So Licky Rattery

The following is a summary of the colors, fur types, ear types, and all varieties that come through the So Licky Rattery.  Information is constantly being updated to make sure this is as current and accurate as possible.

Because we strive to breed show-quality rats, we are listing a description from both the URSA (United Rat Standards Affiliation) and RSA (Rat Society of America) because we belong to clubs (RFL and MRE) which follow those standards.  In order to show our rats, we must try to breed our rats to these standards.

Note on coloration:  Due to the color point nature of many of our litters, some babies will experience a somewhat dramatic color change when they are 4 - 7 weeks old.  If they are listed as Himalayan or Siamese, they will loose most of their color and have darker points on their nose, rump, and hopefully feet.  Please see photos in the Tiberius x Gnocchi litter for comparison.

Genetics: c(h)/c(h)

Description according the URSA: Points to be a rich dark seal color shading into a medium beige color over the rest of the rat.  Body color to be ivory to medium beige depending on the colorpoint variety. Color to be gradually and evenly shaded over the head, shoulders, back and belly of the rat. Points to be dark as possible - shaded evenly into the body color and located on the nose but should not extend past the eyes, on the ears but not extending past the ears, on all four feet but not extending past the legs, and the base of the tail shading up over the hindquarters. Eyes: Red to Ruby Faults: Patchy or uneven coloration, pale or light areas

Description according to RSA:  Body color to be a medium beige gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being the darkest at the base of tail.  Points to be a rich, dark sepia and to shade evenly into the body color.  There should be no white or very pale areas anywhere on the body, feet or tail.  Tail color to extend down the length of the tail.  Belly to be light beige.  Points to be as dark as possible and shade evenly into the body color. Eyes: Ruby 

Examples:

Above photo is a baby seal-point Siamese - they loose their overall color in their 5-7 week molt.

Above photo is an adult seal-point Siamese after her 5-7 week molt - notice her color-point on her nose.  This particular example doesn't have very good points on her feet, but if you look closely they are there.

Genetics: c(h)/c

Description according the URSA: Points to be a rich dark seal/sepia color shade. Contrast between the shaded points and the white color of the body to be very distinct.  Body to be an even clean white base with points to be dark as possible - shaded evenly into the body color and located on the nose but should not extend past the eyes, on the ears but not extending past the ears, on all four feet but not extending past the legs, and the color on the tail is not to extend beyond halfway up the rump. Eyes: red. Faults: stains, yellowing, or white on the feet/toes

Description according to the RSA:  Points to be a rich dark sepia.  Body color to be white, free from stains and even throughout, with points to be as dark as possible. Note - Color areas: 1. face - not to extend upwards from eyes.  2. ears - not to extend downwards from the base.  3. forelegs - not to extend upwards beyond the elbows.  4. hind legs - not to extend upwards beyond the ankle.  5. tail - not to extend beyond the tail root.  6. feet - to be solid color throughout, devoid of any white. Eyes: Red

Examples:

Above photo is a baby seal-point Himalayan - Notice that they start out all white and are very difficult to distinguish from a pink-eyed-white. 

Above photo is a juvenile seal-point Himalayan after her 5-7 week molt - notice her color-point on her nose. If you compare this photo with the photo of the seal-point Siamese you'll notice that her overall color is lighter than the Siamese.

Genetics: c/c

Description according to URSA:  Pure snow white, clean with bright red eyes. Faults: yellowing, staining, hint of color

Description according to the RSA:  Color: Pure clean white without staining or creamy tinge. Eye color: Pink

Examples:

Genetics:  dd gg

Description according to URSA:  To be a pale, ice-like blue-gray with very apparent faint speckling or heathering. Eye Color: Black  Faults: Dullness, Ruby eyes, Yellow cast.

Description according to RSA:  Provisional.  To be a pale blue-gray.  Faint light speckling or subtle ticked effect (heathering) is usual for this variety and is not a fault.  color to be level throughout.  Belly color to match top.  Undercolor to be as pale as possible.  Faults: Brown, yellow or pink tinges. Eye Color: Black

Examples: 

Genetics:  dd

Description according to URSA:  A dark gray-blue color commonly seen in Russian Blue cats. This color has a subtle ticked effect, also referred to as heathering. Color to be even throughout and dark down to the skin. Eye color: Black Faults: Large amounts of white hairs (silvering), rusting.

