What does a baby rat look? - briefly
A newborn rat measures roughly 2–3 cm, is hairless, with pink, translucent skin, closed eyes and ears, and a pink nose; it is blind and deaf at birth. Within a week it develops soft fur and its eyes open, revealing dark irises.
What does a baby rat look? - in detail
A newborn rat, often called a pup, measures roughly 2–3 cm in length from nose to tail tip and weighs about 5–7 g. Its body is covered with a fine, hairless skin that appears pinkish or reddish, revealing delicate blood vessels underneath. The head is proportionally large, with a short snout, closed eyes, and tiny, undeveloped ears that lie flat against the skull. Limbs are short and stubby; the forepaws lack claws, while the hind paws have tiny, non‑functional nails. The tail is short, smooth, and devoid of fur.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 2–3 cm body, 1–2 cm tail.
- Skin: Hairless, pink to reddish hue.
- Head: Large, rounded, eyes sealed, ears flattened.
- Limbs: Short, paw pads prominent, claws absent or minute.
- Tail: Smooth, proportionally short, no fur.
As the pups mature over the first two weeks, fur begins to appear, eyes open, and the ears rise, gradually resembling the adult form. This developmental timeline provides a clear visual progression from the initial hairless state to the fully furred juvenile.