Fancy rat
The fancy rat or pet rat is a type of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) that is bred to be a pet. The name fancy rat has nothing to do with the "fanciness" of how they look. It comes from the phrase animal fancy. A person who keeps pet rats is said to be involved in "rat fancy." Some people domesticate black rats (Rattus rattus), and Gambian pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus). These types of rats are not usually called fancy rats because the hobby does not center around them.
| Fancy rat Temporal range: Early Pleistocene - Recent
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| Genus: | Rattus Fischer de Waldheim, 1803
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Fancy rats have been bred as pets at least since the late 19th century. They can have many different colors and coat types. They are sociable, intelligent animals. They can learn to come when called, use a litter box, and do many different tricks. Pet rats act differently from rats found in nature. The number of generations since they have been removed from the wild and how they were bred has an effect on how much they act differently. They are not any more of a health risk than other common pets.
In the 19th century france, Fancy Rats were quite a popular attraction of entertainment, they could be taughtt a handfull of tricks.
Fancy rats do not have the diseases and illness as a wild rat would have. Fancy rats can have ears on the top of their head (standard) or at the side (dumbo)
Fancy Rat Media
- Rat-baiting6.jpg
The blood sport of rat-baiting was an antecedent for the practice of keeping rats as pets.
- Jack Black.jpg
Jack Black made his living not only from catching rats, but also from selling them for use in baiting.
- Nieuhof-p-263-Googhelaars-Lach-van-Kley-plate-364.png
Rats performing in a Chinese street circus troupe, as seen by Johan Nieuhof in 1655-57
- Americanblue.jpg
The American Blue is one of several standardized coat colors
Himalayan rats have a unique color and marking variation
- Fancy Rat Dalmatian.jpg
A black-and-white Dalmatian fancy rat in a hammock
- Velvet small.jpg
A male Dumbo rat, a variety with ears placed lower on the head
- Dwarf rats sleeping.jpg
Two Dwarf rats sleeping. Dwarf fancy rats are much smaller than standards.
A hairless rat (R. norvergicus) named Lhassa. This image was cropped and sharpened from the original in order to focus on the subject.
