General Appearance | Standardized Colors | Standardized Markings and Color Patterns | Provisional Standards

Standardized Markings

Self
Absence of white markings.  The self rat shall be all one color with no white hairs.  Color shall be to the skin unless otherwise dictated by color standard.  Faults: white on toes.  Disqualifications: white hairs on body.

English Irish
White equilateral triangle on chest with front feet white and back feet white to half their length.  The triangle on chest to be of good size, clear and devoid of brindling, not to extend in a streak down the belly, but occupying all the space between the front legs.  The body shall conform to a recognized color.

Irish
White markings on lower abdomen with four white feet and white tail tip.  The marking shall be pure clean white, of moderate size and as even in shape as possible, not extending onto the legs, sides or chest.  The tail shall be tipped in white no more then one-fourth its total length.  The body shall conform to a recognized color.

Berkshire
To be symmetrically marked with as much white on the chest and belly as possible.  There should be an even line between the top and bottom color clear-cut and without brindling.  The white should be a pure clean white.  White on tail extending up to, but not exceeding, half the length.  White feet.  Marking on forehead optional, can vary from spot to blaze.  Blaze must conform to blaze standards and will be shown in the blazed classes.  The body shall conform to a recognized color. 

Variegated
The head and shoulders to be of any distinct color with white marking on forehead.  Marking on forehead required, can vary from spot to blaze.  Blaze to conform to blaze standards and will be shown in blazed classes.  The variegation to cover the body from the shoulders to the tail, including the sides.  The tail shall have spots of color as well.  Belly color to be white, devoid of creamy tinge or staining.  The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Dalmatian
Color splashes/spots over a white background, free from any solid clear-cut markings.  The splashes should be numerous and ragged in outline, but approximately equal in size and well distributed over the entire body.  The tail shall have spots of color as well.  The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Hooded
The sides, legs and feet should be a pure, clean white free from spots or brindling. The hood should cover the head, neck and shoulders without a break, showing no white on the head, throat or chin, and should run in an even line around the body. The spine line should extend in an unbroken line from the hood to the tail, be of moderate width and be free of ragged edges or brindling. The tail should be colored at the base, then white to the end. The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Bareback
To be marked similar to a hooded rat without the spine line. The back, sides, legs and feet and tail should be a pure, clean white, free from spots or brindling. The hood should cover the head, neck and shoulders without a break, showing no white on the head, throat or chin, and should run in an even line around the body. The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Capped
The body should be a pure, clean white, free from spots or brindling, with a colored head. The color should be confined to the head area only, not appearing on the throat. The cap should be free of ragged edges or brindling, follow the line of the lower jawbone in an even line and not extend past the ears. The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Masked
The body is to be a pure, clean white, free from spots or brindling. A colored mask to cover the face, to include just around the eyes and above the nose, not to extend down the sides of the face onto the muzzle or under the chin. The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Banded
The banded rat shall have as symmetrical of markings as possible. The chest, belly, sides and all legs should be completely white. Color will not extend under the jaw line (white chin). The band of color continues from the pigmented area of the head onto the shoulders, the back and part of the hips, being of even width at all points. The band width will be approximately 2 inches wide on rats of standard stature. Generally speaking, the band should be as wide as the head is. Demarcation between white belly and top color shall be as even and clean cut as possible. A white tail tip to extent no farther than 1/4^th its length. Legs and feet white. The color shall conform to a recognized color. Blazes permissible and will conform to the blazed standards and be shown in blazed classes.

Blazed
Blazed shall come in two types: wedge and non-wedge. Blazed rats shall only be shown in berkshire, variegated or banded patterns. Wedge blazes shall begin at the nose tip to include the whisker beds and come to an even point in the center of the face, not extending beyond the ears. Blaze not to include cheeks or eyes. Non-wedge blazes must begin at the nose and must include, to some degree, the center of the face. Not to extend beyond the ears. Though non-wedge blazes can be of any shape and size, a symmetrical marking is to be preferred.

Odd-Eye
Odd-eye rats may be shown in any recognized color. The unique feature is one eye pink and one eye dark ruby or black. The markings, if any, to be judged at the judge’s discretion and may be in any recognized or unrecognized pattern.

Standardized Color Patterns

Siamese
Body color to be medium beige, gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail.  There should be no white or very pale areas anywhere on the body, feet or tail.  Tail color to extend down the length of the tail.  Belly to be light beige.  Points to be as dark as possible and shade evenly into the body color.
Eyes: Ruby
Genetics: c^h/c^h - plus appropriate color gene

Seal Point Siamese: Body color to be a medium beige gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being the darkest at the base of tail.  Points to be a rich, dark sepia and to shade evenly into the body color.
Russian Blue Point Siamese: Body color to be ivory with a deep gray cast, the darker the better, gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail.  The points to be a dark gray-blue.
Blue Point Siamese: Points to be a medium slate blue.  Body color to be ivory.  Warm blue cast gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being the darkest at the tail.

Himalayan
Body color to be white, free from stains and even throughout, with points to be as dark as possible.
Note - Color areas: 1. face - not to extend upwards from eyes.  2. ears - not to extend downwards from the base.  3. forelegs - not to extend upwards beyond the elbows.  4. hind legs - not to extend upwards beyond the ankle.  5. tail - not to extend beyond the tail root.  6. feet - to be solid color throughout, devoid of any white.
Eyes: Red
Genetics: c^h/c - plus appropriate color gene

Seal Point Himalayan: Points to be a rich dark sepia.
Russian Blue Point Himalayan: Points to be a dark gray-blue.
Blue Point Himalayan: Points to be a medium slate blue.

Merle
Merle rats may be shown in any recognized color. The unique feature is a pattern of dark splash-spots distributed throughout the entire lighter background color so as to resemble a merle dog. The splash-spots should be numerous and distinct.

Silvered
To be of a recognized coat color, the coat containing equal numbers of silver and non-silver guard hairs. Each silver hair to have as much of its length white as possible; a colored tip to be allowed. Silvering to give an overall sparkling appearance. It should not be possible to confuse a silvered with a pearl or a self. Foot color to match top.  Faults: not enough silvering.

General Appearance | Standardized Colors | Standardized Markings and Color Patterns | Provisional Standards