AFRMA Fancy Rats

AFRMA Fancy Rats - AOCP

The following are the rat AOCP colors as recognized by the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association. (Any Other Color Pattern; Siamese and Merle; see Fancy Rat Genes for genetics. See also the series of Rat Genetics articles.)

To have a combination of two or more colors other than white arranged in a recognized pattern.

General AOCP Faults – Faded or rusty color; mottling or shading of color; light underparts; except where otherwise noted.

General AOCP Disqualifications – White feet; white spot on the body; white on the tail.
See the Standards book for additional details on each color.

For complete details of these Standards including points, faults, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.

Note: The pictures on this page are not meant to be true representatives of the animal’s color. Because of differences in monitors (CRT/LCD) and how the monitor is adjusted, the colors may be different. Seeing in person is always best.

B.E. Siamese Blue Point Siamese Burmese Himalayan Russian Blue Agouti Burmese Russian Blue Point Siamese Seal Point Siamese Merle

B.E. SIAMESE - 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 rich dark sepia (of a grayer/cooler tone than R.E. Siamese) and shade evenly into the body color. Eyes black. B.E. Siamese to be shown only in AOCP class. [Standardized September 25, 2016] B.E. Siamese rat owned and bred by Nikki Kimura. Photo ©2015 Karen Robbins. Read the article on Burmese Rat Genetics.
BLUE POINT SIAMESE - Body color to be ivory (the darker the better) with a warm blue cast gradually and evenly shaded over the saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at the base of the tail. The points (nose, ears, feet, tail, and tail-root) to be a medium slate blue. They should not have a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a toning or merging with the remainder of the coat. There should be no white hairs, blotches, streaks, or mealiness of the color. Eyes red or ruby. Blue Point Siamese to be shown only in AOCP class. [Standardized November 18, 1995] Blue Point Siamese rat owned and bred by Nichole Royer. Photo ©1996 Craig Robbins. For more photos, see the AFRMA Facebook page: Siamese Rat Colors or on web site Read the article on Blue Point Siamese. Research article: “Himalayan allele at the albino locus in the Norway rat”
BURMESE - To be an even, rich mid-brown, devoid of dinginess, silvering, or patches, with darker points of the same shade. There is to be a strong contrast between the points and body colour. Eyes black. (English N.F.R.S.) Burmese to be shown only in AOCP class. Note: Originated from Edinburgh University in Scotland 1998 and were called Cinnamon [Standardized February 21, 2009] Burmese Dumbo rat owned and bred by Connie and Ken Van Doren. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins. Read the article on Burmese Rat Genetics.
HIMALAYAN - Body color to be white, free from stains and even throughout. The points to be a rich dark sepia (as dark as possible). Eyes red. Note: Color should not extend past the following areas: 1. Face – not to extend upwards from the eyes. 2. Ears – not to extend downwards from the base. 3. Fore legs – not to extend upwards beyond the elbows. 4. Hind legs – not to extend upwards beyond the ankle. 5. Tail – not to extend more than half way up to the rump. 6. Feet – the color to be solid throughout, devoid of any white. (English N.F.R.S.) Himalayan to be shown only in AOCP class. Note: Originated from a laboratory in Orleans, France, in 1972; is Siamese + albino Himalayan rat owned and bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©1999 Craig Robbins. Research article: “Himalayan allele at the albino locus in the Norway rat”
RUSSIAN BLUE AGOUTI BURMESE - To be a light sand color with blue ticking, points to be distinctly darker than body color. Base coat to be light blue-grey. Belly color to be pale silvery blue-grey. Eyes black. Russian Blue Agouti Burmese to be shown only in AOCP class. (Russian Blue plus Agouti plus Burmese). (Connie & Ken Van Doren/Happy Go Lucky Rattery) [Standardized June 30, 2012] Russian Blue Agouti Burmese rat owned and bred by Connie & Ken Van Doren. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins. Read the article on Burmese Rat Genetics.
RUSSIAN BLUE POINT SIAMESE - 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 (nose, ears, feet, tail, and tail-root) to be a dark gray-blue. They should not have a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a toning or merging with the remainder of the coat. There should be no white hairs, blotches, streaks, or mealiness of the color. Eyes red or ruby. Russian Blue Point Siamese to be shown only in AOCP class. [Standardized November 1, 2003] Note: Males have the better color Russian Blue Point Siamese rat owned and bred by Mayumi Anderson. Photo ©2011 Karen Robbins. For more photos, see the AFRMA Facebook page: Siamese Rat Colors or on web site Research article: “Himalayan allele at the albino locus in the Norway rat”
SEAL POINT SIAMESE - Body color to be medium beige gradually and evenly shaded over saddle and hindquarters towards the belly, being darkest at base of tail. Tail color to extend down the length of the tail. Belly to be light beige. Points (nose, ears, feet, tail, and tail-root) to be rich dark sepia and to shade evenly into the body color. Eyes red or light ruby. Seal Point Siamese to be shown only in AOCP class. Note: Males have the better color Seal Point Siamese rat owned by Nichole Royer, bred by Karen Robbins. Photo ©1997 Karen Robbins. For more photos, see the AFRMA Facebook page: Siamese Rat Colors or on web site Read the article on Siamese. Research article: “Himalayan allele at the albino locus in the Norway rat”
MERLE - Merle rats may be shown in any recognized color. The unique feature is a pattern of dark splash-spots distributed evenly throughout the entire lighter background color so as to resemble a merle dog. The splash-spots should be numerous and distinct. Splash-spots will be less prominent on a non-silvered background color. Eye color to correspond to the body color. [Standardized May 11, 1996] Note: In the U.S. since 1979; color pattern seen on Lilac, Silver Lilac, Pearl, Cinnamon Pearl More info: “Rat Genetics, part 2” “Fox Mice & Merle Rats” Roan or Merle Rats?	Merle baby rats owned and bred by Carissa Cosley. Photo ©1997 Craig Robbins. A young Cinnamon Pearl Merle rat owned and bred by Carissa Cosley. Photo ©1997 Craig Robbins.

For complete details of the Standards including points, faults, eliminations, and disqualifications, please refer to the AFRMA Show Regulations & Standards book.

Purchase the AFRMA Official Color Standards Rat book.

Updated October 22, 2023