How to Care for a Satin Coat Rat

Due to a genetic mutation, satin coat rats have narrow, translucent hairs which look shiny, rumpled, and slightly curly.^{[1]XResearch source} If you own a satin rat, its coat may require extra brushing or bathing. You’ll also need to provide a cage for your rat, and feed it lab blocks and supplemental treats on a daily basis. While satin-coat rats are generally healthy, they do occasionally suffer from respiratory illnesses. Fortunately, your vet can help you keep a rat in good health.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Setting up a Cage for Your Rat

1
Purchase a cage that has at least 2 cu ft (0.057 m³) of space. For example, the cage could be 12 by 12 by 24 inches (30 × 30 × 61 cm). This will ensure that your rat won’t be cramped in a too-small cage. The cage should be high enough that your rat can stand on its hind legs without its nose touching the top of the cage.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Visit your local pet store and look through their rat-cage options until you find one that suits you.
- If you plan to purchase more than 1 rat, find a cage that’s large enough to allow each rat 1.5 cubic feet (0.042 m³) of space.
2
Choose a cage that’s at least 20 inches (51 cm) high. This will give your pet rat room to climb and explore. Rats are curious animals that like to play in and explore their surroundings, and will be unhappy if they’re cooped up in a small cage that doesn’t give them room to climb.^{[3]XResearch source}
- A high cage will also give you more space to attach shelves and ramps to the walls.
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3
Opt for a cage with a solid floor. Many small-animal cages sold in pet stores have wire or mesh floors. These are dangerous to rats, since their small feet may get caught in the wire flooring. Rats often sprain or break their ankles because of unsafe flooring in their cage.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Inspect the ramps and all other horizontal surfaces in the cage. These should all be solid.
4
Cover the cage’s flooring with hardwood shavings or shredded paper. The cage floor’s covering will absorb the satin rat’s droppings and give it a more comfortable surface to walk on. You should be able to find hardwood shavings (like aspen wood) at a local pet store. If they don’t have hardwood, opt for paper products or corncob bedding.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Do not cover the bottom of your rat’s cage with shavings from cedar or pine. Both types of wood are harmful to rats.
- Since your rat will be safe and warm in its cage, you don’t need to provide any housing or hiding places in the cage. Your rat can burrow into the floor covering whenever it wants.
5
Give your rat toys to keep it entertained. Rats are playful, curious animals, and love having a variety of toys to play with. Wheels are a popular rat toy since they allow rats to keep busy and exercise. Rats also enjoy plastic tunnels, hammocks, and rope chew toys. You can find many types of rat-appropriate toys at a local pet store.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Like most pets, rats appreciate novelty. Give your rat a new toy every few months so that it doesn’t become bored with its toy selection.
6
Clean your rat’s cage once a week. Rats are relatively clean pets, but their cages can become messy quickly, especially since rats go to the bathroom in their cages. To clean the cage, dilute 1 part bleach with 10 parts hot water. Put this into a spray bottle, and spray it on all the surfaces of your rat’s cage. Then wipe everything down with a clean, dry cloth.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Also be sure to pick up and throw away any pieces of food that your rat has discarded. These will begin to mold quickly.
- While you’re cleaning out the cage, you can put the rat in a small cat or dog carrier (like you’d use to take the animal to the vet).
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Feeding Your Rat

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Give your satin rat 1 bowl of lab blocks every night. Lab blocks are a compact, protein-rich food designed to feed rodents like hamsters, gerbils, and rats. Fill a small ceramic bowl with lab blocks, and set the bowl in the bottom of your rat’s cage. Since rats are nocturnal animals, they’ll be most inclined to eat at night. So, feed your rat before going to bed.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- You can purchase rat-specific lab blocks at your local pet store. They’ll also be available from online pet retailers.
2
Supplement your rat’s diet with 1 tbsp (5 g) of treats daily. Like most pets, rats enjoy tasty treats in addition to their usual dry food. Cut up fruits and vegetables like broccoli florets, strawberries, or apples. You can also give your rat hard treats (like dog biscuits) for them to gnaw on.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Place the fresh treats in a separate bowl from the lab blocks, to prevent the dry food from becoming soggy.
- As a species, rats are prone to become obese, and satin rats are no different. If your rat is getting chubby or becomes lethargic, cut back on the number of treats you’re giving it.
3
Replenish your rat’s water daily. Each day, make sure that fresh water is available for your rat to drink at all times. You can pour water into a ceramic bowl similar to your rat’s food bowl, or attach a water bottle to one side of your rat’s cage. Pour out the water and refill the bowl or bottle if the water has hair or food in it.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- If you give your rat water in a ceramic bowl, be sure to wash this as part of the cage’s weekly cleaning.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Grooming Your Rats’ Coat

