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What is a dumbo rat?
Look at a normal rat from the front and its ears stand up on top of the head. A dumbo's ears sit lower and further out, on the sides of the head, and are larger and rounder. The NFRS standard asks for ears that are "perfectly rounded and as flat as possible", standing out at an angle, though a softer rose-petal shape is common. The skull looks slightly wider and flatter, and from above the head forms a neat triangle.
Below the neck, a dumbo is a completely normal rat. The AFRMA lists dumbo as an ear variety alongside coat types such as rex and satin, so you can have a dumbo rex, a dumbo satin or even a hairless dumbo. Our guide to rat breeds, colours and markings shows how the varieties stack together.
Where do dumbo rats come from?
The dumbo trait turned up in a breeder's rats in northern California around 1991. By 1993 it was confirmed to pass from parents to kittens, and the AFRMA wrote its standard in 1998. Since then dumbos have spread to the UK and beyond, and PetMD now lists them among the more common pet rat varieties.
Dumbo rat genetics: how breeders get dumbo kittens
Dumbo is recessive, so a rat needs two copies of the gene to have dumbo ears. A top-eared rat can carry one hidden copy. That is why dumbo kittens sometimes pop up in a litter of two top-eared parents.
| Parents | Kittens you can expect |
|---|---|
| Dumbo × dumbo | All dumbo |
| Dumbo × top-eared carrier | About half dumbo, half top-eared carriers |
| Top-eared carrier × top-eared carrier | About 1 in 4 dumbo, 2 in 4 carriers, 1 in 4 non-carriers |
| Dumbo × top-eared non-carrier | All top-eared, all carriers |
These are averages across many litters. A single litter can easily come out differently.
Are dumbo rats friendlier?
This is the most repeated claim about dumbos, and there is no proof for it. The AFRMA says some fanciers believe dumbos are friendlier and longer-lived, but that this "has never been scientifically proven". Vet Elliott Garber, writing for Creatures, says temperament is simply not tied to the ear gene.
What makes a friendly rat is a good family line, daily handling as a kitten and a patient owner. That is true whatever the ears. If you meet a litter, choose the kitten that walks up to your hand, not the one with the biggest ears.
Do dumbo rats have health problems?
No more than other rats, as far as anyone has shown. The vet-written Creatures guide says there is no good evidence that dumbos hear less well or carry any added health risk. The NFRS standard does treat a domed skull, a squashed or very triangular head and small or misplaced eyes as serious faults, so a good breeder selects away from those.
The health issues to know about are the ones every rat shares. The PDSA says rats are very prone to breathing infections that can get worse quickly, and that lumps, especially mammary lumps in females, are common. Wood Green notes lumps can appear from about one year old.
- Ears: clean, pink and dry, with no scabs, smell or discharge
- Head held level, with no tilt or circling
- Eyes bright, with no red crust
- Breathing quiet, with no clicking, rattling or wheezing
- Body smooth when you run your hands over it, no new lumps
- Weight steady from week to week on kitchen scales
A head tilt, circling or loss of balance in any rat is often an inner ear problem and needs a vet within a day or two. Laboured breathing or a rat that stops eating needs a vet the same day.
How to care for a dumbo rat
Exactly as you would for any rat. The ears need nothing extra beyond a quick look during your weekly health check. Everything else is standard fancy rat care, covered in full in our fancy rat care guide:
- At least two rats of the same sex, three if you can
- A tall cage: Wood Green's minimum for up to four rats is 80 × 50 × 80 cm high (31 × 20 × 31 in), bars 1 cm (under ½ in) apart
- Room at 19 to 23°C (66 to 73°F), as the RSPCA advises, out of draughts and sun
- Paper or cellulose bedding, never sawdust or scented bedding
- About 15 g (½ oz) of rat nuggets per rat a day, plus fresh vegetables
- One more hide than you have rats, and hammocks up high
- At least an hour out of the cage every day
Finding a dumbo rat breeder
Dumbos are easy to find now, so you can afford to be choosy. In the UK, start with the National Fancy Rat Society breeders' list. In the US, the AFRMA and regional rat clubs keep lists of ratteries. Rescues often have dumbos too: our guide to where to get pet rats lists where to look.
A good dumbo breeder breeds for health and temperament first and ears second. Before you commit, ask:
- Ask about the line. How old are the oldest rats in this family, and what did they die of? A good breeder knows.
- Ask about breathing. Has the line had chest infections or lumps at a young age? Honest answers are a good sign.
- Meet the parents. Calm, curious parents are the best guide to how the kittens will turn out.
- Check the age. Kittens should be at least 6 weeks old and already split into boys and girls. The AFRMA suggests 6 to 9 weeks.
- Take two or more. A good breeder will not sell a single rat to a home with no other rats.
- Ask about take-backs. Most good breeders will take a rat back at any age if you can no longer keep it.
Our guide to male or female rats helps you choose who to bring home, and how long rats live explains what to expect over the years. For everything else, see the pet rat care hub.
Dumbo rat questions
Are dumbo rats friendlier than other rats?
Many owners think so, but the AFRMA and vet-written guides say it has never been shown, and temperament is not linked to the ear gene. A dumbo raised by a breeder who handles kittens daily will be friendly. So will a top-eared rat from the same breeder. Pick on temperament, not ears.
Do dumbo rats live longer?
No. There is no evidence that the dumbo gene changes lifespan. Dumbos live about 2 to 3 years like any pet rat. A long-lived family line, good food, a clean cage and a vet who knows rats make far more difference than ear shape.
Can dumbo rats hear properly?
Yes. Vet-written sources say there is no good evidence that dumbo rats hear less well than top-eared rats. Their ears are a different shape and set lower, but they work normally. If a dumbo tilts its head or circles, that is an ear or balance problem that needs a vet, as it would in any rat.
Can a dumbo rat live with normal-eared rats?
Yes. A dumbo is the same species and the same kind of rat, so dumbos and top-eared rats mix happily. Group them by sex and personality, not by ears. Introduce new adults slowly on neutral ground, as you would any rats.
Are dumbo rats more expensive?
Prices are set by each breeder or shop, and some ask more for a sought-after look, but there is no extra cost to keeping one. Rescues often have dumbos too, at the same adoption fee as other rats. Food, cage and vet bills are exactly the same.
Why does my rat have one dumbo ear?
The dumbo gene shapes both ears, so a single odd ear is unlikely to be dumbo. Reasoning from that, an ear that suddenly droops, swells or changes shape is more likely an injury, an abscess or an ear infection. Have a vet look at it, especially if the rat is scratching, tilting its head or off its food.
