| Rat | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | 4 January 2001 (Update) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combat level | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | 1x1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Examine | A popular dwarven delicacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combat info | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attribute | Rat | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| XP bonus | +0% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flat armour | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max hit | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggressive | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poisonous | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attack style | Crush | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attack speed | 4 ticks (2.4 seconds) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Respawn time | 2 ticks (1.2 seconds) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Slayer info | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slayer level | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slayer XP | 2 xp | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Rats | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assigned by |   | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Combat stats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Aggressive stats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |  | |  | ||||||||||||||||||
| -47 | -53 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Melee defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||
| -42 | -42 | -42 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Magic defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -42 | No elemental weakness | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Ranged defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||
| -42 | -42 | -42 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Immunities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poison | 0% resistance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venom | 0% resistance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cannons | Not immune | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thralls | Not immune | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Open in DPS calculator | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advanced data | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monster ID | 2854,2855 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Link | MOID | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rats are small animals commonly found throughout Gielinor, mostly in cities, sewers, and dungeons. They respawn rapidly, and are not marked on the minimap.
Although most rats have no drops, the rats in the Stronghold of Security have a 100% chance to drop bones when killed by the player.
Considered by most players to be the weakest monster in the game, rats are frequently used to train Magic by splashing.
Cats
Rats can be chased by cats. When telling a cat to chase vermin, it will pounce at a rat in range, attempting to catch it. If your cat successfully catches at least 100 rats, you can talk to Gertrude to get a cat training medal, which has no special uses other than being a collectible. Furthermore, if you have a rat pole, up to six caught rats can be added to it as decoration.
Each type of cat has a different catch rate:
- Kitten - 10% (temporarily increased to 40% during Ratcatchers)
- Normal - 50% (temporarily increased to 70% during Ratcatchers)
- Overgrown - 0% (cannot chase rats, but can fight the King rat)
- Wily - 50% + separate 12.5% to 50% roll, depending on activity level
- Lazy - 33% + separate 12.5% to 100% roll, depending on activity level (Note: It is not possible for lazy cats to reach maximum activity level, as they will turn back into wily cats before reaching it.)
Hellcats share the same catch rates as regular cats, depending on their type.
Locations
| Location | Levels | Members | Spawns | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House west of the Grand Exchange | 1 |  | 3 | Show map |
| South of Slepe | 1 |  | 9 | Show map |
| Lovakengj | 1 | | 18 | Show map |
| Ruins (east) | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Ferox Enclave | 1 | | 9 | Show map |
| Port Piscarilius | 1 | | 23 | Show map |
| House west of McGrubor's Wood | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Port Sarim jail | 1 | | 5 | Show map |
| Draynor Village | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| South-east of Mount Quidamortem | 1 | | 18 | Show map |
| Lumbridge | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Farm south of Falador | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| South-east of the Farming Guild | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Arceuus | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| North of the Chaos Temple (Wilderness) | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Gertrude's House | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Fire Altar | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Port Phasmatys | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| South of Kourend Castle | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Mos Le'Harmless | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Lunar Isle Ship | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Rimmington | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Burgh De Rott | 1 | | 13 | Show map |
| Brimhaven | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| West Ruins | 1 | | 16 | Show map |
| Sinclair Mansion | 1 | | 5 | Show map |
| Lunar Isle | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| South of the Farming Guild | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Draynor Manor | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| North-west of Hosidius Town Square | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Melzar's Maze | 1 | | 5 | Show map |
| South of Gu'Tanoth | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Fishing Guild | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Gnome maze | 1 | | 9 | Show map |
