Cute Overload! :)

Apr 12, 2007

If you've ever wondered what happens when you tickle a rat, now you know...

Nice submishe, The Dude ;) Now playing on CuteCast...

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YAAAAAAAAAAAY! Laughing rats! I fonly I could hear my kitties laugh. I guess purring is good enough... oh, and I can't resist, I hope, I hope... F'BLEEN!: jess e.; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:02 AM

That clip was pretty interesting. What's it from?: Cynthia; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:06 AM

I need a mic like that! *leaves the office so he can go home and tickle his ratties*: Jason; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:07 AM

the link doesn't work for me! i wanna see the laughing rats!! can anyone help me?: pam; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:23 AM

Oh dear! Laughing rats. This may have made my day, especially the rats chasing the hand to get tickled more.: Clay Dowling; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:28 AM

OMG, THAT'S the job I want. How does one qualify to hang out in a lab and tickle rats all day?: amy; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:34 AM

AWESOME. I knew that my rats wiggled like little kids when tickled, but now I know that giggles go with it.: Wisefool; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:44 AM

"The Dude abides!" And the rats "take comfort in that", er, ticklin'. Nice rug. ("k, I'll stop.): pyrit; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:44 AM

But...the last thing Dr. Scientist said was, "When we tested the rats, to ask if the activity was enjoyable, the answer was yes" (sorry if that's not exact)--so...he asked the rats? Gave them a little survey? Did you find the tickling activity: a) very enjoyable b) somewhat enjoyable c) not enjoyable d) extremely unpleasant I found the tickling activity a) very enjoyable, anyway, and I second wanting to hear my cats laugh. You know I have a cat who doesn't purr? Sad.: Peg of Tilling; | Apr 12, 2007 at 07:49 AM

I wonder if you could get a monitor to hear what animals say when you scratch em in that one spot that makes the legs jiggle... "Oooooarrururuggggghhh...*gurgle*" (Homer Simpson drool noise): Yorkie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:04 AM

i have read about this, but i can't believe there's actually footage for the average rat-lover to see and hear! amazing. this comes at a sad time for me, because my little Louisa, who had really become my mother's rat, left us for rattie heaven on Tuesday morning. she was scheduled to be euthanized because of a large uterine tumor that was causing bleeding and edema, but she died before they had a chance to leave for the vet. her cagemate, Gretchen, went over to her and started pawing at her with her little pink rat hand as if to say, "wake up, Louisa!" Louisa looked a lot like the little lady in this video. through he tears, my mother told me, "i'm never having rats again!" i'm afraid, despite the sadly short lifespan, i most certainly WILL have rats again.: anner; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:08 AM

I want my rats to giggle!: Adie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:09 AM

*hugs* for anner and her mom. This video brought a smile to my face. Thanks for posting it!: Persephone; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:18 AM

I read the attached article and I strongly disagree with the statement that because it evokes laughter, tickling is a pleasurable sensantion. On the contrary, the laughing reflex is automatic, but the sensation is not pleasurable at all. In fact, I would consider it a mild form of torture. Anyone being tickled does everything in his/her power to get away from it.: Eve Krupka; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:21 AM

Sorry to hear about your pet, Anner. I will probably never have guinea pigs again for the exact same reason. :(: katherine; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:31 AM

Gee, Officer Krupka...: Theo; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:33 AM

Laughing ratties! Hee!: Subhangi; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:35 AM

Anner, I had similar thoughts when my Clairice died from pneumonia in December, but the simple fact is that rats give me SO MUCH JOY when they're alive that I just can't imagine my life without them.: Jason; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:36 AM

I knew that... researchers discovered this several years ago.... BUT...and it's a biggy..... MY Siberian Husky laughs and grins like a Cheesey Cheshire cat when we tickle his tummy.... and he doesn't try to get away.... he LURVES it!!: Hazel Lewy; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:36 AM

Yay for squeakers!: Deckard Canine; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:38 AM

Not everyone hates being tickled. My husband does, so I never tickle him. I'm with the Ratties though... if I had someone wanting to tickle me, I'd chase after them asking for more!: Argentee; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:38 AM

That is AWESOME! Rats get way too little attention. They make fantastic pets, very affectionate and sweet.: Nonie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:39 AM

Haha, I was wondering about how they ask the animals whether they're enjoying it, too. I do not like to be tickled, although I am very ticklish.: Christine Hughes; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:39 AM

Here is for the people who can't get the link to work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ekeJVX8Ro: Nonie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:43 AM

Here is the white paper: http://cognet.mit.edu/posters/TUCSON3/Panksepp.html: Nonie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:44 AM

