StandardsFor complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.
See the Rat Type Issues - Judging 101 for examples of
type problems.
Read more on Type, Type Question:
Square Butts on Rats, Type Question: Head Shape On Rats, and On The Show Bench, What is Condition?.
Points allotted to the ideal rat are as follows:
The definition of the ideal rat is as follows:
TYPE – The general appearance should be pleasing to the eye, with good outline and inquisitive attention. The body should be long and somewhat racy in appearance, and show strong bone. The loin should be well arched.
Black Self Satin male “RN Simply Slick” showing
racy body with good bone, arched loin, and thick tapering tail, but has a bit of a long head, owned and bred
by Nancy Ferris. |
Black Hooded Standard 11-month-old male showing racy body with good bone, arched loin,
and thick tail, but has a long head, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Seal Point Siamese 11-month-old male “KK1584-A Play It Again” showing
very nice type and smooth blending overall, with good bone, owned by Nichole Royer, bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Variegated Standard 9-month-old male (top view below) showing good bone, substance,
type, and very thick tail, but his head is a little long and he is a little chubby, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
This Cinnamon male shows great bone, substance, thick tail, and nice head shape, owned
and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
Silver Black Dalmatian (heavy marked) 10-month-old male showing racy body with good bone,
arched loin, thick tail, and good head, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
This 8-month-old Russian Blue Agouti Essex Standard male shows great type, bone, substance,
and thick tail, owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
Pearl Standard 11-month-old male (top view and head below) with racy body, good bone,
arched loin, good head, and thick tail, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Standard 4-month-old male with racy body, good bone, arched loin, very thick
tail, and great size for his age (weighed 615 gm/21.7 oz at 4 months), owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
...and the Black Standard male at 7 months. This male and the Agouti Standard female
are siblings. |
Pearl Standard 11-month-old male (side view above, head below) with good width through
the shoulders and nice thick tail, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Variegated Standard 9-month-old male (side view above) showing good width through
the shoulders and very thick tail, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Variegated Standard 6-month-old male showing racy body with good width through
the shoulders, good tail set, and thick tapering tail, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
This female shows good bone, good size, arched loin, and really thick tail, owned
and bred by Karen Robbins. |
A young Black Hooded Standard female “Cupcake” showing nice type with
good bone, arched loin, really thick tail, and nice eyes and ears, owned by A.J. Ramirez. |
This Agouti Standard 4-month-old female (head below) shows good bone, arched loin,
large ears, good ear set, thick tail, and nice glossy smooth coat, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. She has
rich color but is too dark down the spine. |
...and at 7 months old. |
Black Self Satin 6½-week-old kitten male showing racy body with good bone,
arched loin, and thick tail, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Capped Standard 8-week-old kitten male showing racy smooth-blending body with
good bone, arched loin, thick tail, and nice smooth coat, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. The Cap follows
the jaw line but needs to not go so far behind the ears on each side. He also has a spot at the base of the
tail which is common for Cappeds. |
Russian Blue Self Standard 10-week-old male with very nice type, good bone, arched
loin, thick tail, and good ear spacing (ear set), owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
These Cinnamon Pearl and Cinnamon kittens show good bone and substance, though the
Cinnamon has a long head, owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
These Cinnamon kittens show good bone and substance, owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
CONDITION – Animals should be maintained in good weight, to emphasize their good qualities. The coat should be short, smooth, and glossy (except Rex), with the males having somewhat longer and coarser hair. It should show a natural high shine and densely cover the body.
HEAD – The head should be long and clean in outline, not too fine or pointed at the muzzle. The skull should show breadth as well as length and have good width between the eyes, as well as the ears. The whiskers at the muzzle should be well developed, being long and straight (except Rex, Satin, Hairless).
