Description of a rat: what street and ornamental rodents look like, the appearance of rodents depending on the species

When hearing the word “house rats,” many people feel disgusted and immediately imagine animals that run around yards, cause damage to property, and may well be carriers of diseases. But in reality, pets can be quite interesting. Science has proven that rodents are very smart, easy to train and extremely smart.

What should you consider when choosing a pet rat? The colors of the animal are varied. There are white, black, gray, orange, brown, blue, and beige pets that children like so much.

Description of the animal

Rats belong to the class of mammals. Body dimensions can be up to 30 cm and weight 300 - 400 g. Animals lead a terrestrial lifestyle. In nature, there are rats that can climb trees. They live in burrows alone or as a family.

In addition to wild rats, there are also affectionate, caring domestic pets. Currently, many interesting decorative individuals have been bred. They communicate very well with people.

Among them it is possible to meet a unique animal without hair - the sphinx or, conversely, curly-haired animals. A rat can be tailless or have a flat tail and ears of different shapes.

A very interesting specimen is the Dumbo rat, whose coat colors can be gray, white or black. And the advantage is the ears. The larger they are, the more valuable the specimen.

The color of a rat is an important criterion when choosing a pet.

In China, Ancient Egypt and Japan, these animals were revered as sacred animals and lived in temples. It was believed that they could predict events.

Damage from rats to farms

Rats have always brought destruction with their raids, and not a little:

Destroy any crops at any growth phase. The damage is especially impressive when there is a deficiency of other nutrition.

Stripping off the bark of trees leads to its death. Entire gardens can be destroyed in this way.

“What I don’t eat, I’ll render it unusable” is the motto of the rat, which will cover everything that it couldn’t drag away or swallow with excrement and dirt.

They destroy the nests of poultry, steal eggs, and attack both adult birds and chicks.

They spoil containers (boxes, bags, nets, etc.), further increasing losses during transportation and storage of products.

Pets

Professionals know a considerable number of colors of rats. All of them in most cases appear in the form of various color combinations. Meanwhile, not all rodents meet the requirements of the standard. Nevertheless, owners of such rats can register them in the prescribed form and present them as an independent breed.

The most important thing is to focus on a limited number of relevant features. Worried about the color and color of the eyes, breeders often neglect to take care of the physique and well-being of the animal. As a result, many purebred rats, unlike wild rodents, are characterized by poor health and reduced vitality.

Every pet can be identified by color, markings and coat type. Some rat color names were taken from other representatives of the animal world, namely cats and dogs. For example: Siamese, Rex, Husky. Currently, the colors of rats are often found in completely different shades, which can be red, black, or silver. Siamese and Himalayan animals are found in large numbers.

Wool standardization

In contrast to the numerous markings, there are not many types of wool at all, and they have long been standardized. “Standard” by its name makes it clear that this type of wool is the most common. It is smooth and looks like gloss. Those animals whose fur is stiffer, denser and coarser are classified as “curly” hair type; all their hair and even their mustache curls.

There is also a “wavy” type, which differs from “curly” only in having softer hair. “Satin” is a type of wool that is more shiny and fine.

In the 2000s, long-haired rats also appeared; they have slightly larger fur than standard ones. There are few other species; rather, they are determined by the absence of hair. Therefore, hairless rats are only decorative and were bred quite recently.

Division of colors

Color is the color or shade of the fur of a decorative rat. Currently, there is a fairly large number of shades, and they are all divided into uniform, ticked and combined, silver and marked:

Uniform colors are when all the hairs are the same color and tone. For example, black - the coat is black from root to tip. The undercoat is extremely dark. There may be other colors - blue, Russian blue, smoky blue.
Ticked colors. Ticking is uneven hair coloring. In other words, there are zones on the wool that are colored in different colors. Among these non-standardly colored hairs, guard hairs of the same tone are identically interspersed. Agouti-colored rats are ticked.

Silver color is absolutely any of the generally recognized colors. They can be uniform and ticked. Their main feature is the periodic repetition of silver and colored hairs in the same amount. All silver hair should be mostly white, although it is acceptable to have a colored tip. The skin of such an animal gives the impression of shine and sparkle. If few white hairs are observed, the color is not recognized as such. In order not to confuse the silver color with pearl, the silver color should be clearly expressed.
Combined colors are a combination of several colors. All shades can participate, with the exception of white. Multicolor extends to the entire body of the rodent in accordance with the standard. This includes Siamese colors - Siamese and Himalayan.
Marked - a combination of white and colored areas of the hair. And marking is a pattern that involves a certain combination of white and colored areas.

A direct relationship has been established between the color of the hair coat and the color of the eyes of the animal. The shade of the eyes directly depends on the color of the coat. Quite often, white rats have red or black eyes.

When breeding ornamental animals with certain qualities, it is imperative to take into account the laws of genetics. It must be borne in mind that color, coat texture and a number of other physical characteristics are inherited by rats according to the general, well-known law of heredity.

