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Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Dec 11, 2019 at 08:55 am
Latest change: Retest Sep 02, 2022 at 09:27 am
Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Picture
7.5
Office/Multimedia
7.1
Video Games (FPS)
8.1
Video Games (MMO)
5.6
Ultra-Light Gaming
5.0
Travel

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is a unique looking mouse that has a very futuristic design. Its body is modular, meaning you can move around pieces to change its shape and size for it to better fit inside your hand. This design makes it pretty much universal for small to extra large hands, regardless of your grip. Its wired click latency, although higher than some other mice, and many customizable buttons make it a good gaming mouse.

Our Verdict

7.5 Office/Multimedia

Very good for the office. Although it has a unique design that might too futuristic for an office, this mouse has excellent ergonomics thanks to its modular design that lets you customize the mouse's size and shape for it to fit your hand. It also has plenty of customizable buttons.

Pros
  • Customizable shape and size.
  • Universal for all hand sizes and grips.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • No left-handed variant.
  • Not travel-friendly.
  • Rigid cable.
7.1 Video Games (FPS)

Decent for FPS games. Its click latency is decent, but it's a very heavy mouse. On the upside, its performance is excellent and quite customizable to your preference. The mouse is also modular, meaning everyone should find a configuration that suits their hand for optimal control.

Pros
  • Customizable shape and size.
  • Universal for all hand sizes and grips.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • No left-handed variant.
  • Not travel-friendly.
  • Rigid cable.
8.1 Video Games (MMO)

Excellent for video games like MMOs. The mouse has plenty of programmable buttons, which is great for quick casting abilities. The mouse's modular body is great as you can change its shape and size to your preference, to feel comfortable.

Pros
  • Customizable shape and size.
  • Universal for all hand sizes and grips.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • No left-handed variant.
  • Not travel-friendly.
  • Rigid cable.
5.6 Ultra-Light Gaming

This mouse is pretty heavy and isn't really an option for ultra-light gaming. There are ways to reduce the mouse's weight, but it still won't be comparable to ultra-light gaming mice.

Pros
  • Customizable shape and size.
  • Universal for all hand sizes and grips.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • No left-handed variant.
  • Not travel-friendly.
  • Rigid cable.
5.0 Travel

Not suitable for traveling. It's an always-wired mouse that's big and hard to carry around.

Pros
  • Customizable shape and size.
  • Universal for all hand sizes and grips.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • No left-handed variant.
  • Not travel-friendly.
  • Rigid cable.
  • 7.5 Office/Multimedia
  • 7.1 Video Games (FPS)
  • 8.1 Video Games (MMO)
  • 5.6 Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.0 Travel
  1. Updated Sep 02, 2022: We've fixed an error in the Shape section where we had previously listed incorrect Width, Grip Width, and Length measurements. The Volume result in the Portability section has also changed as a result.
  2. Updated Oct 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  3. Updated Dec 20, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
  4. Updated Dec 11, 2019: Review published.

Compared To Other Mice

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is a gaming mouse with a very unique design. It has many modular pieces, which make its shape and body customizable to suit your hand, regardless of its size and your grip. It also has a frame made out of metal, giving it a very high-end feel. However, its wired latency is a bit higher than most wired gaming mice, but most people won't notice it. Also see our recommendations for the best mouse for MMOs, the best wired mouse, and the best gaming mouse.

Logitech G502 HERO

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is slightly better than the Logitech G502 HERO. The Mad Catz is designed for any hand size with any grip type, has less CPI variation, and has a slightly wider CPI range. However, the Logitech has lower click latency, it has scroll wheel tilts, and you can unlock it for free scrolling, and it's fully compatible with macOS.

Mad Catz R.A.T. DWS

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ and the Mad Catz R.A.T. DWS are more premium models in the R.A.T. lineup, but the DWS is the only wireless model. The 8+ is lighter, and it has a lower minimum CPI, and you can adjust the set CPI more precisely in increments of 50 instead of the DWS' 100. Also, its maximum polling rate is higher. On the other hand, you can use the DWS over a USB receiver or Bluetooth, and its click latency over the receiver is lower than the 8+'s wired latency. Both come with interchangeable parts to modify the feel and look of the mouse, making them suitable for all hand sizes regardless of grip type.

Razer DeathAdder V2

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ and the Razer DeathAdder V2 are two similar-performing mice. The Mad Catz has an extra programmable button, it's better-built, and it's suited for any grip with any hand size. However, the Razer has much lower click latency, and it's much lighter.

Mad Catz B.A.T. 6+

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ and the Mad Catz B.A.T. 6+ are comparable wired gaming mice with modular palm and finger rests that you can add and remove to change the look and feel of the mouse. The R.A.T. 8+ feels sturdier, has a lower lift-off distance, and has a more consistent sensor. It also has one additional side button and a thumb scroll wheel. On the other hand, the B.A.T. 6+ is significantly lighter, and although it has one fewer side button overall, it has two side buttons on either side. It also has a more flexible cable, mouse feet that glide more smoothly, and lower click latency.

Razer Viper Ultimate

The Razer Viper Ultimate is much better than the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+. Despite being a wireless mouse, the Razer has much lower click latency. It also has an ambidextrous design, and it's lighter. However, the Mad Catz has less CPI variation, and it has an extra programmable button.

GLORIOUS Model D

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is slightly better than the GLORIOUS Model D. The Mad Catz is better suited for people with small hands using the claw or fingertip grips. It also has a better-performing sensor and has many more programmable buttons. However, the GLORIOUS is lighter and has lower click latency. 

Mad Catz R.A.T. 4+

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 4+ is a mid-range entry in Mad Catz's R.A.T. lineup, while the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is a more premium model. The R.A.T. 4+ is significantly lighter and has a slightly more flexible cable. It also has mouse feet that glide a bit more smoothly. On the other hand, the R.A.T. 8+ Feels sturdier and has several interchangeable pieces that alter the look and feel of the mouse. It also has two additional side buttons and a thumb wheel. Performance-wise, it has a much wider CPI range and a lower click latency. Both mice are universally suitable for all hand sizes using any grip type.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ has a very unique and futuristic look. The mouse looks modular and allows tons of customization options since you can change its shape and size. It also has RGB lighting that you can set inside its software.

Design
Shape
Length 4.7" (120 mm)
Height 1.5" (39 mm)
Width 3.5" (89 mm)
Grip Width
71 mm
5.4
Design
Portability
Volume
25.39 in³ (416 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No

This always-wired mouse is pretty big, which makes it harder to travel with. Also, we measured the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ at its smallest configuration, meaning that it can get significantly bigger than this, too. This won't matter for people who are looking for a desktop mouse to use at home.

Design
Weight
Maximum Weight With Wire
189 g
Maximum Weight Without Wire
158 g
Minimum Weight Without Wire
125 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
Yes

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ is pretty heavy, even when taking out the three optional weights that can be added. Even when stripping down the mouse from the palm rest and grips, it's still too heavy for lightweight gaming.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

Although the mouse looks a bit weird and unique, it's built like a tank. The main frame is made out of metal with metal screws. The covering is made of plastic but still feels very well-built. However, due to the modular design, there could be potential longevity problems, but right out-of-the-box, it feels very sturdy. There are no squeaking or wobbling parts.

8.5
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
Yes
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
No
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
Thumb and Pinky

Thanks to the very large range of sizes and shapes you can give to the mouse, the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+'s ergonomics are excellent. You're more than likely going to find a way to modify the mouse for it to fit your hand. However, there isn't a left-handed variant available.

Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes

Nobody should have any issues using the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ with a palm grip.

Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes

Nobody should have any issues using the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ with a claw grip.

Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes

Nobody should have any issues using the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ with a fingertip grip, although it might be easier if you completely remove the back panel where your palm would rest.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No

This is a wired-only mouse that can't be used wirelessly. For a very similar mouse that you can use wirelessly, have a look at the Mad Catz R.A.T. DWS. For a wireless mouse with a different design, check out the Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED with HERO Sensor.

6.5
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length 6.0 ft (1.8 m)
Cable Type
Braided
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
No Port
Port Type: PC End
USB

The cable is just okay. It keeps a few kinks from the way it's stored in the box, which is annoying. It's fairly rigid, but less inconvenient than Razer's cables.

6.5
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Bad
Material
PTFE
Extra Included
No
Design
In The Box

  • Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ mouse
  • 2 extra palm rest panels
  • 1 side grip panel
  • 1 side panel with pinky finger rest

Control
Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
PixArt PMW3389
Works On Glass
No
Minimum CPI (DPI)
50 CPI
Maximum CPI (DPI)
16,000 CPI
CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
50 CPI
CPI (DPI) Variation
-3%
Minimum Lift Off Distance
1.2 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
2000 Hz

You might off-center the sensor a bit if you drastically change mouse's shape and size configuration. If you're interested in a mouse with a similar aesthetic and overall performance, but with a maximum advertised polling rate of 8000Hz, check out the EVGA X17.

8.2
Control
Buttons
Buttons Activation
Mechanical
Total Number Of Buttons
9
Number Of Side Buttons
5
Number Of Programmable Inputs
11
Profile Switching Button
Yes
CPI (DPI) Switching Button
Yes
Gesture Support
No

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ has plenty of customizable buttons, but the left click and profile switching buttons aren't. On the upside, you can even reprogram every scrolling direction on both mouse wheels.

Control
Mouse Wheel
Scroll Wheel
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
No
Thumb Wheel
Notched Wheel
Thumb Wheel Steps
16 Steps

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ has a vertical and a horizontal wheel, and both of them offer good feedback thanks to their incremented design. You can also remap the scrolling to whatever you want inside the software.

Control
Noise
Click Noise
Loud
7.4
Control
Click Latency
Click Latency: Receiver
N/A
Click Latency: Bluetooth
N/A
Click Latency: Wired
19 ms

For a wired gaming mouse, the click latency is slightly higher, but this won't cause any issues for most players.

Operating System And Software
8.0
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name MADCATZ R.A.T. 8+
Software Windows Compatibility
Yes
Software macOS Compatibility
No
Account Needed
No
On-Board Memory
Yes
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
Yes
Polling Rate Adjustment
Yes
Profile Configuration
Yes
RGB On/Off
Yes

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Software offers plenty of customization options. You can set your RGB profiles on three different lighting zones and remap all the mouse's buttons to your preferences. This mouse also has onboard memory, meaning you'll be able to plug it into another computer and keep your settings. However, this customization won't be available on macOS.

8.3
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Partially

Amazing mouse compatibility, as out of the box, all the buttons work on both Windows and macOS with their default bindings. However, you can't customize those on macOS, since the software isn't available on that platform.