I've tried to tickle my kittie.....now i don't have hands anymore !!!!: Catman Dude =^-.-^=; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:45 AM

Giggling ratties! It was meant to be!: Theresa; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:45 AM

Teho, love the West Side Story ref. i'm a little torn about this issue. i myself HATE to be tickled and usually experience a sensation somewhere between annoyance and suffocation. but i have known folks who enjoy it. this is one more instance in which i really wish we could just *ask* the aminals. thanks for the condolences, folks. it means a lot.: anner; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:45 AM

My rats also like being tickled, and they also like to tickle me back. I don't quite squeek like that, though. *LOL*: Tale; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:49 AM

Now that's the kind of animal testing I can get behind!: gttygrl; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:49 AM

Teho, you little %$@&#!... I didn't say F'BLEEN I said B'FLEEN!!! Dammit, I've been on this site for YEARS and if I wanna dance around and wave my fierst comment in your face YOU SHALL ALLOW ME!!! Wah. I was frist. Furst forst farst. Me! [NOTE -- it's best not to argue with the narrator... er, the mod]: jess e.; | Apr 12, 2007 at 08:54 AM

I love the little rattie on his back, his little feets waving in the air! Tickle belly! I don't know about adults, but every kid I've ever seen has the "oh noes! tickles!" *runs away* "chase me! tickle me more!" attitude towards it. I got to spend part of the evening yesterday chasing a friend's niece who protested vigirously that she didn't like being tickled. Until she chased me, asking for more.: layla42; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:01 AM

Catman Dude (cool handle, BTW) -- Are you typing with your feet? Impressive!: Pheas; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:04 AM

Ratties!!!!! I have to say mine tickle me more than I tickle them. They love to crawl under my shirt and scamper up my bare back and shoulders - which always leaves me giggling. How nice to know they may be giggling as well.: Annie; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:08 AM

I am totally loving this! Who would have thunk it? Nothing makes my day like a giggling rat.: Beautiful Drunk; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:34 AM

I'm disturbed on so many levels...I thought tickling pets was a private occupation more than a government funded ASPCA sanctioned experiment. Did someone get aholt of this poor gentleman's home movies?: Leann; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:35 AM

I think they use something like that to let us hear bats, too. Those rats are adorable. How fun to realise that they enjoy tickling, too!: Purple Belt; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:37 AM

OK, I agree with y'all who say being tickled is no fun, so I wouldn't automatically say it is pleasurable to be tickled until you laugh...but you can't argue with the rats chasing the scientist's hand, basically going "do it again, dad; do it again".: heidilynn; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:39 AM

This is wonderful. You really gotta love science They discovered rats love attention, and really like to be tickled. Brilliant. Now I want to see the next one when they decide purring cats are usually showing enjoyment. Cracks me up! And the ratties liked it too.: lauowolf; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:42 AM

I lurve how Dr. Scientist is speaking all scientific empirical evidency and all the while he's TICKLING a rat and the rat is GIGGLING! Cutest video I've seen here in a long while!: HeidStar; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:42 AM

DAMMIT TEHO! [ultrasonic vocalization of rage] Bleen yourself. [stomps away grumbling]: jess e.; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:43 AM

omg, that is adorable... and bless those scientists' little hearts... we need more people like that!: ceejoe; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:49 AM

I gotta know, who funds this stuff? I work for a federally-funded health research agency, and a certain president I won't name has gutted our budget. Where do they have the cash lying around to pay some guy to tickle rats, and can I get a job there? Pretty please?: TeratoMarty; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:49 AM

Look how they run around and follow his hand... Ahh... I love this site. Thank you Meg and Teho, I just don't know what I would do without looking at this site every day.: TheLoveOfIsis; | Apr 12, 2007 at 09:59 AM

Jess E. -- ;): Theo; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:03 AM

This guy's job is to tickle rats all day? Sign me up!: Laura B.; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:06 AM

How funny! They are just like my three year old who squeals Don't tickle me Dad! and then grabs his hand and puts it back on his belleh. And c'mon guys- who gets all the funding? The MILITARY that's who- they are going to go after the enemy wif teh Qte. We could of told them how effective it is years ago. For free. But no one listens to a bunch of squeeing half ded cuteologists. We need a lobby. Or something.: cutebabyfix.com; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:08 AM

Gawd this really makes my rat wanting even worse! I want a RAT!!: Shannon; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:13 AM

Interesting - and the white paper actually says that it's young rats that respond to tickling with laughter. Is it a coincidence that we call kids "rug rats"?: amy; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:15 AM

My university studies the coolest stuff.: KidZ; | Apr 12, 2007 at 10:21 AM

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Apr 12, 2007

THIS JUST IN: Rats LOL

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