When were rats domesticated? - briefly
Rats were initially domesticated for laboratory use in the early 1900s, with the pet market emerging in the 1930s‑1940s, producing the modern fancy rat.
When were rats domesticated? - in detail
Rats have been kept by humans for centuries, but true domestication—controlled breeding for predictable behavior and morphology—emerged only in the twentieth century.
Archaeological records show that ancient societies, such as Egypt and China, captured wild rats for food and ritual purposes. These practices involved short‑term confinement rather than selective breeding, and therefore do not meet the criteria for domestication.
The first systematic breeding program began in the early 1900s when laboratory scientists needed a reproducible mammalian model. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) was captured, inbred, and standardized, creating the laboratory strain that underlies modern biomedical research. By the 1920s, commercial suppliers produced outbred and inbred lines for experiments worldwide.
Pet breeding started later. In the 1970s, enthusiasts imported laboratory rats, selected for temperament, coat color, and size, and founded the first dedicated rat‑fancy clubs. The resulting “fancy rat” varieties—such as the Dumbo, Rex, and hairless types—were established through generations of controlled mating.
Current status: laboratory strains remain genetically uniform and are maintained by specialized vendors; fancy rats are kept as companion animals in many households, with breeding standards governed by hobbyist organizations.
Timeline
- Pre‑historic to ancient times: capture for food and ritual, no selective breeding.
- Early 1900s: establishment of laboratory breeding of Rattus norvegicus.
- 1920s–1940s: commercial distribution of standardized research strains.
- 1970s: emergence of pet‑oriented breeding, formation of fancy‑rat societies.
- Present: coexistence of research and companion lines, each with distinct breeding goals.