Pet Rat Coat Types

Pet rat coat types are an interesting way of distinguishing between pet rats varieties. Although it requires you to pick each rat up to see what pet rat coat type they have, there are distinct behavioural patterns that depend on the type of rat it is. Although there are very few variations in terms of pet rat coat types, they do offer a significant amount of information on their living conditions and lifestyles.

Rat fights were a common sport in the 18th and 19th century as rat-catchers would sell off hundreds of rodents to people who would put them in for fights with dogs. Almost all rats caught were wild and had random skin tone and coat. Over the years, a few buyers decided to have their own trademark types for rats and thus, began breeding them based on their favourite coat type or colour. As the sport vanished, the practice of breeding rats for their coat became a hobby and today, it is quite popular amongst breeders and hobbyists all over the world.

Pet rat coat types are an excellent indication of the conditions these rats live and thrive in. While most pet rats commonly available in pet stores have a smooth silky coat, they are quite different from some of the other varieties available in stores and with breeders.

The standard pet rat coat type is a short but smooth coat which has a distinct glossy finish to it. This is in stark contrast with a pet rat coat type called “Rex”. Rats with Rex coats have curly hair as well as whiskers and are extremely different from the normal coat rats. For a rat to be born with a Rex coat, one of the mating parents needs to a Rex rat.

Pet rat coat types also include the Satin type of coat which is longer but thinner in width. This gives it a silk-like smooth lustre and hence the name, Satin.

Just like pet rat coat types of varying nature help us classify rats, there are certain species that are semi-hairless or completely hairless. These rats either have patches of hair that regularly sheds and grows in different parts of the body, or has no hair at all and is known as a “Sphinx” rat.

Whether you have a short or a long haired version, rats are extremely lovable creatures and to pick one for your child or yourself is a choice that depends on what appeals to you in terms of its appearance and coat. Now that you have a better idea of the types of coat that rats may have, go out there and get your favourite pet rat coat type on your pet rat.