Can rats have mental retardation?

Question

I have a baby rat that is very very scared of the world. And when I say scared, I mean ever since she was a baby she never left our shoulder. She never grew very big, and still after being almost a year and a half, she still has the same baby-like personality.

Examples:

When we give her baths, she screams, and yells. She hates the water, and constantly poops and pees. While the other rat doesn't like it, but she understands that it only happens a few times a month.

We sit on the couch with all three rats, and and the two run around, but Gemini (the scared one) won't leave our shoulder unless she has to pee. She knows better than to pee on us.

If you set her down on the ground, she'll p**p and pee and not move an inch.

I just don't understand.

No other rat I've ever known, and a lot of my friends have rats, has acted like this.

Does anyone know if rats can just have ... mental problems?

or is it just the personality.

Rats from her same cage don't act like this.

Let me know.

Answer 1

I'm not sure, but it is possible.

The reason why rats are used in labs is because they have similar problems with humans.

Either that or your rat might be terrified. Something may have happened when she was young.

Does your other rats bully her? She might be acting like that because she's being bullied

Answer 2

Just like ppl rats have there own personalitys. Pardon the pun but you just might have a scaredy rat. At least she sits on your shoulder. I have one rat that is now roughly 2 years old. I got her when she was 6 weeks old. She gives kisses and lays down so you can pet her and scratch her behind the ears but freaks out when you try to take her out of the cage. She grabs anything she can and holds on for dear life when you try to take her out. And about the water alot of my rats will p**p uncontrollably and squeak when I put them in water. Most rats do not like water. So that to me is pretty normal. Your rat sounds normal to me just a little scared. This is probably just her personality. Good luck.

Answer 3

sond to me like she not like to be handled that y shes scared of u

Answer 4

you might want to ask a vet about that

P.S. thanks for your answer to my question about my guinea pig it was really helpful!

Answer 5

it is probably just her personality

she is scared of leaving her home

how does sher act in her cage?

that could tell you alot about her!

good luck!