Satin Rat

Coat and looks how to spot one

Satin (fine, lustrous coat)

The satin gene makes each hair narrower with a clearer outer shell, so the coat looks thinner and slightly longer and gives off a bright, glossy sheen that can almost sparkle on some colours. Colours look deeper than on a standard rat, white areas take on a creamy tint, and the whiskers are wavy and curl back towards the head.1276

Personality what they are like

The satin coat changes the look of the fur, not the character: satins are as sociable, inquisitive and trainable as other fancy rats when handled from a young age.65

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.58

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Rats keep their own coats clean, so the fine satin coat needs no brushing or bathing. A clean cage and dust-free bedding help keep the sheen at its best.58

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.83

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.9

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.56

The story where it all began

Satin rats appeared as a spontaneous recessive mutation in Karen Hauser's (later Robbins) English line in 1990, with two Pearl satins the first to be noticed. She went on to breed satins in Mink, Pearl, Siamese and more, and AFRMA standardised the variety in 1995.12

Recognised by the official bits

American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA)

Standardised on 15 October 1995 as one of AFRMA's seven varieties; can be shown in any recognised colour or marking, with a lustrous sheen and a fine, thinner, longer-looking coat.1