Combined (Pointed) colors

These include colors consisting of a combination of two or more colors (except white) distributed over the body in accordance with the standard.

This section includes: Siamese colors (Shaded) - Himalayans, Siamese, Burmese, as well as merle color variations (Merle).

Seal Point Siamese

The main color is beige, gradually darkening on the rump in the direction from the loin to the tail and from the belly to the upper back; The darkest color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. Darkly colored brown markings are also on the muzzle (up to eye level or slightly more), ears, front and hind legs (up to the elbow and ankles). There should be no sharp boundaries between the colored areas and the beige color of the body. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, legs or tail. The eyes are red to light ruby.

Genetics: c(h)c(h)

Black Eyed Siamese/Siamese with black eyes

author unknown

A variety of color variations are possible, just like the Siamese with red and ruby eyes. The color distribution follows the same pattern. Eye color is black.

Genetics: Be- c(h)c(h) (two copies of the Himalayan gene plus one copy of the black eye gene)

—

Blue Point Siamese

Author Kulikova N.

The main color is silver-beige, gradually and evenly darkening on the rump. The darkest rich blue color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. On the muzzle the darkening goes towards the nose. Dark blue markings should also be present on the ears, front and hind legs. There should be no sharp boundaries between the areas painted in rich blue and the silver-beige color of the body. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, paws or tail. The eyes are ruby to dark, almost black.

Genetics: c(h)c(h)gg

Russian Blue Point Siamese

Author Anna Rudakova (tigra)

The main color is beige, gradually and evenly darkening on the rump; The darkest brown color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. Darkly colored markings of a rich brown color should also be on the muzzle (to eye level or slightly more), ears, front and hind legs (to the elbow and ankles). There should be no sharp boundaries between dark-colored areas and beige body color. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, legs or tail. The belly is light beige. The eyes are red to light ruby or black.

Genetics: c(h)c(h)dd

Golden Siamese

Author Budnikova Elena

There is no information at the moment.

Himalayan/Himalayan

Author: runa

The main color is white, without shades of other colors or spots, uniform throughout, with markings of a rich dark brown color. The eyes are red. Painted areas: nose - the mark does not rise above the eyes; ears - the coloring does not extend beyond the boundaries of the ears and does not extend onto the head; the front legs are colored no higher than the elbows; hind legs - coloring does not extend beyond the ankles; the tail is colored along its entire length, the mark does not extend beyond the base of the tail; feet - solid color over the entire surface, without white.

Genetics: cc(h)

Black Eyed Himalayan

Author: dambik

The main color is white with beige markings on the nose, paws and base of the tail. The beige “darkening” does not extend on the face above the eyes, beyond the elbows on the front legs and beyond the ankles on the hind legs. The ears and tail are lightly pigmented. Eyes black

Genetics: presumably c(h)c + black eye gene (BE)

—

Burmese/Burmese/Burmese

Photo by Listik

The main color is a uniform deep brown, without an ashy tint, silvering, interspersed with other colors, with darker points of the same shade. There should be a pronounced contrast between the color of the body and points. The eyes are black.

Genetics: aa c(h)c(h) Bubu, aa cc(h) Bubu

—

Sable Burmese/Sable Burmese/Sable

Author VaKa

Body color is a warm, rich dark brown (otter color) with slightly darker markings (points) on the paws, ears, muzzle, and tail. There should be no dusty tint, silvering, inclusions of other colors or spots. The contrast between the color of the points and the body should not be too strong. The black color in the point color is a fault. The eyes are black.

Genetics: aa c(h)c(h) BuBu, aa cc(h) BuBu

WheatenBurmese/Agouti Burmese/Wheat Burmese

Author: dambik

The body color is sandy, the points should be significantly darker than the main color. The base of the hair is light brown. Short and medium-length hairs have a yellow belt. The belly color is light silver-gray. The eyes are black.

Genetics: A- c(h)c(h) Bubu, A- cc(h) Bubu

— — — — — — —

Other colors of animals

Sometimes you can come across a completely unexpected color of an animal’s fur. They are given specific names. For example - hood color. This original color is the most common. It looks as if a dark “hood” covers the head, but the back and belly remain white. An animal with this color is born from two black parents.

New rare colors of rats are obtained as a result of mutation, completely unexpected for breeders.

Very rare, but still there are tricolored individuals. Numerous lovers of decorative rats know them under the name “mosaic”. They are considered especially valuable and rare. It is rare to find individuals with such an original color. With their specific color, they are similar to tortoiseshell cats. In addition to white, there may be spots of two other colors on the coat. It can be gray, red, or beige.

According to various sources, only two individuals of tri-colored rats are known.

FAQ on rat species

A small collection of frequently asked questions related to rat species:

Do rats have breeds?

