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What is a husky rat?
A husky rat is a fancy rat with the roan pattern. The National Fancy Rat Society (NFRS) standard is called Roan (Husky), and the AFRMA uses the same name. The look is a coloured rat with a white underside and a broad white blaze up the face, with white hairs mixed through the coloured fur so it looks frosted or brindled. The face blaze is what gives huskies their name: it looks a lot like the mask of a husky dog.
Like every colour and marking, roan sits on top of an ordinary rat. A husky can be a dumbo, a rex or a standard-coated rat. Our guide to rat breeds, types and colours shows how the varieties combine, and fancy rats explained covers the basics.
Husky rat markings
The NFRS describes two roan varieties. Both have the same head: a wide inverted V-shaped blaze that takes in the whisker bed, comes as close to the eyes as possible without touching them, and ends in a point between the ears, with a white jaw line and white under the head.
| Roan (husky) | Striped roan (banded husky) | |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Wide white inverted V blaze | Same |
| Body colour | Runs back from the head over the ears and down the sides | An even, straight band about 5 cm (2 in) wide along each side |
| Underside | White belly | White chest, belly, sides and all four legs |
| Tail | Unmarked preferred | Unmarked preferred |
| Faults for showing | Spots, a ragged edge, too much or too little white on the face | As roan, plus a stripe that sits too low, is too narrow or broken, or looks like a hood |
The AFRMA adds that roans always come in Berkshire or Berkshire blaze markings, which means a coloured top and a white belly. For a pet, show faults don't matter at all. They are only useful if you want to understand what a breeder is aiming for.
Why husky rats change colour
A husky rat's coat is designed to change. The NFRS says roans are born solid coloured, and that from about 4 to 6 weeks white hairs start to mix in, first on the face, the sides and the root of the tail. The roaning then spreads up to the back of the neck with each moult, and the rat gets steadily lighter with every one. The full effect isn't reached until adulthood, and it shows most on the face, around the rump and along the sides.
The AFRMA puts it plainly: the roan gene lightens the colour with each moult until the rat is nearly white. So an old husky can look very different from the dark kitten you brought home.
- Birth to 4 weeks. The kitten is solid coloured with a white belly and blaze.
- About 4 to 6 weeks. White hairs appear on the face, sides and base of the tail.
- First moults. Roaning spreads up to the neck and across the back, and the coat looks frosted.
- Adulthood. The pattern is complete; the face, rump and sides show it most.
- Later life. Many huskies keep lightening with each moult until they are nearly white.
Take a photo of your husky every month or two. The change is slow enough that you won't notice it day to day, and a set of photos makes a lovely record of how the coat developed.
Husky rat genetics
Roan is recessive, according to the AFRMA's genetics list, so a rat needs two copies of the gene to show it. Two huskies bred together give husky kittens; a husky bred to a non-roan rat usually gives non-roan kittens that carry the gene. The AFRMA notes that the exact gene code for roan has not been fully worked out, and that the striped roan, or banded husky, is also recessive. If you just want a pet, the genetics only explain why your rat looks the way it does.
Husky rat eyes
The NFRS asks for eye colour that matches the rat's base colour, so most huskies have dark eyes. The AFRMA notes that a ruby cast is common in roans and is accepted, though not wanted on the show table. A ruby tint is harmless. A cloudy, weepy, swollen or half-closed eye is a different matter and needs a vet, as it would in any rat.
Husky rat health and temperament
We looked for a link between the husky coat and health problems in welfare charity, club and vet-written sources and did not find one. Huskies get the same common illnesses as other rats: PDSA names breathing problems, tumours, skin problems and overgrown teeth. A rat that suddenly loses fur in patches, rather than lightening evenly after a moult, has a skin problem, not a roan change, and should see a vet.
Temperament comes from breeding and handling, not colour. A husky from a breeder who handles kittens daily, or from a rescue that knows its character, will be as friendly as any rat. Our is my rat sick guide lists the signs that need a vet.
Caring for a husky rat
Care for a husky exactly as you would any rat. The RSPCA says rats are very sociable and should live with at least one other rat, ideally in a same-sex group. They need a big, multi-level cage, a good rat food, places to hide and climb, and time out every day.
- At least one rat companion of the same sex
- A big, multi-level cage with solid shelves
- Dust-free paper bedding
- Several hides, hammocks and ledges
- Rat nuggets plus small amounts of fresh food
- Daily time out to explore
- A vet who knows rats
Our pet rat care guide and rat cage setup guide cover everything else.
Where to get a husky rat
Try rescues first: huskies turn up in rescues often, and an adult husky has already finished most of its colour change, so you know what you are getting. If you want a husky kitten, look for a breeder through the NFRS in the UK or the AFRMA and regional clubs in the US. Ask to see the parents and the older rats in the line, so you can see how far the coat lightens in that family. Our guide to where to get a rat has the full list of questions, and our page on Siamese rats covers another variety whose colour changes over time.
Husky rat questions
Why is my husky rat turning white?
That is what the roan gene does. The AFRMA says it lightens the colour with each moult until the rat is nearly white, and the National Fancy Rat Society says the rat gets progressively lighter with every moult. It starts at about 4 to 6 weeks and carries on into adulthood. It is normal and not a sign of illness.
What is the difference between a husky and a roan rat?
None: husky is the everyday name for a roan rat. The National Fancy Rat Society's standard is called Roan (Husky), and the AFRMA lists Roan (Husky) too. A striped roan, also called a banded husky, is the variety with a straight coloured band along the sides and a white chest, belly and legs.
Are husky rats born with their markings?
No. The National Fancy Rat Society says roans are born solid coloured. White hairs start to mix in from about 4 to 6 weeks, first on the face, sides and base of the tail, then spread with each moult. So a husky kitten can look like an ordinary dark rat with a white belly when you first meet it.
Do husky rats have health problems?
We have found no welfare or club source that links the husky coat to any health problem. Husky rats get the same common illnesses as other rats, such as breathing problems, tumours and overgrown teeth. A healthy family line and good care matter far more than coat pattern.
Are husky rats friendly?
Yes, as friendly as any well-handled pet rat. Coat colour doesn't decide personality: how the rat was bred and how much gentle handling it had as a kitten do. Choose a breeder who handles kittens every day, or a rescue that can tell you each rat's character.
Why does my husky rat have ruby eyes?
The roan standard asks for eye colour that matches the base colour, but the AFRMA notes a ruby cast is common in roans and is accepted, though not wanted for showing. A ruby tint in a husky's eyes is normal and harmless. Cloudiness, discharge or a swollen eye is different and needs a vet.
