Understanding Mouse Colors requires first that you understand the different mouse standards that are out there. First of all, it is important to understand that the color of a mouse is partly dependant on the standards you are following. For example, if you have a light dove gray mouse with hair all the same color, and pink eyes, under some standards you have a lilac mouse, and in other standards you have a dove colored mouse. So it is important to know which standards you plan to follow before you determine the color of your mouse.

Below is a table of mouse colors. Included are example pictures, where ever possible. When the standard is different, the standard for each of four rat and mouse clubs will be included so that you might know which standard you should follow. This might not be clear at the moment, but hopefully when you look at the table below you will come to understand the standards.

The four standards considered for this document are from the Rat & Mouse Fanciers for Excellence, American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association, London and Southern Counties Mouse and Rat Club, and Finnish Show and Pet Mice. The standards listed below are direct quotes from their web pages. Undoubtedly, there are other standards that I have left out. This is just an overview. If you don’t intend to participate in one of the above mentioned groups, please find the standards for your club and follow those.

Keep in mind that this is simply a comparison page. The pictures below are representations of at least one standard. To learn everything about the standards of your club you should visit their web pages.

* Provisional Standards. ** Unstandardized.

Self

Self mice have the same coat color throughout, from the belly, to the feet, ears, and tail. Each strand of hair is one color from base to tip.

Marked Mice

Marked mice have white and at least one other color in their coat.

Shaded Mice

Shaded mice have gradual color gradations from one color to the next.

Color

Clubs

Standard

Beige Marten Sable

RMFE

Eye black. The top colour shall be a golden beige, from nose to tail; the belly colour to be white and the shading from top to belly to be gradual, with no line of demarcation nor any blotchiness. Silver hairs or white ticking on the sides and rump permissible. Due to spotting genes effects on these colours, no spotting to be permitted.

Blue Burmese

FSMP**

The Blue Burmese should have medium blue, like in the Self Blue, all over the body. Points, which are dark blue in color, to be like with the Siamese Blue Point. Eyes Black

Blue Point Siamese

AFRMA

Color to be a silvery blue (bluer the better), as even as possible over the entire body. The shading to be gradual over the saddle and hindquarters and being darkest at tail root. The belly should be as near as possible in color and shading. The points (nose, ears, feet, tail, tail-root) to be a medium slate blue. There should not be a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a toning in or merging with the remainder of the coat. There should be no white hairs, blotches, streaks or mealiness of the color.

RMFE

Base color will be related to the point color and will be specified in the individual standards, but in general is some form of beige. Point color depends upon the variety, but in general the darker the better and the farther the color extends, the better. Points to be colored include nose/muzzle, ears, all 4 feet/legs, tail base, and tail. In addition, the rump and lower back shall be shaded, being darkest at the tail root, with the shading spreading forward to the middle of the back, blending into the body color as it goes. Eye color should be as dark as possible, typically red-ruby but in better-pigmented mice sometimes darker. Siamese shading is affected by temperature (darker in cool temperatures)

LSCMRC

Eyes any colour: Body colour medium beige. Shadings: Gradually shaded over saddle and hind quarters, merging gradually with body colour and being darkest at tail root as seen in the Siamese cat. The belly should be as near as possible in colour and shadings. Points: Seal and points shall be present in muzzle, ears, feet, tail and tail root. There should not be a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a harmonious balance between body colour, shadings and points. There should not be any blotches, streaks or white hairs. For the Blue Point Siamese: Eye Black. Body colour silvery blue (bluer the better) White belly to be penalized. Points: medium slate blue (as in the normal blue standard and points shall be present in muzzle, ears, feet tail and tail root.

FSPM

Eyes black. Body colour silvery blue (the bluer the better), gradually shaded over saddle and hind quarters, merging gradually with body colour and being darkest at the tail root. The belly should be as near as possible in colour and shadings. White belly to be penalized. Points to be medium slate blue (as in the normal blue standard) and points shall be present in muzzle, ears, feet, tail and tail root. There should not be a definite or distinctive line of demarcation but rather a toning in or merging with the remainder of the coat. At all times there should be a harmonious balance between body colour, shadings and points. There should not be any blotches, streaks or white hairs.

