The internet loves watching rats perform unusual activities. In 2015, a rat caught on video dragging a slice of pizza down a staircase in a New York City subway became affectionately known as Pizza Rat. Now there’s a video of a rat that appears to be taking a shower like a human. Say hello to shower rat.
The video was posted to Reddit Sunday night in the subreddit r/NatureIsFuckingLit. In the comment thread, people wondered whether the rat was actually Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Others said that the creature needed a vest. Over in r/RATS, a poster identified the rat in the video as a giant pouched rat.
On Twitter, the showering rat was discussed with admiration.
can’t get over the video of the rat taking a shower i want that to be projected behind me at my wedding
— ciara (@pepsicunnt) January 29, 2018
All praise and glory to the shower rat.
— Jarrod Brown (@jarrodonly) January 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/KevOnStage/status/957711780549029888
The video also made people feel strange because, well, it shows a rat “scrubbing” its body like a human.
https://twitter.com/MrJakeJohnson/status/957774967684317184
https://twitter.com/marrowing/status/957941890510348288
………… I jus watched a rat take a shower. I jus don’t know anymore https://t.co/DTo3f1j7MN
— Fabe™ (@Fabio_LaFlare) January 28, 2018
I’m baffled. I probably need a new prescription because I know damn well that isn’t a rat taking a shower. https://t.co/1WWwxbqc9X
— Maya (@oluwamaya) January 28, 2018
And, of course, the showering rat became the center of many internet jokes.
Imagine you need to use your shower in the morning, and there's just a rat there washing himself like…
— José (@IsaiahThinks) January 28, 2018
"Giss us a sec mate"
I can't believe a rat taking a shower won all the Grammys
— Mike Kinsella (@mybandowen) January 29, 2018
But some people pointed out that the rat is likely not enjoying a shower. It could just be trying to itch its body.
https://twitter.com/pixelatedboat/status/957959941469356032
I hate to break it to u but im like 90% sure someone just covered that rat in something and it’s making him uncomfortable and he’s like frantically trying to get it off rats are actually super clean animals he’s probably panicking not like actually taking an entire ass shower
— kenna (@kennabbby) January 29, 2018
Welcome to the internet, where even the cute animal videos usually have a catch.