Objective To study the catheterization and angiography of hepatic artery via carotid artery route in rats. Methods Cervical and abdominal incisions were made on 60 male Sprague Dawley rats. At the open surgery a catheter was inserted into the hepatic artery via left common carotid artery, and then a hepatic artery angiography was performed. Results The success rates of catheterization and angiography were 95% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The catheterization and angiography of hepatic artery via carotid artery route in rats is a feasible approach with a rather high success rate of technique and a popular future.