05/05/2026
I've had a few conversations recently around starting to breed and being NFRS (National Fancy Rat Society) registered. So let's clear a few things up, and learn how to avoid backyard breeders! 🐀
- Being NFRS registered isn't just paying £10 a year for a "label". It's not snobbery. It's access to 50 years of knowledge and information on rat breeding and husbandry, reduced entry fees at shows, and support from across the country.
- Being registered isn't a guarantee of ethical breeding, but it is an indicator that some research has been undertaken and the breeder is active in the rat fancy.
- If you're not breeding to show rats as part of your hobby, why are you breeding? If the answer is for profit, congratulations, you're a backyard breeder!
- As a pet home, I would apply the same rules around avoiding "puppy farms" to ensure you avoid backyard breeders. A good breeder should be asking you lots of questions and have a keen interest in how you are going to care for the animals they've bred.
Red Flags 🚩🚩🚩
- Rats don't live at home and are kept on business premises.
- They always have rats readily available.
- Cages are bare with little to no enrichment.
- Pregnant does/kittens are kept in unsuitable cages.
- Kittens are regularly homed before 8 weeks of age.
- No checks of your cage set up or what care you plan to give your rats i.e food and enrichment.
Sometimes it might feel like breeders are asking you to jump through hoops to get their rats, and the easy option is to go to a backyard breeder that doesn't ask questions. You're potentially compromising on the health, temperament and longevity of your pets, and supporting breeding for profit. Please think twice and support ethical breeding! 🩶🐀