Blue Sable

FSMP**

Colored like the Sable, but with as blue as possible back, shading into as rich as possible golden tan belly. Eyes black

Brindle

AFRMA

Brindle mice will be colored like brindle dogs or tigers with dark tiger-striping from head to tail tip and to a lesser extent on the belly. Background to be a recognized color. Eye color to match.

RMFE

Base color and stripe colour described below. Striping to extend from the head to the tail and to a lesser extent, the belly. A “W” or “M” marking due to the striping pattern on the forehead is considered an added beauty. Spotting can affect the brindling pattern. Due to this NO brindled mice maybe show with ANY white spotting.

LSCMRC

The brindle mouse shall have streaks, bars and numerous little areas of any colour over a diluted background. These markings shall be evenly distributed over the mouse including the face and belly. Large blotches of solid colour or white background to be considered a fault. Central demarcation lines along spine, face and belly permissible. Eye any colour. Condition not fat, short and glossy coat. Ears should be judged on the shape size and position. Muzzle long strength carried out to the end. Eyes should be bold large and prominent.

FSPM

The Brindle mouse shall have streaks, bars and numerous little areas of any colour over a diluted background. These markings shall be evenly distributed over the mouse including the face and belly. Large blotches of solid colour or white background to be considered a fault. Central demarcation lines along spine, face and belly permissible. Eye any colour."

Colourpoint Beige

RMFE

A bright beige, darker then in plain Siamese and not able to be confused with Siamese. Point colour dark sepia, almost black. eyes must be black

FSMP

Body colour to be like with Beige. Points, which are as dark as possible, are like with the Siamese. Eyes black.

Himalayan

AFRMA

The Himalayan Mouse should be as nearly white as possible over the entire body, with well defined points, as for the Himalayan rabbit. The points are to be a light milk chocolate. Eye color is red or ruby.

RMFE

Base color is always white. Point color depends upon the variety, but in general the darker the better and the farther the color extends, the better. Points to be colored include nose/muzzle, ears, all 4 feet/legs, tail base, and tail. Point colour on the face not to go past the eyes, ear colour not to extend past the ear base onto the head, front foot colour not to extend above the elbow, read foot colour not to extend past the ankles and tail colour not to go past the tailbase. Eye color is red/pink. Colour is affected by temperature (darker in cool temperatures).

LSCMRC

Eye Black or Red. All markings to be as Himalayan rabbit. Colour of markings recognized in any standard colour. Body colour as white as possible.

FSPM

Eye pink or black. Body colour as white as possible. Colour of points recognized in any standard colour. Nose point to extend from nose up to eyes, foot points from tips of toes to the hocks. Ear points to include the whole of ear and tail point to include tail and tail root.

Lilac Sable

FSMP**

Colored like the Sable, but with as lilac as possible back, shading into as rich as possible golden tan belly. Eyes black

Marten Sable

RMFE

Eye black. The top colour shall be a rich dark brown, as dark as possible, from nose to tail; the belly colour to be white and the shading from top to belly to be gradual, with no line of demarcation nor any blotchiness. Silver hairs or white ticking on the sides and rump permissible. Due to spotting genes effects on these colours, no spotting to be permitted.

LSCMRC

Eye Black. Top colour shall be a rich dark sepia from nose to tail, shading off to a paler colour on lower jaws, sides and flanks, blending to be gradual; belly white, white ticking on flanks and rump to be considered an added beauty. Faults: Light noses, blotches or streaks

FSPM

Eyes black. Top colour shall be a rich dark sepia from nose to tail, shading off to a paler colour on lower jaws, sides and flanks. Blending to be gradual; belly white. White ticking on flanks and rump to be considered as added beauty

Reverse Siamese

AFRMA

Color to be a medium coffee-with-cream color with white points to give the effect of a Siamese but in a reverse Siamese pattern. Points to be as white as possible to contrast against the dark background. Points to include the nose, ears, feet, and tail. Eye color is black.

