With each group of rats that our family has owned we have observed some interesting dominance and sharing behavior. For example if there is a certain type of food offered to the group that one rat really enjoys he will take first dibs so to speak by running off into a house or corner to eat. And if someone else tries to cut in line there is often pouting or skirmishes over it.
Norman absolutely LOVES boxes! Have no idea why, but he will curl up in almost any size or shaped cardboard container we put in his cage. Every now and then one of his cage mates sneaks into his box for a nap or bath. This never goes over very well with Norman who will sit on top of a box and pout (drooping his face over the opening with a sad expression on his face). Or if he really wants a nap in his box he will squeeze into it, stepping on and shoving his cage mate until they leave.
One might read this and think that Norman is a bully, however, the rats we have owned often act like little children by purposely finding ways to annoy each other. All of his mates are aware of his love for boxes. How do I know? I have watched them take side glances at him while walking slowly toward his cardboard havens. If he isn’t around, most of the time the others completely ignore the boxes. They only want them when he is around to be bugged by it.
This particular box came from Kentucky Fried Chicken and came with our dinner a couple of days before this was taken. If you look closely at the edges you can see that there are tears and chew marks. I believe this has been one of his favorite boxes to date because he was able to sprawl out instead of squishing himself into a tight little ball to fit.