Rat Spotted ‘Pole Dancing’ on N.Y.C. Subway: ‘Gotta Make That Cheddar’

Rat race? Try rat dance.

Riders on a New York City subway got more than they bargained after a small rat snuck onto a train and spent the trip climbing one of its poles, gracing onlookers with a rat stunt that is rare, even in the Big Apple.

The rat, which appeared to be a juvenile, caused the scene on a Coney Island-bound F train, according to footage of the incident shared by the popular Subway Creatures Instagram account on Feb. 18.

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In the clip, which was submitted by Instagram user @amberjhanee, riders whooped and squealed at the sight of the rodent, while others maintained a nonchalant attitude as it climbed up a grab bar on the moving train.

The small rodent attempted to move up the metal pole for a few seconds before slipping slightly and returning to the floor of the subway car, the clip shows. It then headed straight for a rider standing nearby with a suitcase.

“Yo, it’s climbing the pole though,” one person can be heard saying off-screen. “I’ve never seen it do that.”

Several passengers on the train also had their phones out, recording the critter — whose viral stint on the pole was later compared to pole dancing.

It is unclear what happened to the pole-climbing rat post-ride, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s inquiry on Saturday, March 1.

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The rat’s train display earlier this year is not the first time a rodent has drawn stripper comparisons on the N.Y.C. subway — another rat’s impromptu pole dancing show previously went viral in 2019 — but it still managed to shock those who witnessed it online.

The critter's stint on the vertical rail also earned tons of ribbing on social media, with many of Subway Creatures’ 3 million followers weighing in on the rare — and, according to commenters, raunchy — subway scene.

“Why did no one throw it some ones ? Show some support 🙌,” a top comment read, while another similarly joked, “Poor rat is pole dancing to make ends meet. It's a tough world out there! 😢.”

"He’s gotta make that cheddar the only way he knows how 🥁,” a different user punned, while another defended the critter. “She’s trying her best,” the user wrote. “It’s amateur night 😭😭😭☝🏽☝🏽.”

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Elsewhere in the comments of the Subway Creatures clip, users expressed concern over the health-related consequences of rats not only being in such close proximity to people, but climbing a rail that comes in contact with so many hands each day.

“Note to self…buy more hand sanitizer,” read one top comment, which earned more than 1,500 likes.

“The thought of someone grabbing that pole later, sends shivers down my spine🥲😪😭,” a different user said, while another pointed out that the area the rat covered is more likely to be touched by a child than an adult.

“Someone’s kid is about to have their whole face on that pole in the next couple of stops too🤦🏾‍♀️,” the user wrote.

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