| Rat, Missouri | |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Missouri |
| Pushpin Label: | Rat |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Missouri |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Missouri |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Shannon |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Moore |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2000 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 37.3725°N -91.2275°W |
| Postal Code: | 63629 |
| Area Code: | 573 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 751809 |
Rat is an unincorporated community in northeast Shannon County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The community is adjacent to Big Creek, approximately six miles south-southwest of Bunker.[1]
A post office called Rat was established in 1898, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1954.[2] The community was named "Rat" in protest after postal authorities denied the townspeople their first choice of "Buckshorn".[3] Rat has been noted for its unusual place name.[4]