Mad Catz R.A.T.7 Gaming Mouse for PC and Mac

Let me begin to say this: I love my RAT5. It was a great mice. Bought it at a discount, and it is the most comfortable gaming mouse that I have ever used. The quality is great in terms of innovation and comfortability. However, Yes, the quality of the material or the way it is built makes this mouse one of the worst I have ever seen. It occasionally crap out on me due to software issue. If the mouse laser or the track pad is dirty, the mouse tracking system will not work well. After two years of gaming, the mouse died. Now, I have tried a range of mouse. None of them are as comfortable/customization as this. Therefore, i gave RAT7 a chance. The pinky rest is fantastic, so is the additional customization compared to RAT5. It is indeed a better version. Just hope that it will last. If it doesnt, i will not be buying Mad Catz mouse again. Simple summary: - Great comfort - Great customization - Great tracking - Worst build - Might crap out occasionally - Usually dies in 2 years ---Update--- Still loving this. I have tried other gaming mouses, and i guess i'm spoiled by this mouse. NONE of the other mouse just feel the same or comfortable. We need some real competition against Mad Catz please. Gamers/coders/pc users use mouse every day. Comfortability is the key. I have upgraded from 4 stars to 5 stars. ----Update2--- Just to confirm that this mouse is still working with no issues. It has been almost 2 years now. The only times that the sensor acts up is when dust or hair got into the laser part. That usually means I need to clean my desk. So far, I am very happy with the result. Prob. will buy another white one soon since I'm sick of other cheap chinese mouse.

This is my 2nd RAT gaming mouse in 5 years. The first R.A.T. mouse I purchased was a R.A.T. 5 for a gaming rig I built in 2010. It lasted nearly 5 years of gaming while surviving drops, spilled drinks, heavy gaming use, and a few rage moments; but started to fail little by little during its 5th year of use. At first the thumb Mouse 4/5 buttons stopped working, then the right and left mouse buttons started to stick and/or double click. But after 5 years I was happy enough to say I got my money's worth. After those 5 years I'm building another new rig, and thought I would go with another R.A.T. mouse and decided to try out the RAT 7. This is the first RAT 7 I've owned, but not the first I've held, seen, or used. It would seem since 2010 at some point Mad Catz kept the model names but changed certain aspects of the mice. Whether they are simply aesthetic changes or both aesthetic and hardware I'm unsure of; all I know is there is a difference between the mouse I bought last month from a mouse of this brand 5 years ago. Older R.A.T. mice have a Black/White cybernetic-type face on the thumb rest and as the icon to change profiles, whereas newer RAT mice have 4 scratch marks instead of the face. I've also noticed weight differences between identical RAT 7s. I've had two RAT 7s side by side before, both with all 5 removable weights installed. One was too heavy needing 3 weights removed, while the other felt just fine with all weights kept in. I don't know if build quality has changed over the years or what the case was. Pros/Cons from my experience with RAT mice: Pros: - I've had good luck with build quality, which also translated to longevity. As stated earlier my first RAT 5 lasted nearly 5 years. I know Mad Catz has a reputation with older gamers as "that" company that sold the cheap knock-off controllers for cheap at the store. And some people seem to have complaints about this mouse breaking after very short periods of use. But to me it would seem they actually put some real effort into this mouse, and I've gotten great use. - Usable on pretty much any surface you can think of aside from glass. - 6400 max DPI means the mouse can be as sensitive as can be, or DPI can be dropped down so low it takes 20 full swipes to move across the screen. Sensitive enough to recognize quick twitch movements and fast high-speed snaps. Some mice boast DPIs far above 6400 DPI, but I can only think of a handful of games or applications I even need to come close to using the max 6400 DPI, and even then it's only for certain situations. - Precision aim button. Some may think it sounds like a stupid option only thrown in to justify a higher price, but being able to hold a button down and cut your DPI for quick, extremely precise movements can come in very handy. - Sturdy construction. Most all mice are pure plastic, and even if they are $100 just feel cheap in your hand. The RAT has a metal undercarriage which gives it a good solid frame, and gives you a good solid feeling while holding it. It also helps the mouse withstand an accidental drop or two that would crack or otherwise destroy another mouse. - Removable weights. Every person is different, some like heavier mice, some like lighter. A person may even prefer a heavier mouse for one game or program and a lighter mouse for another. This is where the removable weights come in handy with the RAT. You can go from near feather-light to hefty and anywhere in-between. Personally I like knowing I have a mouse in my hand, and being able to feel the mouse move, thus keeping in all the weights is my preference. - Pretty much every part of the RAT 7 bends side to side or extends front to back any way you could want, or has different pieces to screw on to fit your preference. It will accommodate a child's hand just as well as a grown man with large hands. I personally use the thumb buttons in games for often-used actions such as melee attacks, grenade throws, use keys, zooms, etc. Having a mouse where I can change how my thumb sits on the mouse not only adds a level of personal comfort, it makes hitting those buttons that much easier, and the response that much faster. Having an extended pinky rest as an option also makes this mouse feel that much more comfortable as half your hand isn't hanging off the side or your fingers dragging along the mouse pad. It also speaks to how well the buttons hold up being pressed as often as they are. - Buttons. There are just enough buttons to be useful without covering the mouse with tons of useless buttons to be accidentally pressed, get in the way, or just make the mouse feel uncomfortable in your hand. The left/right click are firm enough to prevent accidental presses, yet light enough that quick presses are easy. The DPI settings can be changed on the fly, something that can save you quiet some time fooling with mouse speeds in option menus. The mouse supports 3 profiles which are swapped with the press of a button. Each profile can support 4 separate DPI settings and each profile can have each button on the mouse customized to any keyboard button. DPI settings are changed with the press of a button. While playing a game if your mouse is too sensitive or not sensitive enough it can be fixed on the fly in a matter of seconds without pausing or getting into an options menu. For some reason I see some people complaining about the software used, but I can't see why. It's simple enough a toddler could use it. The software isn't even required unless you plan on programming buttons. - Braided USB line is tough, extends from the USB plug to the base of the mouse. Cons: - The USB cable may be a bit short for a small percentage of people. However unless your tower/laptop is on the other side of the desk from where you are sitting, there should be plenty of cable. - Cost. Although the mouse has a lot of features $100 dollars is quiet a pricetag for a mouse. - Left/Right Thumb Scroll is virtually useless. After 5 years of use of a RAT 5, and current use of a RAT 7 I have yet to ever use it, and don't think it's got native support by anything. It's really only put into use if assigned a button/macro in the software's profile editor. The button usually assigned to it is up/down scroll, to scroll through weapons on a FPS for example. Something easily done by the scroll wheel without the need to create custom buttons. - The RAT 5 was a sturdy build, but did not have the flexibility of the RAT 7. I can see the mouse having more weak points than a solid mouse, yet still stronger than a piece of plastic.

