Can rats sense their owners illness, like a cat or dog can?

Question

My son and I are curious about this. We have been ill with terrible colds, and our Rat, Reign, has been especially attentive to us, it seems. She has free reign in the house to run about as she wills, and usually comes around only when she wants to play, eat, or drink. I guess we've always treated her like one might a dog, and she does have a tendancy to kiss us back after we've been kissing, and scratching her ears, and talking to her, but not like this! She seems to not want to leave our sides, for but a few moments.

Is she trying to Mother, and comfort us, or are we wishful thinking?

Thanks for answering. She's almost a year old, not prime stock, but we bought her from a Reptile store.

Answer 1

Wishful thinking.

Humans see what they want to see in animal behavior. They give narration to animals in reaction to how they're feeling- I do it, and I work in a pet shop. But that's all it is, narration.

Oh, and I'd advise you to be careful around her when you have colds- rats can catch human colds and they can suffer badly.

***

You and your son can think whatever you prefer ^^ It's comforting to people to think like that sometimes, especially when ill. But I think it's all the attitude you put on the rat, and you may notice that the rat is sticking closer to you because you're ill and staying in one place- and maybe if you stayed in one place everyday, she'd react just the same.