What is the name of the rat belonging to Old Woman Shapoklyak? - briefly
The rat owned by Old Woman Shapoklyak is named Kotyara.
What is the name of the rat belonging to Old Woman Shapoklyak? - in detail
The rat that accompanies the elderly antagonist Shapoklyak is identified simply as “the Rat.” In the original Soviet animation “Cheburashka” (1974) and its sequels, the animal never receives a personal name beyond this generic designation.
The character’s attributes are:
- Species: Brown laboratory rat, typical size for a pet rodent.
- Appearance: Gray‑brown fur, black beady eyes, small pink nose, and a red bandana tied around its neck.
- Voice: Provided by actress Nadezhda Rumyantseva, who gave the creature a high‑pitched, mischievous squeak.
- Debut: First seen in the short “Cheburashka and the Old Lady Shapoklyak” (1974), where it assists Shapoklyak in various pranks.
- Role: Serves as Shapoklyak’s sidekick, executing tasks that require stealth or small‑scale sabotage, such as stealing items or sabotaging Gena the Crocodile’s plans.
The rat’s design was created by animator and director Roman Kachanov, who intended the animal to embody the sneaky, untrustworthy traits associated with Shapoklyak’s schemes. Although the creature lacks a personal name, its repeated presence across the series makes “the Rat” a recognizable element of the Shapoklyak ensemble.