Well it is a lot more accurate and precise than my $10 mouse and I really like the way it looks and feels. Just not $40+ more than my $10 mouse. And it has annoying habit of every once in a blue moon, so far only while typing, to stop moving up and down and diagonally out of the blue. The only thing that fixes this is a computer reboot. If it happens while writing a long e-mail or PM, this can be VERY annoying. Luckily I never disconnected my old wireless mouse out of pure laziness and it actually still works even while this mouse is connected. Well, I have had this mouse for awhile now and it is the best and at the same time the worst mouse I have ever owned. When it works, it is very responsive and a joy to use. It looks really cool too. But thats when it works. For long periods of time, the mouse will work perfectly. Them inexplicably for no reason, it just stops tracking. Usually by not being able to track to the left and right and diagonal. Whether I am typing or not. It is only fixable by rebooting the computer but even sometimes that dosn't work like now. It will act this way for a week or more while occasionally working fine. Then it will just start working properly again until the next time. No way could I possibly recommend buying this mouse. The only reason I still use it is because of the amount of money I paid for it Update. The last week or so the mouse started acting up again after a very long period of working really well. As of this morning the mouse completely refuses to track. The buttons continue to work. Rebooting does nothing at all any more. I have had enough and ordered a new mouse. Something not named MadKatz. I am sure this one will start working again before the new one arrives but once it does, this will be nothing more than a paper weight.

