Rats are often associated with dirty environments and infestations, but did you know that rats are actually very clean animals? In fact, rats are known to groom themselves for as long as 20 minutes a day! Rats also hate getting wet and will do everything they can to avoid getting submerged in water. So, can rats swim?
The answer is yes and no. Wild rats are excellent swimmers and can tread water for a long period of time if needed. They have been known to swim up to a mile in open water. However, domesticated rats are not such good swimmers. This is because they have evolved to live in close proximity to humans and have not had to worry about swimming to escape predators or find food.
While most domesticated rats cannot swim, there are some exceptions. Some rats have been known to enjoy swimming and even do it for exercise. If you have a pet rat that you think might enjoy swimming, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, make sure the water is shallow enough that your rat can touch the bottom. If the water is too deep, your rat will likely become panicked and could drown. Second, provide your rat with a way to get out of the water, such as a ramp or floating platform. And finally, never leave your rat unsupervised around water.
If you follow these guidelines, you and your pet rat can enjoy some quality time swimming together!
