The incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has gradually increased in recent years. Although CFS can severely affect patient quality of life, its clinical diagnosis is easily overlooked. Elucidating the pathogenesis of CFS and treating it from both etiological and symptomatological perspectives are crucial for patient recovery; however, its unclear pathogenesis means that etiological treatment options are limited, and current treatments mainly focus on improving clinical symptoms. In this context, there is a need to establish and evaluate a suitable animal model. This article comprehensively integrates the diagnostic criteria of CFS and progress in related basic research. We also summarize the behavioral experimental method used to evaluate CFS models in basic research in the past 5 years and discuss these evaluations from the perspectives of general condition, fatigue state, cognitive function, emotional state, and pain degree. This review aims to present the current situation, expose problems, trigger reflection, and promote improvements in the behavioral evaluation of animal models of CFS.