Bristle Coat Rat

Coat and looks how to spot one

Bristle (harsh, wiry stand-off coat)

A Bristle Coat feels crunchy and stiff, a little like a wire-haired terrier. Young kittens show a light wave much like a Rex, but the coat straightens as they grow into a rough coat that stands away from the body, with little undercoat. Whiskers are straight or curl only at the tips, and males usually have the harshest coats.16

Personality what they are like

The bristle gene affects the coat only, so these rats have the same sociable, trainable and affectionate nature as other fancy rats.54

Daily activity how busy a day looks

As lively as any fancy rat. Most active around dusk and through the night, it needs daily supervised time out of the cage, things to climb and forage for, and short play or training sessions.47

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

No brushing or bathing needed, as rats groom themselves. Expect the soft, wavy baby coat to straighten and turn harsher as the rat matures; that change is normal for the variety.14

Home where they are happiest

The largest multi-level rat cage you can fit, with shelves, ropes, ladders, hammocks and hideouts, dust-free bedding such as shredded paper, placed in a quiet room around 19-23 C away from direct sun and draughts.72

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete rat nugget or pellet as the daily staple, with small portions of vegetables, a little fruit, grains and cooked egg counted into the ration. Keep sugary or fatty bits for training rewards, scatter some food to encourage foraging, and provide fresh water from a bottle at all times.8

Company who they like around

A very sociable animal that should share its home with at least one other rat, in a same-sex pair or small group or a neutered mixed pair, and enjoys daily time with its people.45

The story where it all began

Bristle Coat rats were developed in the United States by Jozzette and Michael Hagemann. The coat comes from a dominant gene, written Br, and AFRMA accepted it as a standardised variety on 6 December 2014.1

Recognised by the official bits

American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA)

Standardised on 6 December 2014 as the seventh AFRMA variety; the coat should feel like a wire brush, coarse and stiff. Faults include a coat that is not harsh enough or adults that keep waves.1