The vast digital archive of a dedicated pet owner often tells a unique story, one punctuated by countless images capturing the fleeting moments of their beloved companions. For Brandi Saxton, a former publisher and editor of the niche magazine "It’s A Rat’s World" (IARW), this narrative is overwhelmingly composed of photographs of her rats. With an estimated 11,288 photos of her rats currently stored on her phone, a number that excludes a significant portion of pre-2016 digital images and all pre-digital photographs, Saxton’s collection represents a profound dedication to documenting these often-misunderstood animals. This extensive visual record underscores the deep emotional connection many owners form with their pets, and for Saxton, it also served as a professional necessity during her 13-year tenure as the helm of IARW.
The Genesis of "It’s A Rat’s World" and its Photographic Legacy
Founded with the intent to celebrate and inform rat enthusiasts, "It’s A Rat’s World" magazine was a labor of love that required a constant influx of high-quality imagery. Photography was not merely an ancillary component of the publication; it was fundamental to its appeal and informational value. Each issue relied on visuals to accompany articles, grace the cover, and populate the magazine’s social media channels, including its Instagram page.
A distinctive feature that emerged early in IARW’s publication history was the introduction of monthly themes for the cover image and "The PapRATzi Page(s)," a dedicated section for reader-submitted photographs. These themes ranged from seasonal holidays to more accessible everyday activities. Saxton strategically chose themes like grooming, sleeping, and eating, which were relatively easy for rat owners to capture. Other popular themes included yawning, showcasing rat tails, and depicting rats interacting with their human companions, children, and even other pets. This approach not only fostered reader engagement but also encouraged a deeper observation of rat behavior and personalities.
Saxton readily admits that her initial forays into photography were amateurish. However, over the thirteen years of IARW’s publication, her skills, and those of her contributors, demonstrably improved. The magazine’s covers, in particular, became a showcase for creative and engaging portrayals of rats, a testament to Saxton’s vision and dedication. Reflecting on this period, Saxton expresses a sense of pride in the evolution of the magazine’s visual content, and she intends to share some of her favorite cover images and candid moments that could have graced the front page.
Capturing the Quiet Moments: The Art of Photographing Sleeping Rats
The inherent charm of rats is amplified when they are at rest. The author highlights "sleeping rats" as a particularly endearing subject, defining a curled-up, fast-asleep rat as the epitome of preciousness. This theme has been a recurring favorite, both for its visual appeal and the inherent difficulty in capturing such serene moments.
Preacher’s Birthday Nap: One poignant example is a candid shot of "Preacher," taken on Saxton’s birthday in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolated at home with her family, Saxton found solace in observing her rats. Preacher’s decision to nap belly-up, legs extended, with fluttering eyelids and a twitching nose, offered a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. This image, captured during a period of global uncertainty, serves as a powerful reminder of the comfort and connection that pets provide, embodying a sense of peace and trust in the midst of chaos. The visual of Preacher dreaming, free from worldly concerns, resonated deeply and provided much-needed emotional uplift.
Brinley’s Back-Sleeping Habit: The photograph of "Brinley," another rat known for his penchant for sleeping on his back, illustrates a peculiar and endearing behavior often documented in IARW articles. Saxton notes that while capturing these "wiggle-monsters" asleep was usually straightforward, attempting to photograph them in this state for a cover shoot invariably resulted in them becoming wide awake and uncooperative. This highlights the unpredictable nature of animal photography, where the desire to capture a perfect shot can often disrupt the very behavior being sought.
Brockton’s Senior Slumber: For the May 2012 issue of IARW, the theme was "sleeping rats." Instead of using a younger rat, Saxton chose "Brockton," a senior rat, for the cover. A soft blanket was used to artfully conceal his arthritic legs and thinning fur, allowing the focus to remain on his peaceful repose. The photo shoot took place on Saxton’s bed, a setting conducive to lulling the elderly rat to sleep. This image has become a personal favorite, embodying the gentle dignity of an aging pet. The author wryly observes that when one desires an energetic and alert rat for a photograph, they are most likely to choose that moment for a nap, a common frustration for pet photographers.
Castiel’s Feathered Dream: The image of "Castiel," a young rat, nestled amongst soft pink feathers, exemplifies an accidental yet captivating moment. Castiel found the Valentine’s Day-themed feathers so comfortable that he succumbed to sleep. While Saxton considered this photo for the February 2016 cover, she ultimately opted for an image of Castiel’s brothers, Winchester and Crowley. A video shared on Instagram later captured all three rats enjoying the feathery nest, further showcasing their playful and comfortable interactions with their environment.
