Rat

Rats are a type of monster that appear in NetHack. They are a form of rodent, and consist of the following monsters:

• r sewer rat
• r giant rat
• r rabid rat
• r wererat

Wererats have a rat form and can summon other rats for help.

Common traits

All rats are neutral animals that can be seen via infravision and lack hands with the exception of the wererat, which is chaotic and has a human form. Rats are primarily carnivores, though the wererat is omnivorous in their human form.

Generation

Randomly-generated rats are always created hostile, and typically start appearing as soon as you enter the dungeon.

Rats (excluding wererats) appear among the rodents that serve as the first quest monster class for Healers and make up ²⁴⁄₁₇₅ of the monsters randomly generated on the Healer quest.

Variants

Variants incorporating the Convict patch add at least one new rat monster to the rodent monster class, so that the Convict's default pet sewer rat has at least three stages of growth like other domestic starting pets. Additionally, Convicts can pacify or even tame most rats by chatting to them.

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM adds the following new rats to the rodent monster class:

• r black rat
• r pack rat
• r hellrat
• r The Rat King (SLASH'EM)

The rat level is a special levle that contains many rats and other rodents. Rats (excluding wererats) also appear among the rodents that serve as the first quest monster class for Yeomen and make up ²⁴⁄₁₇₅ of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest.

Some rats can be tamed by throwing cheese at them.

UnNetHack

UnNetHack adds one new rat:

• r enormous rat

dNetHack

dNetHack and notdNetHack introduce a few new rats:

• r rodent:
  • r enormous rat
  • r rodent of unusual size
  • r witch's familiar

The Wings of Garuda and Cartouche of the Cat Lord are wards that can repel rats and other rodents.

SpliceHack

SpliceHack adds several new rats:

• r black rat
• r pack rat
• r enormous rat
• r rodent of unusual size
• r ratman
• r ratman squeaker
• r hellrat
• r rat ruler

EvilHack

EvilHack introduces a few new rats:

• r enormous rat
• r rodent of unusual size

The Rat King of EvilHack is not a rodent like his SLASH'EM counterpart, but has many wererat-like traits minus the ability to shift to rat form.

Hack'EM

Hack'EM adds several rats from other variants:

• r black rat
• r pack rat
• r hellrat
• r enormous rat
• r rodent of unusual size

Encyclopedia entry

Rats are long-tailed rodents. They are aggressive,
omnivorous, and adaptable, often carrying diseases.
 
"The rat," said O'Brien, still addressing his invisible
audience, "although a rodent, is carnivorous. You are aware
of that. You will have heard of the things that happen in
the poor quarters of this town. In some streets a woman dare
not leave her baby alone in the house, even for five minutes.
The rats are certain to attack it. Within quite a small time
they will strip it to the bones. They also attack sick or
dying people. They show astonishing intelligence in knowing
when a human being is helpless."

[ 1984, by George Orwell ]