Description according to RSA:  Color: Similar to Russian blue in cats.  A deep medium gray-blue with a metallic sheen.  Faint light speckling or a subtle ticking effect (heathering) and/or darker guard hairs throughout are usual for this variety and are not a fault.  Color to be even; belly color to match top.  Undercolor to be dark blue down to the skin. Faults: Brownish coloration or color too light. Eye color: Black

Examples: 

Genetics:  gg

Description according to URSA:  A deep, slate blue with a pale undercoat. A darker shade is preferred over lighter blues such as "sky" and "powder". Faults: Light in color, rusting or dullness.  Eye Color: Preferably black, though light coloration due to dilutions in the genes may provide dark ruby eye color.

Description according to RSA:  Color: To be between a deep steel blue and a pale blue.  Lighter shades have a pale silver base fur and underbelly.  Darker shades to have a belly color matching the top; color may be lighter at the skin.  Foot color to match the top. Faults: Patchiness or rusting. Eye color: Darker shades: Black.  Lighter shades: Dark Ruby or Black 

Examples:  None at this time

Genetics:  c(h)/c(h) dd

Description according to URSA:  Points to be a distinct smokey blue-gray shaded into a bright ivory color over the rat. Light heathering is normal for this Russian Blue-based colorpoint variety. Contrast between the shaded points and the ivory color of the body to be very distinct.  Body color to be ivory to medium beige depending on the colorpoint variety. Color to be gradually and evenly shaded over the head, shoulders, back and belly of the rat. Points to be dark as possible - shaded evenly into the body color and located on the nose but should not extend past the eyes, on the ears but not extending past the ears, on all four feet but not extending past the legs, and the base of the tail shading up over the hindquarters. Eyes: Red to Ruby Faults: Patchy or uneven coloration, pale or light areas

Description according to the RSA:  Body color to be ivory with a deep gray cast, the darker the better, gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail.  The points to be a dark gray-blue.  Body color to be medium beige, gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail.  There should be no white or very pale areas anywhere on the body, feet or tail.  Tail color to extend down the length of the tail.  Belly to be light beige.  Points to be as dark as possible and shade evenly into the body color. Eyes: Ruby

Examples:  None at this time

Genetics:  c(h)/c(h) gg

Description according to URSA:  Points to be subdued cool yellow-brown shaded into a bright ivory color over the rest of the rat. Contrast between the shaded points and the ivory color of the body to be very distinct.  Body color to be ivory to medium beige depending on the colorpoint variety. Color to be gradually and evenly shaded over the head, shoulders, back and belly of the rat. Points to be dark as possible - shaded evenly into the body color and located on the nose but should not extend past the eyes, on the ears but not extending past the ears, on all four feet but not extending past the legs, and the base of the tail shading up over the hindquarters. Eyes: Red to Ruby
Faults: Patchy or uneven coloration, pale or light areas

Description according to the RSA:  Points to be a medium slate blue.  Body color to be ivory.  Warm blue cast gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being the darkest at the tail.  Body color to be medium beige, gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail.  There should be no white or very pale areas anywhere on the body, feet or tail.  Tail color to extend down the length of the tail.  Belly to be light beige.  Points to be as dark as possible and shade evenly into the body color. Eyes: Ruby

Examples:  None at this time

Genetics:  c(h)/c(h) dd gg

Description according to URSA:  None at this time-Shown as Russian Blue Point Siamese

Description according to the RSA:  None at this time-Shown as Russian Blue Point Siamese

Examples:

It is very difficult to see the silvering on the points in the above photo, but are readily seen in person.

Description according to URSA:  Rat should have a white body, with a hood of any recognized color, which COVERS the head, neck, throat, chest and shoulders, with no breaks or white spots in the color. Color continues in an unbroken line or stripe from the hood's center between the rat's shoulders, down the rat's spine to the base of the tail, with as much of the tail as possible being colored. Spine stripe should be of moderate width ( 1/4" to 1" ) and as straight and even as possible, without ragged edges or brindling. There should be no spots of color or brindling on the white portions of the body. In pale colored rats, a pale colored throat and chest is to be allowed.
Faults: Ragged edges on hood or spine stripe, spots of color or brindling in the white areas, breaks in color of hood or spine stripe; spine stripe not extending to the base of tail.

