What is the difference between a Mouse and a Rat?

Question

I was reading about them on Wikipedia, and then came across the 'Fancy Rat' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fancy_rat) which looks 100% like a Mouse.

So, what's the difference?

Okay I have the answer to my question, but the best answer is in everyone's answer and not one! So who ever can type up neatly parts from each answer and make it one best answer, I'll give it to them.

Thanks everyone for answering!

Answer 1

The size. Rats are bigger. And rats come in different sizes.

Answer 2

A mouse is smaller than a rat which is much bigger. Usually rats come in to your house, mouse don't run around all over the place, so if one critter ran into your place it would be a Rat.

Answer 3

Here is your summary :)

(Yes, generally rats are bigger)

"Rats have thick tails, and are at least three times the size of mice. Mice are sparrow sized, very little rodents, they only come in one size, and they have very thin tails.
Also mice have much larger ears, compared to their head size, and their ears are rounder, and stick out farther from their head.
That is the easiest way to tell if a picture is of a mouse or a rat.

They both belong to the sub-family Murinae in the family Muridae. Mice (of the genus Mus) are generally vegetarian although they will eat meat. Rats (of the genus Rattus) are omnivorous and will eat pretty much anything.


There are dwarf rats, but these are *still* bigger than mice."

Answer 4

Rats are at least three times the size of mice

Also mice have much larger ears, compared to their head size, also mice ears are rounder and stick out farther from their head, that is the easiest way to tell if a picture is of a mouse or a rat

Answer 5

Well I have owned both and own a rat now. The diffrence is in size, rats are bigger than mice. And there are diffrent breeds of rats and mice. Fancy mice and rats arent the only breed. They are in the same familt I think like a whale and a dolphin kinda.

Answer 6

They both belong to the sub-family Murinae in the family Muridae. Mice (of the genus Mus) are generally vegetarian although they will eat meat. Rats (of the genus Rattus) are omnivorous and will eat pretty much anything.

As a sub-family, they are possibly the most successful group of animals on earth next to insects.

The term "Mouse" can cover several species, but in this instance I'm assuming you mean the house mouse (or domestic variant).

Answer 7

rats are bigger in size, the ears tend to be smaller (not inc the dumbo rat) in comparason with the body size and the tails will normally be body length in a rat and quite thick comapred to a mouse whos tails are very thin.
the "fancy rat" you saw is basically the domesticated rat rather than the wild one. they come in a multitude of sizes, colours and shapes, my personal fave being the "japanese hooded" rat which seems to be the friendliest of them all.

Answer 8

Like several ppl have said, mice are *much* smaller than rats. They also have relatively larger ears. As far as companion animals go, I love both rats & mice but have noticed that mice tend to be more nervous & rats are often more interactive & playful toward humans. Both mice & rats are social creatures, but with mice it's usually easier to keep several females together & with rats you can often keep several of either sex together.
There are dwarf rats, but these are *still* bigger than mice ;-)

Answer 9

Mice in Indian restaurants. Rats in Chinese next year as 2008 is the year of the rat.

Answer 10

Fancy Rats are the sort of rats that are kept as pets. Rats are about 4x bigger than a mouse and make MUCH better pets. (They r frendly, inquisitive and cute.) I know. I've got 2 pet ones. HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!

Answer 11

Rats come in many different sizes, and they are a whole lot bigger than mice. They also have thick tales.

Mice are very little rodents, they only come in one size, and they have very thin tails.