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Brush your rat’s fur if its hindquarters look unkempt. Since satin rats have thin, curly, often-unruly hair, they may struggle to keep it all groomed. Your rat’s hindquarters are most difficult to groom and will be the first section of fur to show the effects of poor maintenance. Un-groomed fur looks fluffy, matted, and unkempt. If you notice un-groomed fur, brush it with an ordinary pet fur brush until the fur is shiny and smooth.^{[11]XResearch source}
- The hindquarters may be especially unkempt in overweight or aged satin rats.
- Check the rat’s coat for scruff, bald patches, or scabs. If you notice a problem, have a veterinarian check your rat.
2
Bathe your rat in your sink if its coat becomes dirty. If you notice that your rat’s fur is matted and soiled, or if your rat has an unusually musky smell, you can give it a bath. Fill your kitchen or bathroom sink with warm water, and add in 1–2 squirts of a kitten shampoo.^{[12]XResearch source} You can purchase kitten shampoo at a local pet shop.
- In general, rats are clean animals and groom their own coats through licking the fur clean and biting at their flanks to remove dead skin. However, satin rats’ uncommon coat can make grooming a little more difficult.
3
Use your fingers to massage the soap into your rat’s coat. Pick up your rat and wet it with warm water from the tap, then slowly submerge its body in the soapy water. With your fingers, massage the shampoo into the satin rat’s coat. Then hold your rat under the tap to rinse the shampoo off of its body.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Once you’ve finished washing your satin-coat rat, place it on a dry towel. Use the towel to gently pat your rat until it’s dry.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Dealing with Health Problems

1
Take your rat to the vet if it sneezes uncontrollably. This is a common symptom of a respiratory illness. Also take your rat to the vet if your rat frequently sniffles or seems to have a “runny” nose. Describe the symptoms to the vet, and clarify that your rat is a satin-coat variety. Ask the vet about a medication you can give your rat to clear up its respiratory problem.^{[14]XResearch source}
- A veterinarian who specializes in small animals or small pets will be most qualified to help a rat.
2
Look to see if your rat develops a dull, dry coat. Unfortunately, rats are prone to various illnesses related to their skin and coat. A rat’s fur is also a good indicator of its overall health. If the fur loses its luster and begins to look dull the rat may be ill. You can also tell from touch: if your rat’s coat feels dry and almost brittle when you pet its back, your rat may have an allergic reaction to something in their environment.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Keep in mind that a dull coat on a satin rat may not be as noticeable as on other types of rats since a satin rat’s coat normally has a shine to it.
3
Ask your vet about increasing oil in your rat’s diet if it sheds dandruff. It’s normal for rats to have occasional flecks of skin in their fur. However, talk to your vet if you begin to notice large amounts of orange-colored dandruff along your rat’s rump and sides. Rats typically develop dandruff when they have insufficient oils in their diet, so your vet may suggest a dietary modification to fix the condition causing dandruff. Your vet may also suggest that you groom your rat more frequently.^{[16]XResearch source}
- It’s also a possibility that your dandruff-ridden rat has lice. If this is the case, you’ll be able to see small white lice eggs along the individual shafts of your rat’s hairs.
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Due to the combination of recessive genes needed to produce the satin coat, satin-coat rats can be born to parents with ordinary coats. However, both parents need to have had the same recessive gene, since the genetic makeup of the satin-coat genotype is double recessive.^{[17]XResearch source}
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The satin-coat rat mutation occurs within the Fancy Rat (Rattus norvegicus): the only breed of domesticated rat.^{[18]XResearch source}
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Different rat registries and clubs have slightly different standards for evaluating whether or not a Fancy Rat is satin.^{[19]XResearch source} For example, the definition provided by the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA) differs from the definition provided by the RatsPacNW.
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Warnings

If you’re a rat breeder, you should never kill healthy rats, even if they show respiratory or behavioral problems. Killing healthy animals is an inhumane practice.
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