When is marking excessive?

[MiniMuffin]

So, I've had my boys for about a month. They're really fun and getting comfortable with me and I with them. However, I really do not like being peed on! A drop here and there wouldn't be so bad, but with them it's more like a trickle, which is really just not fun.

I feel like I would hold them a lot more if they didn't mark so much. They get an hour or more of time out of their cage nearly every day, but I don't hold them on my bed unless I'm changing the sheets that day because the idea of sleeping in pee is not nice and isn't very sanitary either. I'm not too crazy about them being on my chair either, because of the pee getting into the cushion since I can't exactly put that in the laundry. I put a sheet down in their free range place, and it doesn't seem like they really mark a ton, but there usually are a few large pee spots.

So when is marking considered excessive and not just normal? I was under the impression that marking would just be a drop, and not such a trickle. I have a hoodie that I usually wear when I hold them to keep the pee off my clothes, but one of them usually wants to be inside of it, so it doesn't help much. Am I just being a wimp about getting peed on?

I was talking with my dad, and he's fine with having them neutered, and to me having them neutered so that I can enjoy them more seems just as "selfish" (not really the right word) and justifiable as neutering boys so they can live with girls rather then in a separate cages.

Opinions?

[looneycartoonie]

I have a few boys that take the whole marking thing to an extreme. Don't feel guilty if you want to neuter them just to make them stop. I'll tell you now that I've had neutered males that will still dribble on you even after the operation. I know that it really does lessen it and most of the time it just makes them stop all together. I currently have a little guy that just won't stop humping everyone or marking. And I mean marking...so he's scheduled to get neutered. Although it doesn't seem like it getting a boy neutered does have some advantages. It stops their aggression (if they have any), stops or lessens their marking habit, and in the long run can help with prostate cancer (male rats COULD develop it, but it's not really high on the list). I say if it bothers you that much and you have the money to neuter them, then maybe you should consider it.

[MiniMuffin]

Well, I'm considering neutering at least one of them, as I've been bitten twice by Oliver trying to pick him up. The first time I felt it was deserved, today I was just trying to pick him up to get him back in his cage and he bit me hard again. I was pretty surprised that he bit me today, as he's gotten much more comfortable and used to me and HAS let me pick him up a bunch of times prior to this. His brother is a total sweetie, so I don't think his biting can be blamed on their past...

[slynx]

I checked with my girls, and they say that marking is NEVER excessive.   All of my rats (girls and neutered boys) have marked me freely, and certainly more than a drop at a time.  The good news is, they usually did it less over time.  There seems to be a personality factor (some rats just mark more, maybe because they're more territorial/possessive) and a social role factor (mine always mark more when they are sorting or re-sorting their hierarchy...I guess to make sure we all know who owns me).  I've never had really young rats, so I don't know much about the hormonal factors and can't speak to the neutering.

My advice would be twofold: first, dedicate a couple of sheets and/or blankets to absorb pee, and second, get used to it! 

Covering the bed/chair/couch with a sheet will protect it from the pee, and if you don't wash the sheet frequently, it will probably help them stop marking so much.  Rats mark more when they are in new territory or when objects are new to them, so although it seems perverse, the longer you have them out and the less you clean up after them, the less they are likely to mark.  Obviously, you have to find a comfortable balance!

Over time, they are probably going to mark less and you are probably going to mind less.  At least, that has been true for me.  I barely even notice the marking anymore, which may not be entirely to my credit.   Keep in mind that they mark you (and the interesting things you provide them) as a sign of appreciation.  If they didn't want to advertise their love for you, you'd be pee-free!  Instead, they want the whole world to know that you belong to them.  I'm embarassed to say that my SO and I have been known to compete over who gets peed on more.

If you wanted, you could wear a longsleeve shirt under the hoody -- your boys could be inside the hoody and happily close to mom, but you could still have some protection from pee-soaking.  I remember when we got our first rats we had special "rat clothes" to play with them, and several rags dedicated to wiping down any exposed skin.  But after a couple of months, I think we just quit caring.  In the end, it's just pee.  It won't hurt you, and the grossness factor fades with time and familiarity.  Someday, you may find your feelings are hurt when they don't pee on you.

[OldsGal]

I think Slynx put it perfectly  LOLOLOLOL....After all of the rats i have been through I am so used to pee now that I almost don't even notice that they have peed on me.  I figure I have soap at water.  I wash!  The amount of marking varies from rat to rat.  Some males don't feel the need to mark at all.  Some just leave a few dribbles and are fine.  Others go to town and make it well known what is what. 

But honestly if it makes you uncomfortable then go for the neuter.  It isn't selfish....Look at it this way.  Would you have a male dog who was running around the neighborhood wildly, marking your furniture, and being unruly and not neuter him.  Nope you would haul his butt to the vet so fast!  Same concept with the rats.

I am sorry to hear that one of my babies is being so naughty.  I knew they were a bit shy but I guess I didn't think they would turn to biting as both of their parents were nice ratties.  But if he is biting out of aggression then I would nip that in the butt as young as possible.  If you would like you can go to my web site and go to Why Neuter.  It is a story about Eddie.  A very naughty naughty naughty rescue boy that one of my foster moms fell in love with and had neutered.  It will convince you to neuter!  But combine the fact that he is starting to bite with the amount of marking they are doing tells me they have some big hormones brewing and they are not even close to six months yet.  Those temperments don't typically start showing until 4-6 months.  Sounds to me like they are going down the hormone aggressive path.  A neuter might do them some good.

Besides if you neuter that opens up all of the possibilities of having a mixed sex colony down the road and bringing in girls!  Weeee!!!!!!  Just double check with your vet on how many neuters they have performed and make sure they feel comfortable with the procedure.  Most complications arise with the anesthesia.  Make sure they are most comfortable with that aspect of the small animal.  Otherwise I have had many rats neutered and have not had one single complication or problem yet.

Good luck and feel free to e mail me if you ever feel you need to. 

Staci

[MiniMuffin]

Thanks Slynx and Staci. I'm going to try to tough it out another month or so, and see if the biting is just Oliver being afraid or from hormones, as well as see if I can get used to the marking. I think my boys are about 4 months right now, correct? So it would make sense for Oliver to just be starting this now, and not while he was still with you or the foster. His brother, Finley, lets me do pretty much anything, we play tickle games and he doesn't mind me picking him up ever.

I know that my vet does neuter rats, I'm not sure how many, as he just mention it while telling me about some road side rescues that had happened where I live. How many neuters should a vet have done for me to feel comfortable sending my rats there?