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What noises do rats make?
Pet rats squeak, brux, chatter, hiss, huff, grunt and chirp, and they have a whole second language above our hearing. Here is every sound, what it usually means and what to do. Meanings come from PetMD, the RSPCA and Chewy's vet-reviewed guide to rat sounds.
| Sound | What it sounds like | Usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruxing | Soft, steady teeth grinding | Content and relaxed, like a cat purring | Nothing; enjoy it |
| Chattering | Louder grinding with pops and clicks of the teeth | Annoyance, tension, or a fight brewing | Watch the group; give space |
| Soft squeak | Short, low "eep" | Play, chat, or mild surprise | Normal |
| Sharp squeak | Sudden, high, loud | Pain or fright | Check for injury |
| Scream | Loud, shrill shriek | Terror, severe pain, or a real fight | Act now; separate fighters |
| Hiss | Sharp, forceful breath out | Fear, defence, or "stay away" | Back off and give space |
| Huff | Deep breath out, sometimes puffed up | Grumpy or annoyed | Leave them be |
| Grunt | Short, low sound | Happy or excited, if brief | Vet if long and unexplained |
| Chirp you can hear | Bird-like peep | Often a breathing problem | Vet check |
| Clicking or crackling | Like crisp cereal in milk | Breathing infection | Vet; severe clicking is an emergency |
| Wheezing | Whistle when breathing | Breathing infection | Vet |
| Sniffling | Loud, wet sniffing | Nose or chest infection | Vet |
Sounds never tell the whole story. Read them alongside ears, eyes, tail and posture, which our guide to rat sounds and signals and our visual guide to rat body language cover in pictures.
What does bruxing mean?
Bruxing is a rat gently grinding its front teeth, and most of the time it means a happy, relaxed rat. PetMD compares it to a cat purring. You'll often hear it while you stroke your rat, or as it dozes on your lap.
Strong bruxing can make the eyes vibrate in and out, which is called boggling. It looks alarming but PetMD and the RSPCA both describe it as a sign of contentment; the jaw muscle runs behind the eye. The RSPCA adds one exception: eyes that bulge more than usual or don't go back into place need urgent vet advice.
Bruxing can also be a sign of stress or pain (RSPCA, PetMD). If a rat is grinding hard while hunched, sitting alone, breathing fast or off its food, treat it as pain, not purring, and ring your vet.
Rat squeaks: what they mean
A squeak's meaning depends on how loud and sudden it is. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide splits them like this:
- Soft, low squeaks during play or wrestling: normal rat chat. Young rats squeak a lot while play fighting, which PetMD says is fine as long as nobody is cut or losing fur.
- A light "eep" when poked or bumped: mild surprise.
- A sudden, high, loud squeak: pain or fright. Check the rat over.
- Screaming: serious distress, severe pain or a real fight. Step in.
- Squeaking with sneezing: Chewy advises a prompt vet visit.
A new rat squeaking when you pick it up is usually nervous, not hurt. If a rat that loves handling suddenly squeaks when you touch one spot, feel for a lump or wound there.
Ultrasonic rat sounds you can't hear
Much of what rats say is too high for human ears. The RSPCA says rats "laugh" with high-pitched squeaks when they are happy or excited, too high for us to hear. Chewy's guide adds that happy chirps are ultrasonic, that adult rats use happy ultrasonic calls during play and stroking, and that baby rats use them to call for help when they are cold or in distress.
So a silent rat isn't a quiet rat. A rat that leaps and twists (popcorning), has pink ears and keeps coming back for more tickles is probably laughing at a pitch you'll never hear. Our rat facts page has more of these surprises.
Because the happy chirps are ultrasonic, a chirp you can actually hear is worth noticing. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide links audible chirping to breathing infections, so listen closely for sneezing or clicking over the next day or two.
Breathing noises that mean see a vet
Clicking, wheezing, loud sniffling and frequent sneezing are not calls. They are breathing noises, and in rats they usually mean a respiratory infection, which VCA says is common in rats and can become life-threatening. Chewy describes severe clicking, like crisp cereal crackling in milk, as an emergency.
- Clicking or crackling as the rat breathes.
- Wheezing or whistling.
- Sneezing, especially with squeaking or discharge.
