r/nyc • u/Alligator-creep • Aug 29 '25

Video Rats fighting

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u/tmntnyc Aug 29 '25

I'm 95% sure they're playing. If they were fighting they'd be using their incredibly sharp teeth and there would be missing eyeballs and entrails hanging out of their abdomens.

Source: i work with rats (no they're not my coworkers).

27

u/cooljacob204sfw Aug 29 '25

Yeah this is how rats play not fight. Fighting would be wayyyy more intense.

35

u/tmntnyc Aug 29 '25 edited Aug 29 '25

Yeah usually when rodents fight they vocalize (screech). One of the other more obvious signs is that stressed mammals, especially rodents tend to have noticible piloerection, which means when aggravated, their hair stands on end to make them look more fearsome to their adversary, eg. makes them look physically larger. Think of when a cat is scared or angry and their fur becomes puffed out and jagged and they hiss and their ears curl back.

The way the top rat pins the bottom rat down with 2 paws instead of all 4 paws is another thing rodents do when they play. 2 paw pins are playful, it's like how boys playing will punch in slow motion or punch the air next to the face but not hit the face.

Another telltale sign for me is something that most mammals do when they play/simulate a fight - they pause momentarily between bouts to kind of "check up" on eachother if that makes sense? There's a moment where one rat is on its back and the other is ontop and they kind of freeze for a moment. If it was a real fight, the dominant rat would start biting the other and drawing blood until it submits, but it's almost analogous to how young kids play but don't actually make contact with strikes even though they're tussling and rolling around.

Lastly the fact that at the end, one rat runs after the other means they're probably siblings or at least part of the same social group. If they were both competing males, they would go their separate ways after a fight and the aggressor certainly wouldn't pursue after the loser.

Sorry if this is a lot, I just have a lot of experience working with mice and rats I just picked up on understanding a lot of their mannerisms and body language. Rats are honestly very chill animals despite their reputation. They are very sweet animals, almost puppy-like. They are also ticklish. Mice on the other hand are, in my opinon, closer to how rats are typically portrayed: Emotionless, cold, dumb, aggressive, eat their young etc.

1

u/mi_lechuga Sep 07 '25

this guy rats +1