No, rats don't have breeds. A breed is a certain set of characteristics (structure/length/color of fur, shape of ears/tail, set of eyes, length of nose, etc.), which is or should be transmitted in an unchanged form from parents to offspring. Rats do not have this set. They have only individual characteristics (length/structure/color/presence of fur, ear shape, presence/absence of a tail), which, like pieces of a puzzle, create the appearance of the animal, and children in appearance are often completely different from their parents: for example, having tied Two rats with one type of hair (rex) we will get, among other things, double-rex - bald rats, and two rats with standard ears can give birth to rat pups with dumbo ears. Therefore, when talking about rats, it is customary to talk about the variety, and not the breed.

You can read more about the types of rats here.

I want a tailless Manx rat. Where can I buy?

No responsible rat breeder will answer this question, because... The rat breeding community in Russia, the CIS countries and Europe is mostly against the breeding and popularization of this type of rat. Why? Let's start with the fact that tailless rats are, by definition, disabled. They lack a major balance beam, the only part of their body that can help cool their bodies in hot weather, causing Manxes to suffer more from overheating, which is fatal to rats. In addition, the absence of a tail in Manx cats is the result of a complex mutation, as a result of which not only the tail suffers, but also the musculoskeletal system, as well as the pelvic organs - the intestines and bladder. Sometimes these problems are invisible at first glance, sometimes they do not appear in the first generation, however, this risk always accompanies the Manx. Even if one or the other Manx does not have such problems, think about it - how many of their brothers and sisters had to die or live in pain for a few people to be able to “enjoy” their relatively “healthy” tailless rat? According to foreign Manx breeders, the pups in a Manx litter are “rarely” non-viable and die in the first days of life... Among other things, some immoral sellers, both “breeders” and sellers in pet stores, cut off the tails of rat pups in infancy in order to sell those like the Manx. You shouldn’t support this “conveyor belt of death” by purchasing such a little rat...

The only tricolor beauty

The second tricolor rat was born in 2006 and received the original name - Dusty Mouse Shabu-Shabu. This is an amazing baby that violates all previously formed concepts about the genetics of rodents. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the wool is dyed in three colors. According to the marking standard, this animal has a champagne hood color. The tri-colored Shabu-Shabu rat has a champagne-colored stripe along its back, head and shoulders, and the rest of the body is white. But in addition to these colors, black spots are also visible on this original. Theoretically, this is considered impossible.

More than 40 types of markings and colors are known to professionals involved in breeding and keeping rats.

However, there is not a single individual that combines exactly three colors. Shabu-Shabu Dust Mouse's parents were champagne and black hoods. Nothing similar was observed in other litters of these parents.

Recently, rare white rats with red eyes have been observed. These are albinos. This white color and eye color indicate that they have problems with melanin production.

Protective measures against rats

Poisonous, chemical substances.

Ultrasonic repellent devices.

Pied Cats.

Mechanical traps, traps.

Breeding birds of prey.

Preventive maintenance for cleaning garbage cans and heaps.

Raising a rat catcher from the rat itself.

Services of companies involved in pest control.

The fight against rats must be merciless, until complete victory. Do not forget that the rodent is also a carrier of the most dangerous, deadly diseases: plague, rabies, leptospirosis, etc.

Cute animals that look like cats

Quite recently, a rat with an interesting color was bred - Siamese. The color of this variation is very similar to the color of a Siamese cat. There is a black mask on the muzzle.

Siamese rats have a light beige coat throughout their body. The beginning of darkening is noted closer to the tail. In the front of the head, in the area of the nose and paws, they are black. There is an opinion that the darker the color, the more “pedigreed” the rat looks. Siamese pets almost always have pink eyes. However, more recently, Siamese rats with black eyes have appeared. As it turns out, a large number of animal lovers prefer individuals with dark eyes.

Perception and orientation

Panoramic vision helps rodents perceive the environment and navigate it. With its help, they cover a large area, which helps to avoid dangers. On the one hand, this can be considered a plus, and on the other, a minus, since this location of the eyes interferes with the perception of depth.

Since rats have very poorly developed binocular vision, they cannot accurately understand how far away an object is. To move safely, they learned to use their nose and receptors located near their whiskers, the so-called vibrissae.

Regular colored pet

The variety of shades represents the agouti color. The impeccable beauty of this suit wins the hearts of even harsh experts. Agouti is a “wild” color. In the reference book it is presented as gray, but is actually red-black.

These are the ones that are kept at home in most cases. The agouti rat has golden fur. Most individuals have a dark back and a light yellow or white belly. Sometimes there may be a hint of orange in the color. This is because the rat has a shiny coat. The lifespan of agouti at home can be up to 20 years.

Appearance of the animal

What do rodents look like? There are mainly 2 types of rats: gray and black, they are called synanthropic. Gray and black rats are the most common, so a person may never see more than 2 species in his entire life, except for the white (laboratory) one.

It is not difficult to distinguish a rat from a mouse, since the former are much more massive than the latter, and the huge size of the tail speaks for itself that this is really a rat.