This is simply the best mouse I have ever used or purchased. I've purchased MANY mice to try and find the perfect mouse for me. This is the best mouse I have found. Mad Catz makes a lot of great mice with various button configurations. The thing about this mouse that stands out to me is the ability to customize the palm rest, pinkie wing, weight, and the thumb side of the mouse moving forward/backward/in/out. The thing that was most important for me in a mouse was how wide it was. The ability for the thumb piece to slide forward/backward is great, but the thing that I love the most is the ability for it to move in/and out. This is the only mouse that gives me everything that I need with the most important part being I can adjust the thumb to move outward, making the mouse WIDER. Mad Catz have since came out with newer, "like" versions of this R.A.T. 7, but none of them have the ability to adjust the width of the mouse. Mad Catz has released newer mice with a lot of great improvements like, better button placements, more buttons, interchangeable tracking lasers/optics, but none of these mice allow you to adjust the width of the mouse. For that reason, I have been sticking with the R.A.T. 7 and have purchased two of them.

I'm writing this from a mac user's perspective. It is listed as an officially supported product after all. My first impression of this mouse was overwhelmingly positive. It feels solid and the adjustable ergonomics make it delightful to use regardless of your style. That's as far as the good impressions went. To take advantage of the editable profiles, macro programming, etc, you need to download Mad Catz's software for the Mac. Once you actually find it in the depths of their website, you'll be greeted by a profoundly ugly interface. This is a subjective matter though, so I won't dwell on it. The functionality, on the other hand, is objectively embarrassing. Any team willing to ship a product in this state just so they can advertise OS X as a "supported platform" should be fired, plain and simple. This is my experience with the software: 1. The DPI Interface is unusable. The elements look like they were put through a blender and left where they landed. 2. On a given profile, I was only able to edit a button once. From that point on, you can edit all you want but the changes will never stick. That's only if you're lucky and it doesn't crash while saving. 3. After finally saving a profile, I was unable to even launch the software without it crashing. I had to find the profile on disk, delete it, and start over. I did eventually get a simple profile to stick (in part by editing the profile data by hand), and I used the mouse happily for a couple of months without ever touching the software. Just recently the hardware laser failed. The mouse won't track, but the buttons still work. Now I have an expensive paperweight with trash software. But it has great ergonomics!

EDIT: After some unhelpful votes for my review, I've decided to attempt to re-use it to see if my review would change. I'm transitioning from a Razer Deathadder but I've owned a Logitech G9x in addition to the RAT7. I think this is still only a decent mouse. It's huge selling point is its customization options and it definitely delivers. Construction-wise, it also feels solid and well-constructed. Binding functions to buttons is fairly easy and there are a number of buttons to bind to. I thoroughly enjoyed the thumb wheel too for working in multimedia programs. I will not comment on comfort because, given the flexible nature of the mouse, this is very much a "to each their own" kind of factor. However, what hampers it from making it my main mouse is that it doesn't deliver the same level of precision or control that I would like playing FPS games. There is a slight jitter on the mouse (which is very noticeable when "scoped in" on FPS games) and it seems to be not as responsive as another mouse set on the same sensitivities. This issue may be attributed to my mousepad BUT this problem is not present with my other mice. It was a bit disappointing that a mouse that felt this good didn't have the performance to match.

Let me address some issues here: This is the second time I have bought this mouse. I only purchased it again because I sold it back in 2013 when I had no use for a wired mouse. If your mouse is jumping all over the place, there are 2 points to adjust. Turn the sensitivity down to a normal amount of 50% or a little more if you want, and then adjust the DPI settings. The top review here complains about this setting varied by surface. All you have to do is adjust the sensitivity and clean your sensor regularly. Anyone complaining about the mouse not tracking, probably never cleaned their sensor. Canned air and a q-tip with some alcohol go a long way. I use alcohol to clean my keyboard and mouse daily. I clean the sensor once a month or so. If you do not do the same, how can you expect your equipment to last? Take care of your stuff. Some other reviews complain of "oxidation" to the metal. That is ridiculous. Either you never wash your hands, or have the sweatiest nastiest hands ever and never clean you mouse. This mouse comes with 3 different palm wrests, and if you extend any of them, your hand will never touch the metal on the back of the mouse. Also, the thumb scroll, if easily cleaned with alcohol and a q-tip regularly will never "oxidize"... I am not sure how it ever could unless your hands are disgustingly sweaty. If your hands do sweat even the slightest amount, all you have to do is clean your equipment regularly. It's that simple. The cable is braided. If you simply check the integrity of your cables before using the product you will notice if there are any "shorts" in the cables. What I do with all cables like HDMI, DP, USB etc etc... is plug them in, and wiggle the cord at both ends very slightly and also work the cord around in various positions to ensure there is no issue. Unless you pinch this cable, or misuse it, I don't see how it could come loose, king, or short out. I have experienced no issues before, and I do not expect any to come. All these one star reviews are either not verified purchases, or have no evidence (pictures) to support the quality they keep their equipment or the surfaces the mouse is used on. I update my reviews regularly and will continue to do so. Take care of your stuff and it will take care of you. UPDATE 7-11-16 No issues at all. Cleaning daily with alcohol, no stuttering, no anything. I will update regularly. UPDATE 11-25-16 Still, zero issues. Regular cleaning, no issues as listed in the horrible top reviews. UPDATE 04-18-2017 Still no issues. Not one.