RMFE**

A medium coffee-with-cream body with white points feet, tail,

ears and nose. Eyes black.

Sable

RMFE

Eye black. The top colour shall be a rich dark brown, as dark as possible, from nose to tail; the belly colour to be as rich a golden tan as possible and the shading from top to belly to be gradual, with no line of demarcation nor any blotchiness or ticking. Due to spotting genes effects on these colours, no spotting of any kind and no white hairs anywhere to be permitted.

LSCMRC

Eye black. The top colour shall be a rich dark brown, as dark as possible, from nose to tail root; the belly colour to be as rich a golden tan as possible and the shading from top to belly to be gradual, even and pleasing, with no line of demarcation nor any blotch, patch, ticking or streakiness. There should be no White hairs whatsoever.

FSPM

Eyes black. The top colour shall be a rich dark brown, as dark as possible, from nose to tail root. The belly colour to be as rich a golden tan as possible and the shading from top to belly to be gradual and even with no line of demarcation nor any blotch, patch, ticking or streakiness. There should be no white hairs whatsoever

Seal Point Siamese

AFRMA

The Seal Point Siamese mouse is to be a warm beige, as even as possible over the entire body, shading to a deeper color on the hindquarters. The colors should blend gradually and there should be no white hairs or mealiness to the color. The points should be a rich chocolate color and should be well defined on the muzzle, being confined to the whisker area only. The ears, feet, tail, and tail-root are dark also, but are of a slightly lighter shade. Eye color maybe ruby or black.

RMFE

Base color will be related to the point color and will be specified in the individual standards, but in general is some form of beige. Point color depends upon the variety, but in general the darker the better and the farther the color extends, the better. Points to be colored include nose/muzzle, ears, all 4 feet/legs, tail base, and tail. In addition, the rump and lower back shall be shaded, being darkest at the tail root, with the shading spreading forward to the middle of the back, blending into the body color as it goes. Eye color should be as dark as possible, typically red-ruby but in better-pigmented mice sometimes darker. Siamese shading is affected by temperature (darker in cool temperatures)

LSCMRC

Eyes any colour: Body colour medium beige. Shadings: Gradually shaded over saddle and hind quarters, merging gradually with body colour and being darkest at tail root as seen in the Siamese cat. The belly should be as near as possible in colour and shadings. Points: Seal and points shall be present in muzzle, ears, feet, tail and tail root. There should not be a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather a harmonious balance between body colour, shadings and points. There should not be any blotches, streaks or white hairs.

FSPM

Eyes any colour. Body colour medium beige, gradually shaded over saddle and hind quarters, merging gradually with body colour and being darkest at the tail root. The belly should be as near as possible in colour and shading. Seal points shall be present in the muzzle, ears, feet, tail and tail root. There should not be a definite or distinct line of demarcation but rather harmonious balance between body colour, shading and points. There should not be any blotches, streaks or white hairs.

Siamese Sable

AFRMA

The Siamese Sable is to be a very light brown similar to the coffee, over the entire body. The points, which are a very dark brown, almost black, are as for the Siamese. Eye color is black. Siamese Sable to be shown only in AOCP class.

RMFE

Chocolate Colourpoint: (aka sable Siamese, Burmese). A light brown body (similar to coffee) with very dark, almost black points. Eyes must be black

FSPM

Burmese: The Burmese is to have light Chocolate body colour all over. The points, which are very dark brown, almost black, are like with the Siamese. Eye black

Tortoiseshell

FSMP**

On a darker background lighter stripes, ticking or any other pattern so that they form a pleasant and balanced effect. Patterning on the head, tail and ears a bonus

Ticked Mice

Ticked mice have bars of different colors on each hair strand.

Silvered Mice

Silvered mice have silver or white hairs mixed hairs of another color.

Tan & Fox Mice

Tan and fox mice have tan or white bellies, while their backs are the standard colors.