Factors that will help you recognize a rat at first sight:

The considerable size of the tail of these rodents can be the same length as their entire body, or even longer. In mice, the tail is usually short and covered with hair, while in rats, on the contrary, it is large and hairless.
The animals are distinguished by their provocative coloring: thick black, red and gray fur.
A clearly defined convex and massive muzzle.
The body size of an adult varies from 20 to 35 cm, depending on food and habitat.
These rodents have toes on their paws, unlike their mouse relatives.

An interesting fact is that rats can jump up to 80 cm, but this is not the limit. In isolated and very extreme cases, they can even jump up to 2 m.

A rat with a color like a four-legged friend

People who hear the word “husky” immediately think that we are talking about sled dogs. However, in nature there are other animals with this name. These are domestic decorative rats.

The variety of the animal is very interesting, with different properties. The Husky rat gets its name due to the similarity in color to this breed of sled dog. Unlike other varieties, they can change coat color. Cubs are born with a normal color. May also be black.

Their markings may be similar to banded. This means that the colored spots are located on the body or body of the rat, which is dark in color, as if covered with a cloak, and the tummy is white.

But over time, as the animal grows up, the baby fluff changes to adult fur, and white hairs appear in the color. This dilution with white occurs throughout life. Over time, the original color fades to white. This is how the rat changes color.

The ideal color for a husky is salt and pepper. There is a white spot on the rat's face that resembles the spots on the faces of dogs. It has an inverted V-shape and is called "blaze".

It is because of this feature that the animal was given such a name.

Types of rodents

The most common in the Old World are black and gray. The gray rat is called a pasyuk. It lives almost all over the globe, excluding the polar regions. This species lives not only near people, so it can also be found in nature. They prefer to live near bodies of water where they dig their burrows. This is how they live during the warm season, and as soon as the cold weather sets in, they move closer to humans.

Very often they get into the barn of livestock, where they feed on feed, which can harm the animals. Unlike the rural pasyuk, the city rat prefers to settle for the winter in the basements of low-rise buildings and in garbage chutes, where it feels surrounded by food.

The Pasyuk has a hard coat, and its color is gray and is usually darker on the back than on the belly. White single hairs are often seen against a gray background. The muzzle is blunt, and the tail may not always exceed even 80% of the body. Also, these rats are in many cases not susceptible to poisons. If a rat survives after consuming poison, then subsequently it will no longer react to poisons of the same type, and all offspring develop a certain immunity to such poison. These rats are omnivores and can swim in water and even stay under it for long periods of time.

Neighborhood with such rodents can be dangerous, as they are carriers of various diseases.

The black rat looks smaller than its relative and has its own characteristics. Such rats prefer to stay near human settlements all the time; they can hardly be seen in nature. Although the rodent itself is small, it is usually longer than the body. The muzzle is narrow, so in a panic it can be confused with a mouse if you do not see the long tail.

Black rats are also street rats; they have adapted well to living close to people without moving into housing. They can build their nests on tree branches and settle in hollows, while those that prefer to live closer to humans move into attics and, less often, into sewers. They are less aggressive than pasyuki, and a meeting with a person usually ends with the rodent fleeing.

The above-described species spread massively with the help of water transport. They got on board the ship independently or with the help of cargo. Thus, they populated almost every corner of our planet and still live in a place already familiar to them - ships. Some parasites are already so accustomed to humans that they do not even try to run away when they meet.

The types of rats are as follows:

Decorative. View "Standard". This type is the most common today. Their coat is glossy and short, and their build is standard (rather massive). These rats were bred with different hair lengths, but short-haired ones predominated. These animals reach 30 cm, not counting the tail, and their weight is about 400 g. These animals have a peculiarity in the form of a disproportionate number of toes on their paws: there are 4 toes on the front, and 5 on the back. The “Standard” species does not have a specific color , since over time representatives of different colors were bred.
Satin. Considered decorative, it has a long and thin coat with a blue tint. The species was discovered recently, the first descriptions come from the USA. These animals have the same body anatomy as regular ones, and the main advantage is the shine of their coat. The color can be varied (this species is not defined by any one color).
Dumbo. These are decorative and very cute animals that got their name from the Disney cartoon, since this breed of rats has ears set below the average level and have a rounded shape. Released relatively recently. Their fur is short and shiny. Breeders claim that this is one of their new achievements.
"Rex". Such rats became famous thanks to the acclaimed cartoon “Ratatouille”. The only difference is in their fur, so they have the same characteristics as regular rats. Their coat is slightly curly and longer than standard.
Sphinx. The peculiarity of this rat is that it is completely hairless. Only a small amount of hair on the head and paws is allowed. Such rodents participate in exhibitions and must have certain criteria. Very similar to Sphynx cats. This species should not have any scars or cuts; this is considered the main criteria when purchasing decorative rats.
White rat. They are also called laboratory ones. The species was obtained as a result of crossing, and is one of the main achievements of breeders in its time. Stray albino rats were crossed with steeplejack rats. Various crossings led to the development of rats with different colors.
Blue rat. This variety is prized in the market, and its bluish color justifies the price. It is popular because of its color, and the price of this species is much higher than others. In a blue rat, only the belly has a different color; it consists of 3 colors: gray, blue and silver. The rat is similar to Russian Blue cats.
Tailless. This variety was the result of a mutation. Their body is pear-shaped. The breed was bred by an amateur in the 80s of the last century, and the first individuals were discovered during the Second World War. Such rats do not suffer at all from the fact that they are without a tail. The breed is expensive because of its distinctive intelligence and activity.
Wild or street. Wild rats live in burrows and live in peculiar families. They make certain tunnels near their burrows and move only along them, since in the event of an attack they quickly react and take refuge in the nearest burrows or shelters. The colony always covers the entrance to its burrow very well with grass or pieces of earth to prevent unexpected guests from getting there. The size of such animals is impressive, and the tails are proportional to the body. The color is red, grayish or a mixture of black and red.

