Question: Why Does my Rat leave Little Drops of Urine Everywhere When He is Out Playing?
This very common behavior of pet rats perplexes some owners, but is quite normal.
Answer: This is typical of marking behavior and is especially common in male rats. Fortunately it does tend to be fairly small amounts and not terribly offensive, but many owners will have a blanket or towel to throw on the furniture or floor when playing with their rats because of this scent marking. It is also important to wash your hands after handling your rats.
This type of behavior often peaks in adolescence and is more common in male rats. It typically decreases with neutering. There is a lot of information contained in those little drops of urine, such as information about identity, age, sexual maturity, social status, and stress levels. This serves both to mark the territory of the rat and to communicate other things to other rats. It is a bit of a nuisance but very normal and typical behavior.
A rat that is startled or nervous may urinate larger amounts, but that is a different response than the marking, in which small drops or smears are left as the rat moves about.