How to Draw a Rat
Step by Step

Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Rat

Step 1: Draw the Forehead and Nose

Start a little above the middle of your page, slightly to the right. Draw one long, gentle curve that rises from left to right — this is the top of the rat’s head and the bridge of its long snout. At the right end, make a small loop shaped like a teardrop. That loop is the tip of the nose.

Tip: Leave plenty of space on the left. The body and tail will go there later.

Step 2: Add the Nose and Eye

Fill in the little nose loop so it’s dark. Then draw a small oval just below the head line, about one-third of the way from the left end of the curve. This is the eye. Color it in, but leave a tiny white dot near the top — that shine makes the eye look alive.

Step 3: Draw the Snout, Mouth and Throat

From under the nose, draw a short line curving down for the front of the snout. Add a tiny curved stroke beside it for the mouth. Then pull one long, slightly wavy line down and to the left — this is the throat, and it makes the rat look like it’s stretching its neck upward. Add a small zigzag mark below the eye for the cheek.

Step 4: Draw the Ears

Behind the eye, at the end of the head line, draw a half-circle for the back ear. Then draw a bigger, rounded ear in front of it, overlapping the first one and opening toward the face. Rat ears are round and thin — think of a soft “C” shape.

Tip: Don’t make the ears too big. Huge ears are what make a drawing look like a mouse instead of a rat.

Step 5: Add the Inner Ear and Chest

Inside the front ear, draw a second “C” curve that follows the outside edge, with a tiny fold where the ear meets the head. Then continue the throat line further down and to the left to form the rat’s chest.

Step 6: Draw the Front Leg

Below the chest, draw a long, nearly straight leg going down. Use a small jagged edge on the back of the leg to show fur. At the bottom, add a little paw with two or three thin, pointed toes.

Step 7: Draw the Raised Front Paw

Now draw the other front leg lifted up in front of the chest. Bend it at the wrist and curl the little fingers downward, like the rat is about to grab something. This raised paw gives your rat a curious, alert pose.

Step 8: Draw the Belly Line

From behind the standing front leg, draw a long, smooth curve going down and to the left. This is the bottom of the belly. It should dip gently, not sharply.

Step 9: Draw the Back and Rump

Starting just behind the ear, draw one big curved line for the back. Let it rise slightly, then sweep around in a large round shape and come down to the ground. Rats sitting up look plump and round at the back, so don’t be afraid to make this curve generous.

Step 10: Draw the Hind Leg

Inside the body, near the back, draw a large “C” shape for the thigh. Connect the bottom of the body with a short jagged line to show fur where the rat is sitting.

Step 11: Draw the Hind Foot

Under the thigh, draw a long, flat foot resting on the ground, pointing forward. Add thin toes at the front. A rat’s back feet are much longer than its front paws.

Step 12: Draw the Tail

From the back of the rump, draw two long parallel lines that travel left along the ground, then curve up and over into an “S” shape. Let the lines meet in a thin point at the tip. Add a few short marks near the base to suggest the tail’s rings.

Tip: A rat’s tail is roughly as long as its body. A short tail is the most common mistake beginners make.

Step 13: Check and Clean Up Your Outline

Your rat is complete! Look over your drawing and fix any lines that don’t connect. Trace the lines you want to keep with a black marker, wait a few seconds for the ink to dry, then erase any pencil marks.

If you only wanted the rat, you’re done. Jump to How to Color Your Rat. Want to add a fun scene? Keep going.

Step 14: Add Cheese on a Plate

In front of the rat’s nose, draw a flat oval for a plate. On top, draw a wedge of cheese: a rectangle with a sloped triangle on top. Add circles of different sizes for the holes. Draw two or three wavy lines rising above the cheese — it’s warm and smells delicious, which is why the rat is sniffing the air!

Step 15: Draw the Wooden Floor

Draw a horizontal line behind the rat for the back of the floor. Below it, add long lines that spread outward toward the bottom of the page to make floor planks. Add a few swirls and short lines inside the planks for wood grain.

Step 16: Your Finished Rat Drawing

Trace the cheese and floor in marker and erase your pencil lines. Your cute rat and its cheese snack are ready to color!

How to Color Your Rat

Rats come in many colors, so you have lots of choices:

• Fur: gray, brown, black, white, or a mix. Pet rats are often white with a dark “hood” over the head and shoulders.
• Nose, ears, paws and tail: soft pink or peach. These parts have very little fur.
• Eyes: black with a white shine (or ruby red for a white rat).
• Belly: a lighter shade of the fur color.
• Cheese: yellow, with slightly darker orange inside the holes.
• Floor: light brown planks with darker brown wood grain.

Tip for a white rat: don’t leave it plain white. Color it very light gray or cream, then shade the belly and under the head a little darker. This makes the rat look round instead of flat.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

• The rat looks like a mouse. Usually the ears are too big or the snout is too short. Make the snout long and pointed and keep the ears medium-sized.
• The tail is too short. Measure it against the back — the tail should be about the same length as the body from neck to rump.
• The body looks flat. Make the back curve in step 9 bigger and rounder. A sitting rat looks like a soft pear shape.
• The head is too big. Rats have small heads compared to their bodies. If the head is wider than half the body, shrink it.
• Lines look shaky. Draw with quick, light strokes instead of slow, pressed ones. You can always darken the best line later.

Rat vs Mouse: How to Tell the Difference in a Drawing

People often draw a mouse when they mean to draw a rat. Here’s what makes a rat look like a rat:

Tips to Make Your Rat Look More Realistic

• Use the back to size the tail. If you imagine straightening the back line, it’s roughly the same length as the tail.
• Place the eye halfway along the head. Rat eyes sit on the side of the head, between the nose and the ear.
• Add a few whiskers, not dozens. Five or six thin lines on each side of the snout are enough. Too many make the drawing look messy.
• Suggest fur with short strokes. Follow the direction the fur grows — from the nose back toward the tail.
• Don’t draw every tail ring. A few short marks near the base are enough to show texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you draw a rat easily?

Start with a curved line for the head and nose, add the eye and ears, then build the body from the front legs to a round back. Finish with a long tail. Drawing one part at a time, as in this guide, is the easiest way.

How do you draw a rat for kids?

Follow steps 1–13 of this tutorial and skip the cheese scene if it feels like too much. Kids can draw lightly in pencil, then trace with a marker. The free printable is helpful for younger children.

How long should a rat’s tail be in a drawing?

About the same length as the rat’s body. If your tail looks too short, extend it and let it curl so it fits on the page.

What’s the difference between drawing a rat and a mouse?

A rat has a bigger body, a longer snout, a thicker tail and smaller ears for its head size. A mouse has large ears and a tiny, light body.

How do I draw a cute rat?

Give it a round body, a slightly upturned nose, a large shiny eye and a curious pose like the raised paw in step 7. Soft curves and fewer sharp lines make any animal look cuter.

What colors should I use for a rat drawing?

Gray or brown for the fur, pink for the nose, ears, paws and tail, and black for the eyes. White rats with pink or red eyes are popular too.