Markings for this color

A husky rat can only be one of two available markings:

Berkshire Husky.
Banded Husky.

The Berkshire Husky is a coat type marking with a white belly and colored rat back. The head, like the back, is also colored.

Banded Husky is a "hood" type marking where the animal's head, chest and shoulders are evenly colored. The exception is Blaze. From the so-called hood, a strip of dyed wool runs along the back. In this marking, such a stripe is very wide.

Caring for a White Rat

To ensure that your white pet rat does not feel discomfort, you should follow the proper care tips:

the house should be in a warm place, without drafts;
The cage must be cleaned daily;
feeders and cages are disinfected once a week;
bathing is necessary only with the use of animal shampoos;
trim claws.

Let's celebrate! Monitor the condition of the objects in the white rat’s cage; there should be no sharp or small objects that could cause harm to the rodent.

Cage requirements

Rodents love having a large space in the cage, and the cage should also have a special house in which the animal will hide and sleep.
The feeder and drinker must be attached to the cage and made of plastic.
A two-story cage is considered the most optimal, allowing the rodent to move along a ladder and other devices that are available on the second floor.
The first floor most often serves as a sleeping and feeding area.

What to feed a rodent?

White pets are not picky about food. To feed the animal, you can use special food that is purchased in stores.

However, you can make up your own diet; rodents prefer the following products:

cereals (barley, wheat, rice);
pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds;
cottage cheese, kefir;
boiled chicken;
boiled eggs;
carrot, apple.

Note! A prerequisite for feeding an animal is the availability of clean water. It must be changed several times a day and ensure its constant presence.

Should you bathe your rat?

Washing white rodents must be done strictly when necessary. Too much contact with liquid can damage a rat's fur. Most often, bathing is carried out several times a month, but if the animal has been in a dirty house for a long time or has gotten dirty from food, it should definitely be bathed.

For swimming, the following algorithm of actions is carried out:

Place the rodent in a container of water (temperature no more than 35 degrees).
Using a soft cloth, distribute water over the fur, avoiding the ear canal and eye areas.
Lather the shampoo and apply to the coat.
Rinse off the shampoo.

After bathing, the animal must be dried with a towel until moisture is completely removed from the coat.

Training

Training a rodent is done gradually; for this it is necessary to prepare a treat that the animal prefers and treat the pet after each correctly performed action.

First, you should accustom your rodent to the following exercises:

respond to a nickname;
teach to rise on hind legs;
teach to hide in a cage and come out of it on demand;
overcome obstacles.

Let's celebrate! After the animal learns to perform simple exercises, it is necessary to gradually move on to more complex ones. You also need to know that training a rodent must begin from an early age.

Beautiful blue rats

This amazingly beautiful animal deserves special attention. Among the large number of ornamental animals, the blue rat is considered an aristocrat. The animal's fur to the base and undercoat have a blue tint. The belly can have a different color: white or gray, a blue tone is possible.

This rat has very beautiful glossy fur. Loneliness is undesirable for her. She doesn't tolerate it well. That's why they are brought up in pairs. But if there is no desire to have several such animals, then you will have to pay more attention to this one existing pet. During the day, one hour of communication with a person is enough for them.

Which breed is better to choose?

