What is a rat show?
In brief, rat owners bring their rats to be seen by the public.
Rats are shown in suitable tanks. During the day, the judges choose
the best rats and award prizes.
Rat shows are also social occasions where friendly rat owners share
their common interest. Many shows will have a variety of other activities
taking place – these are usually listed on the show
calendar.
Where are they? Where is my nearest rat show?
There are rat shows up and down the country all year round. Click
here to see a map. Click here
to see the show calendar with venue details.
Why is there not a rat show closer to me?
It would be nice to a rat show on everyone’s doorstep. However,
rat shows need to pay for themselves and need the support of volunteers
to run them. The best way to get more local shows is to get involved
at your closest shows! To offer your help, click here.
How much does it cost to look round? How much does it cost
to enter?
The NFRS does not charge visitors to its shows. Where the show is
part of a larger event, such as a country fair, you may be charged
admission. Details of these kinds of charges are shown on the show
calendar.
If you wish to enter rats in the show, there is an entry fee
of £1.00 per rat entered (pay the Show Secretary on the day).
When does the show start? When does the show finish?
If you are entering a rat, you need to turn up early enough to get
your rat ready for the start of judging. Judging typically starts
between 10:30 and midday – see the show
calendar for further details. If you are a visitor, turning
up after the start of judging will mean you miss the rush.
Shows usually end between 4:30pm and 6:00pm with the presentation
of awards. Be aware that all rats in the show are needed until the
end or until the show personnel let you know otherwise.
Do I need to be a NFRS member to enter my rat?
You don’t have to be a member to show, although you will be
missing out on what the club has to offer. You can ask about joining
at the show if you like what we have to offer. To join or find out
more, click here.
What do I need to show my rat?
• A healthy, friendly rat
• A NFRS show tank – this is a particular kind of plastic
tank
• Wood shavings, aspen, hemp or similar pale brownish-white
'natural' substrate.
• A single piece per rat of cucumber, carrot or apple for
moisture.
What if I don’t have a NFRS show tank?
There are a limited number of hire tanks available. Hire tanks must
be booked in advance and cost £3 each and only two are available
per exhibitor. Alternatively, if you are showing in the pet class,
the Show Secretary may let you use a similar tank if agreed in advance.
What happens if I have more than one rat?
Use one tank for each adult rat. You are permitted to show two same
sex kittens in the same tank providing the appearances of the two
rats are clearly different.
How do I enter my rat?
If you have a healthy, friendly rat then you can always enter him
or her in the pet class. There are variety classes too. Either ask
your Show Secretary or ask at the show for next time.
To enter, tell the Show Secretary which rats you are bringing
along.
You will need to give us some details about you, such as:
• Your name
• Your contact details (ideally a mobile number that is contactable
on the day as well)
• Are an adult or a junior (less than 16)?
• Are you a NFRS member?
For each rat, you will need to tell us:
• Is the rat male (a buck) or female (a doe)?
• Is the rat an adult (13 weeks or over) or a kitten (7 to
13 weeks)?
• The class you would like to enter – if you don’t
know, enter the pet class or see our varieties
pages
• Are you a Novice breeder and which rats are bred by you.
You will also need to let the Show Secretary know if:
• you need a hire tank (or use a non-standard tank)
• you would like to advertise kittens at the show
• You would like to transfer/deliver pre-arranged kittens
to other person(s) at the show.
Usually you can enter your rats by telephoning the number in the club magazine. Some Show Secretaries take entries by e-mail or post. See the show calendar for further details. All e-mail entries need to be in at least 24hrs before the entry deadline.
How do I get to the show?
See the show calendar for venue details
and links to online maps.
What do I need to do on show day?
If you are just visiting, introduce yourself to the Show Secretary.
He or she will introduce you to other rat owners and can tell you
more about how the society works.
If you are showing, you will need to turn up and prepare your rats
for judging. Doors usually open at least an hour before judging
starts, so turn up early. Ask the Show Secretary for your tank labels
and your entry list. If you are not sure of what to do, then please
feel free to ask.
What happens to my rat during a show?
Exhibitors place their rats in show tanks on banks of tables. There
are usually two sets of tables (show benches); one for the pet classes
and one for the variety classes. Behind each set of tables is the
judging table.
Before judging starts, stewards look at the tank labels and place
the tanks in order according to their class.
When the judging begins, the stewards bring all tanks in the first
class to the judging table. One rat a time, the Judge opens the
tank and handles each rat. The Judge compares the rat to the ideal
laid down by the NFRS (see the variety
standards). The Judge’s comments are written down and
called a critique. When all the rats in a class have been seen,
the Judge places the top four. Paperwork is completed for the Show
Secretary and a coloured sticker is placed on the tank; red for
first, blue for second, yellow for third and green for fourth. The
tanks are returned to the show benches. This is repeated for all
classes.
After all classes have been judged, the best of each class go through
to the challenges. The best rats are brought back to the judging
table and compared against each other. More coloured stickers are
placed on the tank to say how the rats did in the challenge. Further
paperwork is completed for the Show Secretary so he or she can prepare
the critiques, cards, rosettes, cups, etc. for the presentation.
When rats are not being judged, tanks are placed on the show benches
for people to see, but not to touch.