Objective To establish a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat model in a new type of hyperlipidemia (WSHc) rat. We observed the pathological characteristics of the NAFLD model and explored possible research applications, as well as new options for animal models of NAFLD. Methods 20 WSHc rats aged 7 – 8 weeks were randomly divided into 2 groups according to whether they would receive a common diet or high-fat diet. Another 20 Wistar rats of the same age were then grouped as a strain control, and received the same treatment. After 12 weeks of continuous feeding, blood samples were taken to detect blood biochemical indicators and elastic ultrasound imaging was performed. After execution of the animals, the liver tissue was subjected to HE, oil red “ O ”, Masson, and immunofluorescent staining, and the general cell morphology, lipid performance, inflammatory response, and liver fibrosis stage in each group were observed. The lesion characteristics of the liver of WSHc rats after a high-fat diet were analyzed. Results Compared with Wistar rats on a high-fat diet, WSHc rats showed a significant increase in serum total cholesterol, similar to that seen in patients with clinical hyperlipidemia. We also found that liver lipids were abnormally deposited to form lipid droplets, and that inflammatory cells positioned around the lipid droplets formed an inflammatory lesion. Further, we observed an increase in macrophages and instances of scattered fibrosis. These pathological changes were not found in the liver tissue of high-fat-exposed Wistar rats. Conclusions Compared with conventional rats, WSHc rats on a high-fat diet represent a more clinically similar NAFLD animal model, which is characterized by blood biochemical indicators, a severe inflammatory response, and sporadic liver fibrosis approaching clinical levels.