Given such a variety of rat breeds, novice breeders often wonder what type of pet to buy. To make the right choice, you must be guided by the following criteria:

Price . Among decorative rats there are both expensive and affordable breeds. If the financial situation does not allow you to pay a large sum for a rat, it is better to choose the classic option - the standard.
Animal size . Breeders who prefer compact rodents should pay attention to varieties such as Dumbo or Manx. If large pets are in favor, the ideal option would be a standard or satin breed.
Presence of allergic reactions to wool . An ideal option for allergy sufferers would be the Sphinx or Fuzz. Although the latter have fur, it is very short and practically does not grow. But it is better for breeders prone to allergies to avoid Double Rex and Pseudo-Sphinx rats - rodents of these breeds shed heavily.
Appearance . Quite often, when choosing a decorative rat, buyers focus solely on appearance. The main thing here is to choose the animal that you like most.
Lifespan . In general, rats do not live long - about 3 years. However, representatives of some breeds do not live to this age due to health problems, for example, rexes or sphinxes. Among the long-livers are Dumbo, Husky, and Fuzz.
Unpretentiousness to living conditions . If you plan to purchase a rat that is not very sensitive to external conditions, it is better to purchase a standard or albino breed. Among the demanding rodents are sphinxes, fuzzes, and rexes.

The types and breeds of rats are amazing in their diversity. And each variety has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, before buying a pet you need to weigh the pros and cons. After all, a rat is not only a pet, but also a faithful friend for all family members.

Source

Predators in nature

As a rule, in urban areas you can most often find ordinary rats. They may have a gray, sometimes black skin color. The colors of rats in nature range from grayish to red. Sometimes you can find a brown rodent.

The most common types of rat colors in nature:

Gray rat. Young animals have gray fur. When they mature, they acquire a reddish tint. On the abdomen, white hairs have a dark base.
Black rat. On the back, the color of the skin has a greenish tint. The belly has dark gray or ash-colored hairs.
Small rat. It has a brown skin color.

In central Russia, there are mostly two types of rats: black and gray.

Nutrition

Rats are not picky about food at all and will eat almost anything.

For nutrition, you can use ready-made food, which is sold in pet stores. The main diet is a grain mixture based on wheat and oats. Rodents also like vegetables, herbs, and pieces of fruit. In addition, it is necessary to add variety to the diet by adding food of animal origin (milk, meat) twice a week.

Rodents that do not receive the required amount of animal products and vitamin-mineral complex are delayed in development and get sick. There are also cases of cannibalism.

Unspoiled food waste is also suitable for food: leftover bread, porridge.

The rat should not be fed foods such as sugar and sweets, smoked meats, seasonings and salty foods. Feeding raw, unprocessed meat and fatty foods should be avoided.

There should always be constant access to water in the cage - clean, at room temperature.

Sections
I would like to note right away that this section does not provide a description of all existing “rat colors”. Not all “rat colors” existing in nature are represented in our country (by the sign *

after the name of the rat, I marked those varieties that, according to information known to me, exist in Russia).

In the "Varieties"

I have already mentioned the existence of different standards in different countries.
But since our country adopted the Russian standard in 2006, this is what I will use to describe the color sections of decorative rats. Under the name of the color, the genotype inherent in the rat with this color is indicated in red font. An asterisk (*) next to the name of the color indicates the presence of rats with a similar color in our country. Section “Homogeneous” (Self) Variety

Description
Black * aa	Smooth, rich coal-black color, without inclusions of other colors or ashy tint. The hair is black from tip to root, the undercoat is as dark as possible. The color of the belly matches the color as a whole. The eyes are black. ( Torin , owner Golovanov , photo - Golovanova S. )
Blue * aagg	An even gray color with as strong a blue tint as possible. From steel blue (English or British Blue) to very light bluish blue (Slate Blue). The hair is dyed along the entire length. The color of the belly and paws corresponds to the color as a whole. The eyes are black. ( Max , breeder Simanova S. , photo - Simanova S. )
Russian Blue * aa dd	A very dark grey-blue color with a metallic sheen; due to the fact that the pigment is concentrated in the spine of the hair, there is a slight effect of unevenness and ticking of the color, but this is not a disadvantage of the color. The hair is colored along the entire length to the base, the undercoat is dark blue. The color of the paws corresponds to the color as a whole. The belly is gray-silver-blue. The eyes are black. In general, this color is reminiscent of the blue color in Greyhound dogs or the “Russian Blue” in cats. ( Olinka of Lobega , owner and photo - Simanova S. )
No photo available Mink aa mm (where m is most often British Mink)	Smooth brown-gray color with a bluish tint. The hair is dyed along the entire length. The color of the belly and paws corresponds to the color as a whole. Eyes black or dark ruby.
American Mink (Mock Mink) * aa mm Rr or aa momo (where mo is an American mink - a modification of the mink color)	Warm rich brown color. The eyes are dark ruby, in harmony with the color of the coat as a whole. ( Latoya , Silver Mock Mink, owner Simanova S. )
Platinum* aa gg momo (where mo is an American mink, not English!, i.e. mock mink)	The color is light gray with an icy blue tint. There should be no cream, brown or strong blue tints. The hair is dyed along the entire length. The color of the belly and paws corresponds to the color as a whole. Eye color varies from light ruby to almost black. A bright ruby eye color is preferred, but should not be too light. ( Chamomile , owner Kulikova N. , photo - Kulikova N. )
Beige, Buff * aa rr	Warm color of slightly tanned skin (to warm magnolia for buff). The color should not be dull, excessively yellow or gray. The hair is dyed along the entire length, to the base. The color of the belly and paws corresponds to the color as a whole. Eye color is ruby to black, the darkest possible eye color is preferred. ( Pansy of Lobega , owner and photo - Simanova S. )
White with red eyes (Pink Eyed White, Albino) * usually cc, but also a combination of several lightening genes	Pure, bright, brilliant white color. The hair should be snow-white along its entire length. The color of the belly and fur on the paws is white. The eyes are bright, light red (pink). (breeder Kocheshkova E.G. (Donetsk, Ukraine), photo - Evgeniy Gladenyuk )
Champagne, Cream * aa pp	Very light, slightly pinkish beige color. Shouldn't be too yellow or too grey. The hair is colored evenly along its entire length. The color of the belly and paws corresponds to the color as a whole. The eyes are pink. ( Chuk , owner Fedorova Yu. , breeder - Vorobyova O. , photo - Golovanova S. )

