What Colors do They Come in? Rats can come in a wide variety of colors. There is much debate as to what those colors should be called. Different rat organizations and even different countries recognize different colors, or call the same color by a different name. It is all very confusing. We have put together as best we could, color charts for the different colors according to American standards. Not only are there many colors, but the colors also fit into three distinct kinds of coloration. They are as follows... Solid Colors - This means that each individual shaft of hair on the rat is of one color and one shade, and that all the hairs in the rat's coat are of the same color and same shade. In other words the color is solid. Click here to see chart. Ticked Colors - This means that each individual shaft of hair on the rat is banded or ticked with different colors/shades, and that all the hairs in the rats coat can be comprised of different colors. Note: Rats that have ticked coats always have lighter colored bellies, such as the agouti color comes with a light grey belly. Click here to see chart. Silvered Colors - This means that the rats coat of hair is evenly interspersed with white hairs. Click here to see chart. Note: We want to give a very special thanks to LeAnne at Rattie Rascals Rattery who was wonderful enough to help us sort out all these colors, and to RatsPacNW Rat Fanciers Club for being a wonderful guide. Different Eye Colors Rats Can Have... Black eyes (although they range from brown to black) Ruby eyes Red eyes Pink eyes Odd eye (this is a rat with two different colored eyes) Miscellaneous... A rat's color will change slightly as they grow into adulthood, often darkening. A newer kind of coloration popping up in the rat breeding world is a coloration they've dubbed "merle". This is were a rat's coat of hair has lighter and darker splotches throughout the body, all of the same color. Note: This is not to be confused with the marking dalmatian or variegated, where it is splotches of color on white hair. This shows a rat with merled hair. Rats molt throughout their lives, loosing old hair, and gaining new hair. While they are molting they will have patches of lighter, softer hair throughout their bodies. This is more noticeable in babies. If they have a hairless gene in their background, or if they are a rex, they may even develop bald patches while molting. Uno growing in her new coat of hair. Often, a rat's coat of hair will develop what's called "rusting" when they become older. Rusting is where the color of there hair starts to turn an orangish rust color. This usually starts on there lower back and spreads the older they get. This shows the rusting on my mink colored girl Minka. The rust on my black colored girl Seuss.