| Varrock | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Behind Lumbridge Castle | 1 | | 12 | Show map |
| West Ardougne | 1 | | 74 | Show map |
| Port Phasmatys Ship | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Port Piscarilius (1st Floor Buildings) | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Lunar Isle Dock | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Melzar's Maze (1st Floor) | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Mos Le'Harmless Ship | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Port Piscarilius (2nd Floor Buildings) | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Melzar's Maze (2nd Floor) | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Ardougne Sewers | 1 | | 23 | Show map |
| Goblin Cave | 1 | | 19 | Show map |
| Clock Tower Basement | 1 | | 26 | Show map |
| Rat Pits | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Melzar's Maze Basement | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Dwarven Mines | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Crandor and Karamja Dungeon | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Draynor Sewers | 1 | | 10 | Show map |
| Varrock Sewers | 1 | | 29 | Show map |
| Draynor Manor Basement | 1 | | 9 | Show map |
| Edgeville Dungeon | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Sisterhood Sanctuary | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Stronghold of Security: Catacomb of Famine | 1 | | 60 | Show map |
| Stronghold of Security: Vault of War | 1 | | 56 | Show map |
| Grand Tree Mine | 1 | | 21 | Show map |
| Taverley Dungeon | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| The Warrens | 1 | | 16 | Show map |
| Abandoned Mine (Level 2) | 1 | | 9 | Show map |
| Abandoned Mine (Level 4) | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Keldagrim Rat Pits | 1 | | 8 | Show map |
| Meiyerditch Laboratories | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| The Hollows | 1 | | 17 | Show map |
| Meiyerditch Hideout (Myreque Hideout) | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Observatory Dungeon | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Rashiliyia's Tomb | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Shadow Dungeon | 1 | | 12 | Show map |
| Skavid Caves | 1 | | 18 | Show map |
| Underground Pass (Level 2) | 1 | | 27 | Show map |
| Waterfall Dungeon | 1 | | 9 | Show map |
| Waterfall Dungeon (Flooded during quest) | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Cabin Fever Boats | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Cabin Fever Boats, 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US] | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Isle of Souls | 1 | | 8 | Show map |
| Black Knights' Fortress basement | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Wilderness Slayer Cave | 1 | | 3 | Show map |
| Aldarin | 1 | | 5 | Show map |
| East of Mistrock | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Salvager Overlook | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Gloomthorn Trail | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Fortis Cothon | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Outer Fortis | 1 | | 12 | Show map |
| Colossal Wyrm Remains | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
| Vatrachos Island | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Pandemonium Cave | 1 | | 8 | Show map |
| Port Roberts | 1 | | 5 | Show map |
| Buccaneers' Haven (ground floor[UK]1st floor[US]) | 1 | | 6 | Show map |
| Buccaneers' Haven (1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US]) | 1 | | 4 | Show map |
| Buccaneers' Haven (2nd floor[UK]3rd floor[US]) | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| Sunbleak Island | 1 | | 1 | Show map |
| The Onyx Crest | 1 | | 2 | Show map |
Drops (Regular)
The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.
Tertiary
| Item | Quantity | Rarity | Price | High Alch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rat's tail | 1 | Always[d 1] | Not sold | 1 |
 | Rat bone(m) | 1 | 1/4[d 2] | Not sold | 0 |
 | Looting bag(m) | 1 | 1/15[d 3] | Not sold | N/A |
- ^ Rat's tails is only dropped during Witch's Potion.
- ^ Rat bones are only dropped during Rag and Bone Man II.
- ^ Looting bags are only dropped by those found in the Wilderness.
Drops (Stronghold of Security)
The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.
100%
| Item | Quantity | Rarity | Price | High Alch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bones | 1 | Always | 40 | 0 |
Tertiary
| Item | Quantity | Rarity | Price | High Alch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat's tail | 1 | Always[d 1] | Not sold | 1 |
| Rat bone(m) | 1 | 1/4[d 2] | Not sold | 0 |
- ^ Rat's tails is only dropped during Witch's Potion.
- ^ Rat bones are only dropped during Rag and Bone Man II.
Changes
| Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| 27 August 2025 (Update) |
Rats in the Stronghold of Security now drop the rat bone during Rag and Bone Man II. |
| 9 November 2022 (Update) |
Rats have been made easier to catch by cats. |
| 28 November 2005 (Update) |
The NPCs were recoloured with the release of Ratcatchers. |
| 26 September 2005 (Update) |
The NPC was graphically updated. |
Gallery (historical)
 |
 |
 |
| 29 March 2004 – 26 September 2005 |
26 September 2005 – 28 November 2005 |
28 November 2005 – present |
Trivia
- The rat was among one of the first monsters added to the game, as it was released when the RuneScape beta first launched alongside creatures such as goblins, spiders, ghosts, and its larger counterpart, the giant rat.
- The regular and Stronghold of Security rat variants had festive overrides wearing red partyhats during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Christmas events.
- In RuneScape: The Official Handbook from 2006, it is stated that regular rats may weigh up to 70 pounds. This is likely an error in unit translation, as other weight and height statistics in the handbook are unrealistic - such as Guard Bandits weighing "up to 70lbs" and Giant Spiders having their height listed as 30 feet.
- Putting cheese into a rat trap will cause nearby rats to be lured to the trap, killing them.