Section “Ticked”

Variety	Description
Agouti * A-, no mutations	Rich chestnut color, guard hairs are black. Short and medium-length hairs should have a yellow-orange (preferably as warm a shade as possible) band. The base of the hair is dark gray. The tips of the hairs are black. The color of the paws matches the color as a whole. The belly is silver-gray. The eyes are black. ( Nika , owner Simanova E. , photo - Simanova S. )
Amber * A/- pp (pink eye agouti)	Light yellow-orange color, each hair is marked with a silver-beige belt (ivory color). The guard hairs are silvery. The undercoat color is cream. The belly color is light beige. Eyes are pink. Preference is given to rats with the lightest eyes. ( Ksyusha , owner Vorobyova O. , photo - Golovanova S. )
Blue Agouti, Opal *A/-gg	Each hair is gray-blue at the base, with a reddish-brown band at the top of the hair. The guard hairs are light blue in color. The color of the paws matches the color as a whole. The belly is light gray-blue interspersed with silvery hairs. Eye color - black. ( Wust , owner Rumyantseva E. , 8th meeting of rat lovers, Moscow, photo - Golovanova S. )
Photo is temporarily unavailable Platinum Agouti * aa gg momo (mo - American mink, i.e. Mock Mink)	A vibrant mix of light gray and cream with an even icy blue tint. The base of the hair is light blue. Each hair is marked with a cream belt. The belly color is light silver. Paw color is light gray. Eyes from light to dark ruby.
Cinnamon * A/- mm (Mink Agouti)	The main color is reddish-brown interspersed with chocolate guard hairs. Short and medium-length hairs are marked with a bright golden-red belt. The base of the hair is medium intensity gray-brown. The color of the paws matches the color as a whole. The belly color is silver-gray, like the agouti, but in a lighter variation. Eyes black or dark ruby. ( Guan Yin , owner. Simanova S. , photo - Simanova S. )
Fawn (Fawn, Dark topaz, Topaz, Orange) A/- rr	Rich golden brownish-orange color (similar to the color of a fawn), as bright as possible, with uniform inclusions of silver guard hairs. The ticking is weakly expressed, of the same red-golden hue. The undercoat and base of the hair are light gray or bluish in color down to the base. The belly is creamy silver. The color of the back and sides should be uniform, without losing intensity on the sides. The boundary between the color of the back/sides and the belly should be clear and distinct. The base color should not appear dusty or greyish. The eyes are dark ruby, the darkest possible eye color is preferred.
Photo is temporarily unavailable Topaz * A- rr + other lightening genes	A color similar to the fawn color, but less intense and with a lighter, duller undercoat.
Pearl * aa mm Pepe (dominant) or aa momo pepe (where mo is American mink; it is likely that the pearl gene behaves as a recessive gene in combination with American mink).	Very light silver color, transitioning to a creamy base color. The tip of each hair is lightly marked with light gray. Gray can be a warm shade and sometimes even closer to lilac in tone. The belly color is light creamy silver. Eye color - black (or dark ruby, depending on modifications). ( Toma , owner Kulikova N. , photo - Kulikova N. )
Pearl cinnamon (Cinnamon pearl) * AA mm Pepe or Aa momo pepe (?)	The coat color is based on a combination of three colors (from the base of the hair upward): cream, bluish-gray and orange. The guard hairs are silvery. General impression of color: golden with a silver tint. The belly color is light silver-gray. The color of the paws matches the color as a whole. The eyes are black (or dark ruby depending on modifications).
Pearl Blue (Platinum Pearl) * aa mm gg Pepe (dominant) or aa momo gg pepe (where mo is American mink; it is likely that the pearl gene behaves as a recessive gene in combination with American mink).	Light creamy gray color with a blue tint. The tip of each hair is marked blue-gray. Gray can be a warm shade and even sometimes closer in tone to lilac. The gray-blue color of the upper part of the hairs transitions to the cream color of the base of the hair and undercoat. The belly is creamy bluish-gray. The eyes are black (or dark ruby, depending on modifications). ( Jerry , owner Kulikova N. , photo - Kulikova N. )

