At a glance the quick version
General figures for the domestic rat species from the MSD Veterinary Manual; club standards set no separate weight for this coat type, which shares the standard fancy rat body.
Coat and looks how to spot one
Soft, wavy rexoid coat
A rex-like coat that is more wavy than curly, so babies look like tiny lambs. The fur feels very soft, somewhere between a Silvermane and a standard coat, and it can soften further as the rat grows up. Rats with two copies of the gene get an even thicker, plusher and curlier coat.1
Personality what they are like
A smooth-coated fancy rat is typically affectionate, inquisitive and loyal once used to people. Rats raised with gentle daily handling become confident companions that enjoy attention and learn readily.65
Daily activity how busy a day looks
As lively as any fancy rat. Most active around dusk and through the night, it needs daily supervised time out of the cage, things to climb and forage for, and short play or training sessions.57
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Groom like any fancy rat: they keep themselves clean. Handle the wavy coat gently and keep bedding dust free.7
Home where they are happiest
The largest multi-level rat cage you can fit, with shelves, ropes, ladders, hammocks and hideouts, dust-free bedding such as shredded paper, placed in a quiet room around 19-23 C away from direct sun and draughts.73
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A complete rat nugget or pellet as the daily staple, with small portions of vegetables, a little fruit, grains and cooked egg counted into the ration. Keep sugary or fatty bits for training rewards, scatter some food to encourage foraging, and provide fresh water from a bottle at all times.8
Company who they like around
A very sociable animal that should share its home with at least one other rat, in a same-sex pair or small group or a neutered mixed pair, and enjoys daily time with its people.56
The story where it all began
One of several newer wavy coat types in the rat fancy, alongside velour, velvet and teddy rex. How it relates to the older rex genes has not been worked out yet.2
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Velveteen babies are born looking like little lambs.1
- 2
Unlike Rex, a double dose of the Velveteen gene gives a thicker, plusher coat rather than less fur.1
- 3
Breeders are already working on Velveteen Harleys and Double Velveteens.1
- 4
Rat scientists still list velveteen as a coat whose genetics are a mystery.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Rat clubs
- Bred by hobby breeders; we found no club standard for it.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Velveteen Rat. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Play timeAt least an hour out of the cageevery day
- Nails checkevery 3 weeks
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Queen City Rattery: Velveteen queencityrattery.comused for coat description, genetics, fun facts
- Rat Behavior and Biology: Genetics of coat types ratbehavior.orgused for history, genetics status
- MSD Veterinary Manual - Description and Physical Characteristics of Rats msdvetmanual.comused for weight, lifespan
- AFRMA Rat Standards afrma.orgused for recognition, body type, body length
- RSPCA - Rats rspca.org.ukused for lifespan, temperament, social needs
- Fancy rat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, coat by sex, temperament, fun facts
- RSPCA - Rat environment rspca.org.ukused for housing, temperature, enrichment
- RSPCA - Rat diet rspca.org.ukused for diet basics
Checked 2026-10-01. Text is written in our own words from these sources.