Fancy Rats

The fancy rat is a domesticated brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), which is the most common type of pet rat.The name fancy rat derives from the idea of animal fancy or the phrase, "to fancy" (to like, or appreciate).

Fancy rats have their origins as the targets for bloodsport in 18th and 19th century Europe. Specially bred as pets since then, fancy rats now come in a wide variety of colours and coat types and there exists several rat fancy groups worldwide. Fancy rats are commonly sold as pets in stores and by breeders. In fiction, pet brown rats tend to be depicted as tamed rather than domesticated, akin to when a character befriends a wolf. As tamed pets, they have played roles that vary from evil, to ambiguous, to "lovable".

Domesticated rats are physiologically and psychologically different from their wild relatives, and—when acquired from reliable sources—they pose no more of a health risk than other common pets. For example, while domesticated brown rats are not considered a plague threat, their exposure to wild rat populations could introduce diseases like Salmonella into the home. While fancy rats are subject to different health risks than their wild counterparts, they are consequently less likely to succumb to other illnesses prevalent in the wild.