestly don’t even know how to describe this smell, but it’s unmistakable to me. The second I come across it, I know in an instant that the rat has been surviving on an unacceptable diet, among other problems, leaving their gut flora in terrible shape.

It’s imperative to get rats like this started on a proper diet immediately . [Rascally Rat Nutri-Berries is a complete rat diet. – Eds.], along with small amounts of yogurt and/or a probiotic every day. I prefer the probiotic Bene-Bac and have given it to all my stinkers every day until a least a month after they started smelling normal. Usually, it has only taken a few months to balance these rats out, but some have needed longer. With enough time and appropriate nutrition, you can correct this problem for your rat

Fear Pooping

Rats poop when they are afraid. Baby rats are notorious for this! This is because they are still getting to know and trust the humans in their life, and nervous tummies are not great about holding things in. So don’t be surprised if your new little friend drops a large quantity of pellets on you. This also goes for nervous adult rats visiting the vet, or being in a situation they aren’t used to or are unhappy about. And with adults, those fear poos tend to be soft, squishy, and stronger smelling.

Soft Poops

Changes to the consistency or color of your rat’s droppings can provide information about their health or well-being. Super soft stool or diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors, including: illness, parasites, megacolon, antibiotics, and stress.

Since many antibiotics commonly cause stomach upset for rats, offer them yogurt or a probiotic during the duration of the medication. Discuss with your vet about the amount to give and which antibiotics cause this side effect.

If soft stools or diarrhea only last for a short while or happen in specific situations, then it’s likely a sign of stress. For instance, a number of my rats got diarrhea or loose stools when traveling with us in the car. Whether it was from nerves (fear poops) or car sickness I’ve never been sure, but being in a car was the trigger.

So, if my rats have to be in the car, I bring along a pack of wet wipes and a roll of paper towels, even for short rides. If my rats are traveling with us on a long road trip, then I also pack overly ripe bananas. This was a trick my great grandmother taught me while traveling to Colorado with her and my first heart rat, Rory. She said that really ripe bananas are an old-school remedy for diarrhea, and it worked! I only gave Rory small chunks to eat while on the road; not a whole banana.

If stress is not the cause and loose or wet stools persists throughout the day, talk to your vet. It’s important to prevent dehydration, learn the underlying cause of the loose stools, and treat it.

Constipation

If your rat is dropping hard, dry pellets, he or she may be dehydrated or constipated. This can happen when a rat is elderly, sick, or isn’t getting enough fluids. Try to get your rat rehydrated.

If it’s a chronic issue and the poop is stuck inside them, they could have megacolon. This is a serious genetic condition that usually starts at a very young age, but it’s not unheard of for a rat to develop this problem later in life. It absolutely requires a vet!

Weird Poop

An odd observation I’ve made over the years is that some droppings come out looking as if there’s a piece of string or grasslike substance sticking out one end. Some of these pellets have even been connected to one another like a fecal pearl necklace.

The first time I noticed this I thought one of my rats had ingested some material from a hammock. Or even worse, maybe they had a parasite like a pinworm. I tried to see if it was moving, but it wasn’t. When I noticed it again, I showed my vet. She wasn’t sure what it was but didn’t seem overly concerned. Nor did she think it was a parasite.

I don’t see these types of droppings all the time, but every one of my rat groups has had them. My guess is that it doesn’t specifically indicate a health issue. Also, if it’s not from swallowing string or material, then I think it’s likely undigested fur. I have found numerous sources online mentioning fur being found in wild rat droppings, so I assume this happens with our domestic ones as well.

I’ve never found this to be a problem for my rats, but it’s always wise to pay attention to any strange droppings. If you ever see blood in your rat’s stool, or anything moving, definitely get them and a stool sample to your vet.

Clean Up

Rats truly are super poopers, but it’s the number of rats one has that determines how often an owner needs to clean the cage. One way to lessen the mess is by potty training your rats. I won’t say it’s the easiest thing to accomplish or that your rats will be 100% about it, but I’ve found that just putting litter boxes in the cage (whether you train your rats or not) encourages them to use the boxes a good portion of the time. This makes it easier to spot clean and scoop poop in between major cleanings. My article “My Favorite Tips for Rat Care” details ways to keep your cage cleaner.

Bathroom Cues

Having pet rats does not mean continuously being covered in poop and urine. There are a few exceptions, like fear pooping and males sometimes mark their owners. Overall, however, rats eventually learn their owners are not toilets (your furniture is another story), and you will stay clean.

Unless, you’re not paying attention to their cues that is. If you’ve been cuddling your rats for a long period of time and they suddenly start getting extremely squirmy, trying to get away from you, they probably need to go to the bathroom. Ignoring this means consequences, and that’s technically your fault, not theirs. I’m not sure if this makes it better or worse, but you’re more likely to be peed on than pooped on.

If you like having your rats out for several hours at a time, consider having a litter box available outside the cage for them. The minute they start squirming, put them in it.

Another cue to pay attention to is sudden stillness. When a rat that has been exploring your couch or bed suddenly becomes very still, with hunched shoulders, they are most likely pooping. So many times, I’ve glanced over to a rat sitting all tucked into themselves with sleepy eyes, looking all serene and precious, only to see the rat walk away a moment later, leaving behind a pile of raisins. Blech! This is why I cover any furniture I allow my rats on and keep wet wipes and tissues close by.

Having pets is not always easy, but I promise you that rats are definitely worth the effort — poop and all!