I understand those little gaps in animal empathy, like with rabbits. I'm the same way with rats. I like my rats, but I just don't get them or understand their language, I never feel truly at ease when I have them out to play. It's not like snakes, with which apparently I have a very good understanding, surprisingly enough for a canine. Have yet to be bit, and I'm just able to empathise much better with them. The rats though, they still throw me. And I'm actually almost afraid of birds. Still don't know why. I think with me it's small, skittery/fluttery things, they make me a little unnerved.