Description according to RSA:  The sides, legs and feet should be a pure, clean white free from spots or brindling. The hood should cover the head, neck and shoulders without a break, showing no white on the head, throat or chin, and should run in an even line around the body. The spine line should extend in an unbroken line from the hood to the tail, be of moderate width and be free of ragged edges or brindling. The tail should be colored at the base, then white to the end. The color shall conform to a recognized color.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Symmetrically marked with full white underside. To have a clear cut demarcation line void of brindling or spotting between top and bottom. Feet and up to half of the end of tail to be white. Small headspot or wedge blaze acceptable for this variety. Faults: White coming up the sides, color dipping into the underside. Incomplete marking.

Description according to RSA:   To be symmetrically marked with as much white on the chest and belly as possible.  There should be an even line between the top and bottom color clear-cut and without brindling.  The white should be a pure clean white.  White on tail extending up to, but not exceeding, half the length.  White feet.  Marking on forehead optional, can vary from spot to blaze.  Blaze must conform to blaze standards and will be shown in the blazed classes.  The body shall conform to a recognized color.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Blazed rats to be shown with Berkshire or Variegated varieties. To be a symmetrical wedge-shaped white marking starting as a fine point located midway between the eyes and the ears. White to encompass bridge of the nose, enveloping the nose, whisker-bed and mouth of the rat in a thin triangle.  Fault: Thin blazes

Description according to RSA:  Blazed shall come in two types: wedge and non-wedge. Blazed rats shall only be shown in berkshire, variegated or banded patterns. Wedge blazes shall begin at the nose tip to include the whisker beds and come to an even point in the center of the face, not extending beyond the ears. Blaze not to include cheeks or eyes. Non-wedge blazes must begin at the nose and must include, to some degree, the center of the face. Not to extend beyond the ears. Though non-wedge blazes can be of any shape and size, a symmetrical marking is to be preferred.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Rat shall be all one color displaying no markings. Faults: White fur on body, white toes/feet

Description according to RSA:  Absence of white markings.  The self rat shall be all one color with no white hairs.  Color shall be to the skin unless otherwise dictated by color standard.  Faults: white on toes.  Disqualifications: white hairs on body.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Clean, white equilateral triangle on the chest between the two front feet. All four feet and tail tip to be white
Faults: Uneven triangle, other white markings.

Description according to RSA:  White equilateral triangle on chest with front feet white and back feet white to half their length.  The triangle on chest to be of good size, clear and devoid of brindling, not to extend in a streak down the belly, but occupying all the space between the front legs.  The body shall conform to a recognized color.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Fur to be dense, even, and lustrous - should lay flat and smooth. Long guard hairs or slightly coarser fur are permissible in Males. Whiskers are long and straight. Color and markings should conform to recognized standard.

Description according to RSA:  Should be smooth, dense and glossy. The ears, feet and tail should be covered with fine hair. Bucks have longer guard hairs and a harsher coat. Faults: wavy coat, thin coat, bald spots.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Fine to the touch, with longer and softer guard hairs that give an overall glossy look or sheen. Satin lends some colors a sparkling appearance, and a yellowish cast on white and Siamese. Whiskers to be wavy and point in varying directions.

Description according to RSA:  Satin rats may be shown in any recognized color or marking.  The ideal coat has a unique and distinct appearance with its lustrous sheen.  The coat is thinner and longer-looking.  The hair should be fine to the touch.  The satin coat has a sparkling look on some colors; white will have a yellow cast.

Examples: 

Note the Whiskers on a baby with Satin fur in the photo below

Description according to URSA:  Well-formed oval shape of medium size, they should be upright and spaced well apart.  Faults: Creases or folds, ears set too low or too far apart.

Description according to RSA:  Medium sized, oval shaped and upright.  They should be spaced well apart.  Faults: creases or folds, set too low.

Examples:

Description according to URSA:  Ears to be large, round, and semicircular, set low on the sides of the head, and pointing back toward the body, maintaining a picture of balance, while ideally being placed as low as possible on the head.
Faults: Creases or folds; pointing down, so as to give an oblong or tubular shape, pointed edges, set too high or too low.

Description according to RSA:  Large, round, set low on the sides of the head.  When viewed from the side, ideal placement should be as low as possible while maintaining the balance of the head.  Should be of adequate thickness.  Faults: ears pointed at the edges, creases or folds, too small, set too high, oblong/tubular shaped.

Examples: