Shape

The shape of the Mad Catz RAT 8 is familiar to anyone who ever held one of their previous RAT mice in their hands. It is rather wide, even in its slim configuration.

Weight: 138 g
Height: ~42 mm
Width: ~75 mm
Width at grip area: ~63 mm
Length: ~135 mm
Number of buttons: 9 (including two tilt buttons)

To me, the grip I get on the mouse with a full palm grip is actually better than I thought it would be by just looking at it; it's more comfortable than I thought, despite its edges.

Customization

The RAT 8 allows for general adjustments to its shape by changing the length of the palm rest via a slider as well as by changing the angle of the thumb rest, together with its length. To change the angle or position, use the hex key tucked into the back of the mouse; it's the cylindrical part below the palm rest. To change its length, turn the spindle at the bottom of the thumb rest, and to change the angle, simply loosen the screw at the top - adjust its angle and tighten it again.

For the palm rest, you just need to push a lever on the bottom of it, and you can slide it forward and backward or take it off completely because the RAT 8 comes with exchangeable palm-rest pieces and side grips for the right side.


Here are the different palm-rest and side-grip pieces, optional weights, and the hex key, unscrewed from its position under the palm rest.


Here is the mouse with its extended side grip.


Here is the mouse with its textured side grip.

Comparison

Zowie ZA11 on the left, Mad Catz RAT 8 in the middle, and Logitech G Pro on the right.


Logitech G900 on the left, Mad Catz RAT 8 in the middle, and Steelseries Rival 700 on the right.


Roccat Kone EMP on the left, Mad Catz RAT 8 in the middle, and Logitech G403 on the right.

Actual Weight

Here is my problem with the mouse: It actually weighs 138g without the three extra weights; add those for an extra 18g and the total will come to a whopping 156g. To me, that is far too heavy as the weight puts quite a lot of strain on my wrist when I use the mouse for a longer period of time. The reason the RAT 8 is as heavy is because it uses several metal parts.


Here's an example: The lower shell body has some kind of metal frame that weighs in at 48g alone.


Another heavy part is the spindle used to change the position of the thumb-button piece; solid metal, it weighs in at 20g.

I know that weight is a personal preference. Someone might actually want a heavy mouse, but for me, the RAT 8 is way too heavy to consider using it. I remember the RAT TE being extremely light for its size and would have much preferred that, although the TE felt a bit flimsy due to the connector being plastic. Somehow, I think there must be a middle ground there somewhere. Considering its size, ~105g would be an ok weight.