Are All Rats Nocturnal?

Regardless of whether they are wild or tame, most rats sleep approximately 13 to 15 hours per day. As such, they usually miss out on many daylight hours because the majority of rats are nocturnal. Pet rats, or Fancy Rats, can adjust their waking hours for companionship.

  1. When Rats Sleep

    • Rats are most active during twilight hours and at night. Some species of rats prefer dawn and dusk to finish all of their duties, while other species prefer the night. Regardless of their preferences, rats can change their sleep cycles to suit human companionship.

    How Rats Sleep

    • Rats sleep in a manner comparable to felines. In warmer temperatures, rats tend to sleep on their backs and show their stomachs. In cooler temperatures, rats usually sleep in a ball. They do this to either cool down or to warm up, respectively.

    Where Rats Sleep

    • Rats can either sleep alone or in a group, but regardless of their preference to sleep in a pack or not, all rats nest. They create their nests in a dry place using paper, twigs and leaves.

    What Happens When Rats Sleep

    • Similar to humans, rats have Slow Wave sleep (SV) and Rapid Eye Movement sleep (REM.) During this time, their minds process the different tasks that they accomplished during the day. For example, some rats have mimicked their footsteps through a maze while sleeping.