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What is a hairless rat?
A hairless rat is an ordinary fancy rat with a gene that stops most or all of its fur growing. The AFRMA standard describes thin, bright, slightly see-through skin in any colour or marking, with very short or missing whiskers and large ears. Wrinkles, mostly around the neck and shoulders, are normal. Some people call them sphynx rats.
There are several kinds. Some are completely bare. Others keep a little peach fuzz on the face or feet. The most common "hairless" rat in the UK, according to the NFRS, is actually the double rex: a rat with two copies of the curly rex gene, whose thin coat comes and goes in patches. Our rat breeds guide explains rex and other coat types.
| Type | Coat | Whiskers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully hairless | None, smooth bare skin | Short, curly or none | Most sensitive to cold and scrapes |
| Partial or near-hairless | Fuzz on face, feet or patches | Often curly | Coat can vary through life |
| Double rex | Thin, patchy fur that moults and regrows | Curly | The commonest UK form |
Should you get a hairless rat?
Hairless rats are controversial among fanciers. The NFRS does not allow hairless or tailless rats at its shows or on its breeders' list, because hairless rats are more sensitive to cold and more prone to injury without a protective coat, and some hairless lines carry long-running skin infections or ingrowing eyelashes. It also says it has no power to ban keeping, breeding or selling them. In the US the AFRMA shows hairless rats, but notes they get ill easily, need extra warmth, may live shorter lives, and that some breeders want to limit or stop breeding them.
Our view: if you love the look, a hairless rat from a rescue, or from a breeder who can show you healthy, long-lived rats in the line, can have a good life with the extra care below. A first-time owner is usually better starting with furred rats.
How warm do hairless rats need to be?
Warmer than furred rats, but not hot. The RSPCA gives 19 to 23°C (66 to 73°F) for pet rats in general. The Furry Critter Network suggests 21 to 27°C (70 to 80°F) for hairless rats. We would aim for 21 to 24°C (70 to 75°F), where the two ranges overlap, because rats do not sweat and overheating is as dangerous as cold. Our rat temperature guide covers the signs of both.
- Choose a warm, steady room. Pick a room that stays at 21 to 24°C (70 to 75°F) day and night, away from doors, windows, radiators and direct sun.
- Put a thermometer by the cage. A cheap digital thermometer with a minimum and maximum reading shows you what happens overnight, when homes cool down.
- Give fleece nests. Add fleece-lined hides, a hanging pouch and hammocks so the rats can burrow in when they want to.
- Offer a warm spot, never a hot cage. If the room runs cool in winter, a pet-safe heat pad under part of the cage, set low, gives a warm corner. Always leave cooler areas so the rats can move away.
- Add furred friends. Rats sleep in a pile. Furred cage mates are the best heater a hairless rat can have.
- Watch them, not just the dial. Rats curled tight, shivering or piled in one nest are cold. Rats stretched flat, panting or with very pink ears and tails are too hot.
Never put a heat lamp or a heat mat inside the cage where rats can chew the cable or lie on it all day. Burns and overheating can happen fast on bare skin.
Best bedding for hairless rats
Soft, low-dust and gentle on skin. Use paper or cellulose bedding on the floor, which soaks up urine, and fleece on shelves, in hides and in hammocks. Fleece does not absorb wee, so it needs swapping and washing at least weekly. Avoid sawdust, scented or coloured bedding, cedar and pine. Cover wire floors and shelves, which scrape bare feet and skin. Our rat bedding guide compares the options.
Hairless rat skin care
Bare skin shows every scratch and can get infected more easily. A hands-on check once a week, with a quick look every day, catches most problems early.
- Run your fingers over the back, sides and belly, feeling for scabs, lumps or rough patches
- Look for scratches, especially after new introductions or play fights
- Check the eyes for redness, discharge or lashes rubbing the eye
- Check claws: trim the tips if they are long and catching skin
- Look for dry, flaky or greasy skin, and red-brown crust around the eyes or nose
- Check feet for red, swollen pads on the soles
Without fur to soak them up, skin oils build up, and some hairless rats get greasy. Only bathe if the skin truly needs it, with warm water and a very mild, unscented wash, then dry and warm the rat straight away. Our guide to bathing pet rats walks you through it. Do not use creams or oils on the skin unless a vet advises it.
A hairless rat loses heat faster than a furred one, so it may eat a little more in cool weather. Weigh it weekly. If the weight drifts up, cut back the treats; if it drops, warm the room and see a vet.
Hairless rat health problems
Hairless rats get the same problems as other rats, often more readily, plus some of their own. The PDSA says rats in general are very prone to breathing infections that can get worse fast, and that lumps are common, especially in females. Lumps are easier to spot on bare skin, which is one small advantage.
| Problem | What you see | How fast to see a vet |
|---|---|---|
| Chest infection | Sneezing, clicking, rattling, wheezing, fast breathing | Within a day. Same day if breathing is laboured |
| Skin infection | Scabs, red patches or pimples that spread, weep or swell | Within a few days, sooner if spreading |
| Eye irritation | Squinting, watering, red eye, lashes rubbing | Within a few days, same day if the eye looks cloudy or hurt |
| Getting cold | Shivering, sluggish, cold to touch, huddled | Warm up gently at once. Vet the same day if it does not perk up |
| Overheating | Stretched flat, panting, floppy, very red ears and tail | Move somewhere cooler at once and ring a vet |
| Lumps | A new swelling anywhere on the body | Within a week or two, sooner if it grows fast |
Find a vet who sees rats before you need one. For age-related changes, see how long rats live.
Breeding hairless rats
This is not one for beginners. The AFRMA's breeders report that many hairless lines have trouble producing enough milk, and some have bleeding or difficult births. Experienced breeders often time a furred doe to give birth at the same time, so she can foster the kittens if needed. If you only want a hairless rat as a pet, adopt one rather than breed.
For care that every rat needs, read our fancy rat care guide and the pet rat care hub.
Hairless rat questions
Can you show hairless rats?
Not in the UK. The National Fancy Rat Society keeps hairless and tailless rats out of every show class and off its breeders list on welfare grounds. In the US, the AFRMA has a written standard for hairless rats and does show them. Either way, a pet hairless rat needs the same warm, careful home.
How long do hairless rats live?
Many hairless rats live the normal 2 to 3 years, but the AFRMA and PetMD both say hairless rats often have more health problems and can have shorter lives. Buying from a breeder with long-lived, healthy lines, keeping them warm and getting skin or breathing problems to a vet early all help.
Do hairless rats need clothes or jumpers?
No. A rat in clothing cannot groom, can overheat and can get caught. Keep a hairless rat warm with a warmer room, fleece nests, hammocks and furred cage mates to snuggle with instead. They will choose the warm spots themselves.
Why does my hairless rat have red or scabby skin?
Scratches from cage mates, rough surfaces or claws, skin infections and mites are the usual causes. Bare skin shows every mark, so small scrapes are common. A scrape that stays red, weeps, swells or spreads, or a rat that keeps scratching, needs a vet to check for infection or parasites.
Can a hairless rat live with furred rats?
Yes, and it is the best set-up. Furred cage mates share body heat in the sleeping pile and groom spots a hairless rat cannot reach well. Group them by sex and temperament as you would any rats. Keep their claws in mind: long claws on any rat can scratch bare skin.
Do hairless rats have whiskers?
Some do and some don't. Depending on the gene, whiskers may be curly, very short or missing altogether. A rat with little or no whiskers can be a bit clumsier around the cage, so keep climbs and drops low and put soft landing spots under shelves.