Mink Standard 16-month-old male showing a masculine head with good shape and broad muzzle,
owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Mink Standard 15-month-old male showing a masculine head with good shape, owned by Mayumi Anderson, bred
by Karen Robbins. |
Cinnamon Standard male showing good depth of head, owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
Agouti Standard 7-month-old female (body above) with good head shape, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
The side view of the Agouti Standard female with good depth of head, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Russian Dove Dalmatian Standard 16-month-old female with good head shape, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Pearl Standard 11-month-old male (top and side view above) with good head shape, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Standard female with good head, good spacing between the ears (ear set), and good ear size,
owned by Julie Klaz. |
9-week-old Agouti Standard male with good head shape, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
EYES – The eyes are to be large, bold, and prominent, showing animation and interest.
Agouti Standard 22-month-old female with large bold eyes, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Pearl Standard female with large bold eyes, owned by Karen Robbins, bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
EARS – The ears should be set far apart on the head, standing erect, and being free from folds or creases. They are rounded in shape, and of good size.
Cinnamon Pearl Standard female showing good ear set and large ears,
owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
Black Variegated Standard female with large correctly spaced ears and good head shape,
owned by Paul Threapleton and Sue Foulds. |
Agouti Essex Standard female with large correctly spaced ears,
owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. |
A very old (37 months old) Black Variegated Standard female with very large ears but
are set too close together, and large bold eyes, owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
TAIL – The tail should come out of the back, and be thick at the base, tapering to a fine point, and is to be free of kinks. The length should be equal to the body, or slightly longer.
Tail of PEW female showing good width at the base and tapering to fine point,
owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
L: large female with excellent tail length and thickness but is too square on the tail set,
R: average female with good tail, tail set a little square, both owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
Black Variegated Standard 6-month-old male showing good tail set, owned and bred
by Karen Robbins. |
Russian Blue Standard 16-month-old female showing good tail set and thick tapering tail,
owned and bred by Karen Robbins. |
SIZE – Size is not to disqualify any rat, but all other things being equal, the larger animal shall have the advantage. The average size should be eight to ten inches in length, measured from nose to tail set-on, with approximately the same length for the tail; males being slightly larger than the females.
Pet Rat vs. Show Rat: these 2 males are approximately
the same age; L: Agouti Hooded Standard pet rat is smaller and has a rougher coat; R:
Lilac Hooded Standard “One In A Million”
show rat is larger and has a smoother coat. Both owned by Nichole Royer. |
GENERAL – All rats must be tractable and easy to handle. Any evidence of physical defects or unsteady temperament, shall be penalized by the judge, and will subject the individual exhibit to elimination. All faults listed are to be considered equally when placements are made, with no one fault to be more serious than any other.
Rats are shown in seven Varieties at this time, namely: Standard, Rex, Tailless, Hairless, Satin, Dumbo, and Bristle Coat.
Rats will be further grouped into six Sections as follows: Self, Any Other Color (AOC), Any Other Color Pattern (AOCP), Silvered, Marked, and Odd-eye.
The following faults, eliminations, and disqualifications are to apply to all exhibits, regardless of Variety or color:
GENERAL FAULTS – Nicked ears; over or under weight; stained or dirty coat.
GENERAL ELIMINATIONS – Abscess; pregnant or nursing females; any respiratory disease; scabs, internal or external parasites, scaly skin, chewed/barbered coat; eye infections, allergies; whiskers very short or missing; condition too poor for competition; injuries made prior to judging; improperly entered in class; animals shown under nine weeks of age; biting.
GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS – Tumors; blindness in one or both eyes; missing one or both eyes; ears torn or with a portion missing, either of which noticeably detracts from the general appearance; wry neck; crooked or missing feet, legs, or toes; tail broken, kinked, permanently out of line, or with any portion missing; males neutered; males not showing both testicles in normal condition; any dyeing, plucking, or trimming designed to alter natural condition.
NA – If, in the judge’s opinion, an animal does not meet minimum show requirements, in appearance or health, it shall be judged NA (not applicable) and will not be placed.
For complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the
AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.
Purchase the AFRMA Official Color Standards Rat book.
See the Rat Type Issues - Judging 101 for examples of type problems.
Read more on Type, Type Question:
Square Butts on Rats, Type Question: Head Shape On Rats, and On The Show Bench, What is Condition?.
Go to AFRMA Fancy Rat Varieties and Sections
Go to AFRMA Official Mouse Standard