Small Animals—Body Language Basics

As “pocket pets” are becoming more popular, most pet sitters have clients who own guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, hamsters or other caged animals. While each specific species may have specialized signals to express itself, there are some common guidelines to look for to tell if the small animals you are sitting for are comfortable or not.

Pet sitters should be able to recognize signs of discomfort or aggression in small animals, both to keep their clients’ pets healthy and happy and to avoid injuries. Some body language is common to all small animals and knowing these signals can help you become a better pet sitter.

When you open a habitat or put your hand inside, a relaxed animal will calmly look toward you or even come to you. One that is scared or uncomfortable will move away from you and try to hide. It is best to coax an animal to come to you to be picked up rather than reaching for it. As you reach toward an animal, one that is extremely frightened will panic and run frantically from side to side looking for escape. It isn’t a good idea to pick up a frightened animal by hand, because it is likely to bite or scratch or to get away. The best way to pick up a frightened animal is with a thick towel. Or you can offer a container for the animal to get into to hide, then cover the opening with a towel and pick up the container.

If a small animal does allow you to pick it up, you can tell by its behavior how comfortable it is being held. The muscles of a calm animal will feel relaxed and the animal will be alert and observe its surroundings. An animal uncomfortable with being out of its cage or being held will feel tense and try to hide its head under your arm, or perhaps try to push you away with its front feet.

The following signs are just a few of the ways small animals communicate their feelings:

Knowing these small body language signals can help you—and your furry charges—forge a great friendship. They will be happy to receive care from a pet-care professional who knows and understands their feelings—and their owners will see and appreciate this professionalism. You will get the satisfaction of a job safely and well done. And you might even meet some wonderful, fun and friendly pocket pets in the bargain!

Debbie Ducommun, “The Rat Lady,” has a BA in animal behavior and has worked in the animal field for more than 20 years. She is a noted authority on small animal care and behavior and served as a consultant on the Disney animated feature “Ratatouille.” For more tips on small animal care, visit her Web site at www.ratfanclub.org.

© Copyright 2011 by Pet Sitters International. All rights reserved. For reprint permission for this article, contact EllenPrice@petsit.com.