The fur of the cane-footed rat is short and silky, the abdomen is covered with soft buff and gray down, and the back and head are wood-brown. Its undercoat is short and dark tile-grey.

There is a clear line on the body of the kanshin's hair-footed mouse The charcoal stripes run from between the ears to the tail. The pads of the feet and tail are covered with smooth white fur.