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Fancy rat

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iFancy rat
Fossil range: Early Pleistocene - Recent
Image:Fancyrat1.jpg
A pet rat eating a watermelon
Conservation status
Domesticated

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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Myomorpha
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Rattus
Fischer de Waldheim, 1803
Species

R. rattus
R. norvegicus

The fancy rat or pet rat is a domesticated breed of the Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) or, more rarely, of the Black Rat (R. rattus). The name "fancy rat" has nothing to do with the "fanciness" of their appearance but derives from the meaning of "to fancy." Thus, one who keeps pet rats is said to be involved in "rat fancy."

Pet rats live on average 2-3 years<ref>http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/faqs/#q4</ref> though the oldest rat on record - a lab rat called Rodney - reached a purported age of 7 years and 4 months, according to the 1995 Guinness Book of Records. Bucks (male rats) reach an average weight of between 400g and 800g, while does (female rats) can average between 250g and 450g. Female rats are generally more active and playful, whereas bucks are more likely to enjoy falling asleep on your lap.

Contents

[edit] Origins

Image:Albino pet rat.jpg
The origin of the modern fancy rat is probably the rat-catchers of the late 19th century who trapped rats and were paid by town governments per rat, and who also kept certain rats for exhibition/gambling fights. They began breeding rats (possibly to collect more money from the towns, or because it was easier than catching new ones all the time), and became attached to some as they discovered how intelligent and trainable rats can be. One of the most famous of these rat catchers was Jack Black, ratcatcher to Queen Victoria, who became known for breeding and selling pet rats around 1840-1860. Rats became more and more domesticated and people enjoyed them since they are easily bred, social and intelligent pets. The first rat show was held in 1901 in England. Beatrix Potter, author of the "Peter Rabbit" series of children's books, had a white pet rat of which she was very fond. Ratkeeping grew in popularity in the 1970s, leading to the formation of the British National Fancy Rat Society in 1976.


[edit] Varieties

Image:Americanblue.jpg As in other pet species, a variety of colours, coat types, and other features that do not appear in the wild have been either developed or arisen spontaneously in pet rats.

[edit] Colouring

While some pet rats retain the "agouti" (two tones on the same hair) colouring of the wild brown rat, other colours may include blue, chocolate, silver, black, white, and pearl, fawn/champagne/beige, and mink/cinnamon. Colour definitions tend to vary for more vague varieties like fawn and champagne, or mink and cinammon. They can fluctuate between and even within different countries or clubs.<ref name=AFRMAstd>American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association standards. AFRMA. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.</ref><ref name=NFRSstd>National Fancy Rat Society standards. NFRS. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.</ref>

[edit] Markings

In addition to the many colours, there are also many different markings. The markings are typically in reference to the patterns and ratios of coloured hair versus white hair. The two extremes would be a Self and a Himalayan (as defined by the NFRS). The former being completely coloured while the latter only has a gradual blend of colouring towards its nose.

Internationally recognized standards include:

  • Berkshire - coloured top, white belly
  • Hooded - colour running from full head down spine
  • Capped - colour on full head only
  • Variegated - a blaze, or short white strip on the forehead, with a fully coloured head and splotches or flecks of colour running down the back only
  • Essex - similar to Berkshire, only that the colour fades to white rather than ending abruptly
  • Bareback - colour fully on head, neck, and chest only (not officially standardized in the UK)
  • Irish or English Irish - In England this marking is only standardized as an equilateral triangle of white with a side beginning at the chest, or between the front legs, and the point ending mid length. The AFRMA, another international rat fancier club, distinguishes this marking as the English Irish and allows for another standard Irish in which the rat may have white of an even or symmetrical nature anywhere along its belly.
Image:Oddeye.jpg

Other marking varieties include Dalmatian-like spotting, blazes, masks (only around the eyes), points (typically a gradient of colour on the nose), and "downunders" (an Australian variety which have markings on the belly that correspond to those on top). Additionally, eye-colour is considered a subset of colouring, many coat-colour definitions including standards for the eyes. They may be black, ruby, or odd-eyed (one of each). <ref name=AFRMAstd/><ref name=NFRSstd/>

[edit] Coat types

There are only a relatively few amount of coats, and not all are internationally standardized as such. The most common type is the Normal, which is allowed variance in coarseness between sexes; the males have a coarse, thick, rough coat, while the females' coats are softer and finer. One of the more exotic coats includes the Rex coat; all the hairs are curly, even the whiskers. Satin or silky coats are extra soft, fine, and have a sheen. The remaining coat types are not defined by the hair itself, but rather by the lack of it. Hairless, or Sphynx, rats are a coat variety characterized by their completely bare skin except perhaps near the top of their heads (not standard) and their whiskers. Patchwork rats are a subset of the hairless, constantly losing hair and regrowing it in different "patches" several times throughout their lifetimes.<ref name=AFRMAstd/><ref name=NFRSstd/><ref>Australian National Rat Association standards. Tripod.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.</ref>

[edit] Physical changes

A male dumbo rat, a variety with wider and larger ears placed lower on the head.

