The sheer volume of digital photographs documenting my life with rats is, frankly, astonishing. My current mobile device alone holds over 11,000 images of these intelligent and often misunderstood creatures, a number that excludes a significant portion of my photographic history prior to 2016. Many of these earlier memories are scattered across aging laptops and external hard drives, with some inevitably lost to the relentless march of technological obsolescence. Pre-digital era physical photographs, a tangible testament to years of companionship, are now relegated to the depths of my garage, a forgotten archive. Had I not experienced a hiatus of over eighteen months without my beloved rat companions, this digital count would undoubtedly be several thousand higher.
This extensive collection, while perhaps appearing excessive to some, represents more than just a hobby; for a significant period, it was intrinsically linked to my professional life. For thirteen years, I helmed the publication of "It’s a Rat’s World" (IARW), a monthly magazine dedicated to all aspects of rat ownership. Photography was not merely an ancillary component of this endeavor; it was foundational. Images were essential for the magazine’s social media presence, to accompany editorial content, and, most critically, for the cover art that defined each issue.
Early in IARW’s inception, I conceived of a novel approach to its visual presentation: thematic monthly covers and a dedicated reader submission section, aptly named "The PapRATzi Page(s)." This initiative aimed to foster community engagement and celebrate the unique personalities of pet rats. While holiday-themed months naturally lent themselves to seasonal imagery, the remaining calendar required more accessible and relatable themes for owners to capture. Consequently, I devised a diverse array of prompts, ranging from the seemingly mundane yet endearing activities of grooming, sleeping, and eating, to more dynamic and engaging subjects like yawning, showcasing rat tails, interspecies friendships, and rats interacting with their human families and children. Themed photographic expeditions even extended to rats engaging in travel and outdoor adventures, and numerous other imaginative scenarios.
While I am not a professional photographer, and the early years of IARW’s publication certainly bore testament to this fact, I believe my skills and artistic vision evolved significantly over time. The covers produced during the magazine’s tenure are a source of considerable pride. This article offers a curated selection of these photographic highlights, interspersed with candid moments that, while not gracing the cover, hold significant personal value.
The Art of the Sleeping Rat: Capturing Tranquility
Rats, in their natural state, possess an undeniable charm. However, the sight of one peacefully curled up and fast asleep transcends mere adorability, embodying a profound sense of preciousness.
This candid photograph of Preacher was taken on my birthday in 2020, amidst the heightened anxieties of the global pandemic. Confined to my home with my husband and son, the day was spent in quiet communion, watching films with our rat companions. In an effort to uplift my spirits, Preacher offered a moment of unparalleled sweetness. He was discovered napping on his back, legs splayed in complete relaxation, his eyelids fluttering and nose twitching as he undoubtedly drifted through a world of rat dreams. Witnessing his unburdened repose, a symbol of his absolute trust in those around him, provided a much-needed sense of joy and peace during a period of global uncertainty.
This image originates from a series capturing baby Brinley shortly after his adoption, alongside his brother, Moffett. Both were known for their peculiar habit of sleeping on their backs, a trait I’ve often documented in past writings. This particular photograph, a recurring image on my personal device’s home screen, is a testament to their endearing sleeping posture. The irony, of course, is that while capturing these "wiggle-monsters" asleep is relatively straightforward, the moment one attempts to stage a photograph for a magazine cover, they invariably transform into wide-awake and uncooperative subjects.
When "sleeping rats" was designated as the theme for the May 2012 issue of IARW, I opted to feature my senior rat, Brockton, rather than one of my younger companions. A soft blanket was strategically placed to conceal his arthritic legs and thinning fur, allowing the focus to remain on his serene repose. The photoshoot, conducted on my bed, required minimal effort to induce sleep in this precious elder statesman. This photograph has since become one of my most cherished portraits of Brockton. It serves as a poignant reminder of the paradox often encountered in pet photography: when one desires their subjects to be alert and energetic, they are most likely to choose that moment for a nap.
In this image, the young rat Castiel discovered the plush pink feathers, intended for a Valentine’s Day photoshoot, to be an irresistible napping spot. While I considered using this photograph for the February 2016 cover, I ultimately selected an image of his brothers, Winchester and Crowley, for the publication. A video capturing all three boys nestled within the feathers was also shared on social media.
Rat Dress-Up: A Creative Exploration of Style and Personality
Many of the covers for "It’s a Rat’s World" featured rats adorned in costumes, a creative challenge that necessitated considerable ingenuity. This often involved intricate hand-sewing of felt creations, complete with carefully crafted openings, or ingeniously repurposing existing items. The following images represent a small selection of the non-holiday themed photographs showcasing my rats engaging in the whimsical world of "dress-up."
In December 2015, a surge of anticipation swept through popular culture with the release of the first installment of the final "Star Wars" film saga, concluding a three-decade narrative arc.
