Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease, affects the joints and eventually leads to joint deformity. Without intervention, the disability rate can exceed 60% over 10 years, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Animal models of RA have played an important role in the study of the pathogenesis, treatment, and identification of therapeutic targets of RA. In this review, the construction method , pathogenesis, and applications of several common animal models of RA are introduced to aid researchers in selecting appropriate animal models for future disease research.