The Creative Endeavor of Rat Dress-Up
Beyond capturing natural behaviors, a significant aspect of IARW’s visual content involved dressing rats in costumes. This creative endeavor pushed Saxton to innovate, often involving meticulous hand-sewing of felt costumes or repurposing everyday items. These "dress-up" photoshoots, excluding holiday-themed images, provided a rich tapestry of playful and imaginative portrayals.
A Star Wars Saga: The release of the final "Star Wars" film in December 2015 generated considerable excitement, inspiring Saxton to dedicate the January 2016 issue of IARW to the franchise. Hairless rats, with their unique appearance, were deemed reminiscent of the character Yoda. Saxton crafted a camel-colored cloak for "Sterling," a hairless rat, and incorporated Yoda figures from her son’s toy collection. The accompanying backdrop and even her son’s bedding and headboard were also "Star Wars"-themed, creating an immersive cinematic experience for the cover.
Winter Wonderland Wear: The image of "Crowley," Castiel’s brother, sporting a knitted hat and scarf, stemmed from a small, rat-sized snowman plushie. Saxton ingeniously repurposed the snowman’s winter attire, adding an elastic chin strap to the hat and creating a matching scarf. This ensemble became a popular choice for various photoshoots, with Crowley modeling it for the January 2018 cover. His natural modeling talent led to his frequent appearance on IARW covers.
A Scottish Sojourn: Crowley donned another memorable costume for the October 2017 cover, portraying a Scotsman. During a family trip to Scotland, Saxton acquired a small, rat-sized tam o’ shanter from a whisky liqueur bottle at Stirling Castle. Inspired, she created a matching kilt and even non-functional, miniature bagpipes from flannel fabric, perfectly capturing a Scottish theme.
Artistic Flair with Wolfgang: For the September 2012 cover, Saxton collaborated with Natasha Matherly, a regular columnist for IARW, to create an artist’s smock and beret for "Wolfgang," affectionately nicknamed "Pablo Racasso." Saxton herself painted a miniature Picasso-esque rat-themed artwork to complement the costume, showcasing a blend of artistic collaboration and creative vision.
Celebrating the Calendar: Holidays with Rats
The challenge of consistently producing fresh and engaging holiday-themed covers for IARW was met with ingenuity and a deep understanding of seasonal motifs. Saxton expresses particular pride in these covers, acknowledging the difficulty in reinventing concepts and color palettes year after year.
Wolfgang’s Valentine’s Day Charm: "Wolfgang" also proved to be a star for the February 2013 cover, perfectly embodying the Valentine’s Day theme. His pose amidst pink feathers, the same used for Castiel three years later, highlights the resourceful reuse of props. This photograph remains one of Saxton’s top ten favorite images of all her rats.
Custer’s Easter Ensemble: The April 2019 cover featured "Custer," Preacher’s brother, as the "Easter Ratty." Saxton hand-crafted the bunny ears, which were later used on several other covers. This image, chosen by her husband, captures the playful spirit of the holiday.
Sirius’s Halloween Spectacle: The October 2014 Halloween cover, featuring "Sirius," was executed precisely as Saxton had envisioned. Sirius’s calm demeanor made him an ideal model for the concept, which included a meticulously crafted candy corn hat. This image later inspired an illustration and, remarkably, a large thigh tattoo commissioned by a follower in 2024, forging an online connection between Saxton and the tattoo artist. It is noted that Sirius was not permitted to consume the candy corn prop.
Winchester’s Christmas Elegance: For the December 2016 cover, Saxton utilized a serendipitously discovered wicker hat prop. She had previously crafted a matching hat nine years earlier for her "heart rat" Delphiniums Blue, whose picture graced the December 2008 cover. The discovery of the wicker hat presented an ideal opportunity for a cover feature. The author expresses a preference for softer palettes and the color pink for Christmas covers, moving away from traditional red and green.
Preacher’s Ornamental Pose: The December 2018 cover featured "Preacher" nestled within a large glass ornament, surrounded by other decorative baubles. Saxton’s intention was to create a visually striking image, and the result was so lifelike that online viewers questioned if Preacher was indeed real.
Gatwick’s Pastel Wonderland: The final Christmas cover for IARW in December 2019, before the magazine ceased publication in July 2020, depicted "Gatwick," a nervous baby rat, in a "sugary, pastel wonderland" setting. This meticulously arranged set, still in Saxton’s storage, resulted in an unusually high number of usable photos, making the selection of Gatwick for the coveted cover spot a challenging but ultimately rewarding decision.
Saxton concludes by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share these cherished memories and photographs. Many of these images are also available on merchandise in her Zazzle shop, "It’s A Rat’s World," allowing others to connect with the charm and personality of these remarkable companion animals. The extensive collection of photographs serves not only as a personal archive of beloved pets but also as a historical record of a niche publication that championed the often-overlooked world of pet rats.