Two of the most prominent (and thus standardized) physical changes applied to rats through selective breeding are the development of the Manx and Dumbo. Manx rats borrow their name from the tailless cats on the Isle of Man. Manx rats also come in the same stumpy, rumpy, and rumpy-riser varieties as the Manx cats. Of interesting note, on the Isle of Man the word rat is considered a swearword and can be very offensive to some people. The Dumbo, whose origins are in the United States, is characterized by having large, low, round ears on the sides of its head. <ref name=AFRMAstd/>

[edit] Ethics of selective breeding

There is controversy amongst rat fanciers if breeding hairless or tail-less rats is ethically right.[citation needed] The tail is vital for rats' balance and for adjusting body temperature. Tailless rats have greater risk of heat exhaustion and falling from heights. Similarly, hairless rats are missing their warmth-preserving coating and are more likely to be adversely affected by the cold.

[edit] Health concerns regarding pet rats

Fancy rats being defined as a purely domesticated subset of either R. rattus or, more typically, R. norvegicus, are more prone to specific health concerns and diseases than their wild counterparts. Conversely they are also far less likely to succumb to certain illnesses that are prevalent in the wild. The major considerations for susceptibility include exposure, living conditions, and diet.

Rats that live their entire lives indoors are able to avoid disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the latter being absent in treated water. They may also more easily avoid vectors like cockroaches, beetles, and fleas who are essential for the spread of Bubonic plague and intestinal cestodes like the Rat tapeworm. Additionally, pet or laboratory rats enjoy the natural benefits of having a consistent and well-balanced diet. However, this could be countered with the fact that outside of the laboratory rats may not always be receiving proper nutrition. Finally, rats that are in the care of humans are privy to the advantage of surgery for the benign mammary tumors, common to both sexes <ref name=Merck>Merk Veterinary Manual. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.</ref>.

While living indoors decreases the risk of contracting certain diseases, living in close quarters with other rats, being unable to always seek proper protection from environmental factors (e.g. temperature, humidty, drafts), being fed an unhealthy diet, and the stresses naturally associated with living in an unnatural habitat can all have adverse effects on a rat's health making them prone to specific conditions. Specifically, Tyzzer's disease, Protozoic infections (e.g. Giardia muris), and Pseudotuberculosis are usually seen in stressed or young rats. While Streptococcus pneumoniae is a zoonotic disease caught from humans. Another bacteria associated with humans, Pneumocystis carinii, is actually found in almost all domesticated species. However it is asymptomatic unless the rat's immune system is compromised by illness, then it can develop into pneumonia. Several diseases, like Rat Coronavirus Infection (RCI), Sendai virus, and Murine Respiratory Mycoplasmosis (MRM, Mycoplasma pulmonis), are more prevalent simply because their highly contagious natures work in tandem with the way rats are kept in laboratories, pet stores, and by breeders. It should be noted, however, that MRM is far less likely to occur in laboratory rats than those kept as pets. Pet rats can also develop pituitary tumors if they are given high-calorie diets or come down with Ringtail if placed in areas with low humidty, high temperatures, or drafts. Staphylococcus spp are a mostly benign group of bacteria that commonly reside on the top of the skin. Cuts and scratches can open up the pathways for them to cause ulcerative dermatitis. Cuts and scratches are a normal part of every rat's life, they are social animals who periodically spar for positions within their loose hierarchy. However when being caged, stressors can increase aggressiveness between rats, causing more frequent and intense fighting <ref name=Merck />.

[edit] Domestic rats in film, television, theatre and literature

Since Muybridge's first films, rats have been widely used in entertainment media. Due to their intelligent nature and trainability, rats have appeared in over 413 major film releases throughout the world, and in at least seventy-one television series. For example, Scabbers is a rat-animal friend in the Harry Potter book/film series. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Christopher Boone, the autistic protagonist, keeps a pet rat named Toby. In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, the character of Amy is turned into a rat and is kept as a pet by Willow for several seasons before she is changed back into a human.

Rats in films are often depicted as squeaking critters, usually for dramatic effect. However, rats do not usually squeak; they may do so if distressed, or perhaps just a little grumpy about being picked up.

Rats are often in roles that emphasize their popular perception as malevolent vermin. The 1971 film Willard is a notable example; it features a horde of rats trained to exact revenge for a social misfit, but also shows some realistic social interactions among the rats. An alpha rat named Big Ben becomes jealous of the attention a smart rat named Socrates is getting, and tries to murder his rival.

[edit] References

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[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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