My own enthusiasm for the franchise led me to dedicate the January 2016 issue of IARW to the "Star Wars" universe, culminating in a thematic cover. The hairless breed of rats, with their distinctive features, often evoked a resemblance to the iconic character Yoda. Fortuitously, I had two such rats at the time. I quickly fashioned a camel-colored cloak for my rat, Sterling, and incorporated several Yoda figures from my son’s "Star Wars" collection into the scene. A closer examination of the photograph reveals that even my son’s bedding and headboard, which I designed myself, were subtly "Star Wars" themed, underscoring the immersive nature of this particular project.
Years prior, I discovered a diminutive, rat-sized snowman plushie complete with a striped knit hat and matching scarf. This discovery sparked an immediate creative idea. Carefully extracting the winter accessories without causing damage, I attached a thin elastic strap to the hat, transforming it into a functional chin strap for a rat costume. This ensemble was subsequently worn by numerous rats for photographic sessions. My rat, Crowley (Castiel’s brother), a natural model, donned this attire for the January 2018 cover, a testament to his consistent presence and appeal in my photographic endeavors.
Crowley reappears here, embodying a Scotsman for the October 2017 cover. During a family trip to Scotland earlier that year, a visit to Stirling Castle presented a unique opportunity. A bottle of whisky liqueur was adorned with a miniature, rat-sized tam o’ shanter crafted from our family’s tartan. This inspired me to recreate the look upon my return. I meticulously stitched an elastic strap to the tam and sourced flannel with a similar tartan pattern to fashion a matching kilt and even a set of non-functional, rat-sized bagpipes. Crowley’s willingness to pose for this elaborate costume certainly contributed to the cover’s success.
My sewing capabilities are modest, prompting me to commission Natasha Matherly, a long-time columnist for IARW, to create an artist’s smock and beret for the September 2012 cover. While the attire was expertly crafted, I personally painted the small, Picasso-esque rat portrait that accompanied the subject, affectionately dubbed "Pablo Racasso" (whose real name was Wolfgang).
Holidays with Rats: Festive Fêtes Captured on Film
The creation of holiday-themed covers for "It’s a Rat’s World" presented a recurring challenge: to consistently generate fresh concepts and distinct color palettes year after year. The pursuit of originality was paramount, ensuring each festive issue felt unique and visually engaging.
Wolfgang, much like Crowley, proved to be an exceptionally photogenic subject, embodying the perfect pose for the February 2013 cover. This image ranks among my top ten favorite photographs of all my rats. A fascinating detail is that the very same pink feathers that cradled Wolfgang for this Valentine’s Day shoot later became Castiel’s chosen napping spot three years later.
Choosing a single favorite Easter photograph is a daunting task, given the wealth of delightful images. Ultimately, my husband selected this particular shot of Custer (Preacher’s brother), portraying him as the Easter Ratty for the April 2019 issue. The bunny ears, which have since graced several covers, were a handmade creation.
This Halloween photograph of Sirius perfectly captured the vision I had for the October 2014 cover. Sirius, another natural model, contributed significantly to the success of this image. Several interesting facts surround this particular photograph:
- The candy corn hat was a personal creation, and a how-to guide for its construction was featured in the October 2017 issue of IARW.
- In 2015, an illustration of this image was posted on Instagram. In 2024, a follower commissioned a remarkably accurate, large-scale tattoo of this illustration on her thigh. This has led to an ongoing online friendship with the tattoo artist.
- Despite the abundance of candy corn, Sirius was not permitted to consume the majority of it, nor was he allowed to finish the single piece he was pictured nibbling.
One might assume the top hat worn by Winchester (brother to Crowley and Castiel) was specifically made to match the wicker hat prop he is seated in. However, this is not the case. I discovered the wicker hat, exactly as depicted, in 2016 and utilized it for the December cover. The hat itself, however, was crafted nine years prior for my beloved rat, Delphiniums Blue, whose photograph graced the December 2008 cover. The serendipitous discovery of the wicker hat immediately suggested its suitability for a future cover.
These final two Christmas images represent my personal favorites among all the holiday covers produced for the magazine. Seeking to move beyond the traditional red and green palette for December issues, I opted for a softer, more pastel aesthetic, reflecting my fondness for the color pink.
The concept for the December 2018 cover emerged after I found a glass ornament large enough to comfortably accommodate a rat. The resulting photograph of Preacher is particularly striking, as he appears almost more like a plush toy than a living creature. This visual illusion even led some online observers to question his reality.
The final Christmas cover for IARW, published in December 2019, predated the magazine’s cessation in July 2020. The vision was to create a confectionary, pastel-hued wonderland. After meticulously arranging each prop on the set, which remains in storage, I used it to photograph the young rats I had adopted a month prior. This particular set seemed to imbue the photoshoot with a sense of magic, as nearly every captured image proved usable—a rare occurrence. The selection of which of the four brothers would be featured was a difficult decision, ultimately bestowing the coveted spot upon my timid young rat, Gatwick.
This journey through my rat photography archives has been a deeply personal one, offering a chance to revisit cherished memories and share some of my most treasured images. Many of these photographs are also available on merchandise in my Zazzle shop, serving as a lasting tribute to the remarkable creatures that have brought so much joy and inspiration to my life.