Section “Combined” (Pointed)

Variety	Description
Siamese (Seal Point Siamese) * c(h)c(h)	The main color is beige, gradually and evenly darkening on the rump in the direction from the loin to the tail and from the belly (starting from about 1/4 of the width of the side) to the upper back; The darkest brown color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. Darkly colored markings of a rich brown color should also be on the muzzle (to eye level or slightly more), ears, front and hind legs (to the elbow and ankles). There should be no sharp boundaries between the dark-colored areas and the beige body color; the markings should blend smoothly and evenly into the body color. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, legs or tail. The belly is light beige. The eyes are red to light ruby. ( Baakir de Morthy , owner and photo Elena Kocheshkova (Donetsk, Ukraine)
Blue Point Siamese * c(h)c(h)gg	The main color is silver-beige, gradually and evenly darkening on the rump in the direction from the loin to the tail and from the belly (starting from about 1/4 of the width of the side) to the upper back; The darkest rich blue color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. On the muzzle the darkening goes towards the nose. Markings of a dark blue color should also be on the ears, front and hind legs (up to the elbow and ankles). There should be no sharp boundaries between the deep blue areas and the silver-beige body color; the markings should blend smoothly and evenly into the body color. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, paws or tail. The belly is silver-beige. The eyes are ruby to dark, almost black. ( Denali Hakalla , owner and photo - Simanova S. )
No photo available Siamese Russian Blue (Russian Blue Point Siamese) c(h)c(h)dd	The main color is beige, gradually and evenly darkening on the rump in the direction from the loin to the tail and from the belly (starting from about 1/4 of the width of the side) to the upper back; The darkest brown color is at the base of the tail. The tail is colored along its entire length. Darkly colored markings of a rich brown color should also be on the muzzle (to eye level or slightly more), ears, front and hind legs (to the elbow and ankles). There should be no sharp boundaries between the dark-colored areas and the beige body color; the markings should blend smoothly and evenly into the body color. There should be no white or very light areas on the body, legs or tail. The belly is light beige. The eyes are red to light ruby.
Siamese mink (Mink Point Siamese) c(h)c(h) mm	Color cream or beige. The markings are light brown (mink). The color distribution follows the same pattern as in other varieties of Siamese color. The eyes are ruby red. ( Burger Volzhsky , owner and photo - Zhukova O. )
Himalayan * cc(h)	The main color is white, without shades of other colors or spots, uniform throughout, with markings of a rich dark brown color. The eyes are red. Painted areas: nose - the mark does not rise above the eyes; ears - the coloring does not extend beyond the boundaries of the ears and does not extend onto the head; front legs - coloring no higher than the elbows; hind legs - coloring does not extend beyond the ankles; tail - colored along the entire length, the mark does not go further than the base of the tail; feet - solid color over the entire surface, without white.
Photo is temporarily unavailable Blue Point Himalayan * cc(h)gg	The main color is white, without shades of other colors or spots, uniform throughout. The markings are smoky blue. The eyes are red. Painted areas: nose - the mark does not rise above the eyes; ears - the coloring does not extend beyond the boundaries of the ears and does not extend onto the head; front legs - coloring no higher than the elbows; hind legs - coloring does not extend beyond the ankles; tail - colored along the entire length, the mark does not go further than the base of the tail; feet - solid color over the entire surface, without white.
Black Eyed Siamese Be- c(h)c(h) (two copies of the Himalayan gene plus one copy of the black eye gene)	A variety of color variations are possible, just like the Siamese with red and ruby eyes. The color distribution follows the same pattern. Eye color is black. ( Asterixin Valtakunta , owner and photo - Lazareva V. )
No photo available Black Eyed Himalayan presumably c(h)c + black eye gene (BE)	The main color is white with beige markings on the nose, paws and base of the tail. The beige “darkening” does not extend on the face above the eyes, beyond the elbows on the front legs and beyond the ankles on the hind legs. Ears and tail are slightly pigmented. Eyes are black.

Photos from other resources were used on the page, kindly provided by their authors:
“DanaWorld” “AFRMA”

Relationships with people

Albinos are quite smart and cunning animals, but they are quite trainable. White rats almost always remember their nicknames, and they can also remember the nicknames of their other relatives who live in the neighborhood.

Remember! You should buy a cage with a more secure lock, as these rodents can learn to open cages with simple latches.

A simple latch on the door is not an obstacle for an albino rat

We can assume that they are very friendly animals towards people, the same cannot be said about their wild relatives. White rats are quite sociable rodents. They love affection and love to have their backs stroked. Therefore, when you decide to pet your pet, he will not mind.

Important! With regular communication with your pet, you can quickly tame it. But we must remember that these rodents have excellent memory and remember well those who hurt them.