OK.... I read through a fair amount of reviews for the R.A.T. 7, prior to purchasing. I ran into a lot of complaints about tracking loss and dysfunctional settings/design. As well, I saw a few complaints about the overall quality. I am now a little over 3 months into using this Mouse, and I am overall very pleased with it. I have not encountered any of the tracking issues to date. The feel, control and button assign-ability work great for my gaming needs. I am a moderate gamer; leaving my only assumption regarding tracking issues, to be related to an extreme level of gaming and use. For this, I would say, with any electronic device there will always be a degree of failure. Electronics are a fickle thing, and I go into them with the expectation of potential failure. I took the complaints with a grain of salt. So far, so good on this model for me though. I am a big fan of programming buttons to simplify controls used in a game (to each their own). This model has three settings for programming, and they are extremely easy to figure out. The three settings and instant selector button allow be to move between my profiles, even in game. Remembering to activate the Profiles before starting any game is the hardest part (not really). Having extra customization pieces is handy for setting the mouse up to fit the most comfortable feel for most, if not all, users. Once the mouse is set up, it the other pieces cease to have further use, other than spare parts in the event of damage. I would hate to think the price of the mouse is affected by these extra pieces. The design is rugged, and fits good in my hand. I prefer a heavy mouse, so I keep it at max weight, and find the steel bottom helps add just that little bit more that I like. The only physical defect I have encountered, and have from the start, regards the left thumb angle setting. The screw meant to hold it in place is no where near strong enough to brace it against collapsing. It does not close completely, but as I prefer it at its widest setting, I find myself constantly moving it back out by pulling on it throughout a game. The back slide setting lets me adjust on the fly, as I find my preference for depth on the mouse differs from game to game, and even between game modes. The Pinky Plate, as I call it, is GREAT. As I stated, I prefer a wide base mouse, so this little gem lets me rest my full hand on the mouse and reduces over gripping. Programmable buttons are great, but with a caveat. Not including LMB and RMB, the RAT 7 allows me to customize 8 Features. This is counting the Left and Right Roll on the Thumb Scroll. I find the Thumb Scroll Programmed buttons, do not always function as I programmed them in game (Game Specific BF 3 & BF 4). Not sure of the reason for this. The RAT 7, also does not allow me to create file assigned to a game... or at least I still haven't figured it out :-(. Luckily the profile selector works mid game. I also have a Perixx MX2000II which does allow me to program all buttons, including the DPI Selector. The Perixx aslo allows the assignment of up to four profiles, rather than three directly to a game. You start a game, and it knows what setting to use. The RAT does not allow for the reassignment of the DPI selector, I am sure for good reason, but it is one setting I find I never change, once it is set up in the main settings. I would prefer if I could use those two buttons for something in game as a selection or action. Again; a moderate gamer here, so if you are one who games non stop, and utilize all the nuances of DPI changes, Snipe Target DPI Instant buttons and never shortcut a mouse to remove the need to hit numbers, and other "stray" keys, then more power to you. My original though was to go with the MMO 7 model, but I thought I might be biting off more of a mouse than I would need. I don;t dabble in DOTA, WOW or any MMOs so there you go. In hind sight, the additional program buttons would be nice, but I am confident in my purchase of the RAT 7. My final thought on it is the pricing. At the time of purchase, it was on sale for $59.99 and I had a credit on account of $30.00 + $5.00 off for something else. Walked away with it for shorter change than the sticker price, so it owes me nothing. Would I pay $99.99....? NO WAY, but I wouldn't spend THAT on ANY mouse. Would I have paid $69.99 for the mouse? More than likely, but I would have been more apprehensive and might even hold its performance more critical. As with anything, having a good tool makes anything easier and more enjoyable. There you have it. That is my take at least. Would I buy another one...? Sure would. :-)