- Reddish-brown staining round the eyes or nose (RSPCA, VCA).
- Breathing with visible effort or sides heaving.
- Hunched posture, puffed-up coat or a head tilt.
Rats hide illness well, so the RSPCA says not to wait. Our guides to rat respiratory infections and signs your rat is sick explain how fast to act.
What sounds do rats hate?
Loud, sudden and high-pitched noise. The RSPCA says rats have very sensitive hearing and can hear ultrasound, and it lists what to keep them away from:
- Vacuum cleaners and washing machines.
- Speakers, stereos and TVs.
- Alarms, phones and doorbells.
- Anything that gives off high-pitched sound or ultrasound.
- Metal food bowls, which the RSPCA says create ultrasound noise; use ceramic instead.
Pick a quiet corner of a room where the rats can still see people, which the RSPCA says they enjoy, and keep the cage there rather than moving it about.
Do sounds scare away wild rats?
We couldn't find a welfare charity or vet source that shows sound keeps wild rats away for good, and Humane World for Animals' guidance on wild rats doesn't rely on sound at all. It says rats will come back whatever method you use unless you remove their food supply, and that no single repellent is likely to work on its own. Its approach is:
- Remove the food. Store human and pet food in metal or glass containers with tight lids, sweep up spills, and don't leave pet food out.
- Lock up the bins. Use metal or heavy plastic bins with tight lids, and put bags out shortly before collection.
- Take away cover. Clear ivy, long grass, wood piles and junk where rats can hide or burrow.
- Seal the gaps. Fill any opening wider than about 1.25 cm (half an inch) with mortar, metal mesh or other chew-proof material.
- Keep watching. Check for new signs so they can't settle back in.
If you keep pet rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils or other small pets, don't use ultrasonic pest devices anywhere in the house. The RSPCA says pet rats should be kept away from ultrasound, and a device meant to drive rodents away will distress the ones you love.
Humane World for Animals also asks people never to use poison or glue traps, which cause slow suffering and kill other animals too.
Is there a noise that attracts rats?
Not one that works on wild rats; food and shelter are what draw them in. Pet rats are different. The RSPCA says rats can learn to respond to their names and can be trained with rewards, so they can learn to come to any sound you pair with treats: a name, a whistle, a clicker or a shaken treat pot. Our guide to training pet rats shows how to teach your rats to come when called. For everything else, the pet rat care hub links every guide.
Questions owners ask
What noises do rats make?
Pet rats squeak, chirp, hiss, huff, grunt and grind their teeth (bruxing). Much of their happy chatter, including laughter during play, is ultrasonic and too high for people to hear. Clicking, wheezing or loud sniffling are breathing noises rather than calls, and usually mean a chest or nose infection.
What do different rat noises mean?
Soft teeth grinding usually means contentment. A short, soft squeak during play is normal; a sudden sharp squeak or scream means pain, fright or a fight. Hissing and huffing mean back off. Clicking, wheezing and audible chirping often point to a breathing problem that needs a vet.
Is there a noise that attracts rats?
Not one that works like a call. Wild rats come for food and shelter, not sound. Pet rats, though, quickly learn to come to a sound that means treats, such as their name, a clicker or a rattled treat pot. The RSPCA says rats can learn to respond to their names.
What sounds do rats hate?
Loud, sudden and high-pitched sounds. The RSPCA says rats have very sensitive hearing, can hear ultrasound, and should be kept away from vacuum cleaners, speakers, alarms, phones, doorbells and washing machines. It even warns that metal food bowls give off ultrasound noise rats can hear.
Do sounds scare away wild rats?
Not for long, as far as the welfare evidence goes. Humane World for Animals says rats come back whatever method you use unless you remove their food supply, and that no single repellent is likely to work alone. Remove food, clear cover and seal gaps instead.
Why does my rat squeak when I pick it up?
Usually surprise or nerves, especially in a new or young rat that isn't used to handling. If a calm, handled rat suddenly squeaks when touched in one place, it may be sore there; check for lumps, wounds or swelling, and see a vet if it keeps happening.
Why is my rat chirping?
Happy chirps are mostly ultrasonic, so if you can hear chirping, take note. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide says audible chirping often suggests a breathing infection, which is common in rats. Listen for sneezing, clicking or wheezing too, and see a vet if they appear.