The Rat Palace Photo Gallery
Here we are, the occupants of the Rat Palace past and present, and some of our friends and relations.
Ghosts of ratties past...
Basil
a.k.a. Basil the Rat, Bazza or Baz, inspired by that episode of 'Fawlty Towers'. He was born in late May 1995 and died from the dreaded Respiratory Disease in mid-August 1997. A topaz hooded, he was the Rat Palace original and a complete star of a rat. His favourite pastime was sticking his nose up our human's nostrils and fishing around for tasty snacks - what a guy!
Frankie
a.k.a. Frankie Mouse after one of the white mice that run the Earth in 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (he looked like a little white mouse when he came to the Rat Palace, in case you were wondering) or Psycho Frankie of Old London Town becuase he was a bit of a nutter. He was born in mid-August 1995 and died from a stroke on 5 February 1998. Frankie was a snubby-nosed Himalayan and had difficulties settling with other rats. He always gave Basil a hard time, even though he was supposed to be his friend, but we still miss the miserable old toerat.
Alfie
Alfie was born in late May 1997 and died on 23 August 1999. He was a fine Siamese rat and got second prize in the Siamese class at a rat show in 1997. He was also known as Alfie Alpha Rat because he was the boss in the Rat Palace and had to keep it tidy because we're such slobs. The second picture is Alfie doing what he liked best - having a good old scratch!
Max
This was Max. He was born in late May 1997 too and was a very handsome black Berkshire boy. He faded away from old age at the ripe old age of 31 months on 18 December 1999. His full name was Sir Maximillian, Knight of the Rat Realm, because he had long boots and gauntlets, a big cross on his tummy and a goatee beard and moustache, and he liked to crusade around the living room routing the infidels from the bookshelves. Mum called him Mad Max because he was in his younger days, but mostly he was called Daddy Max because he was the father of 11 babies. You can see some of them by clicking here and there are pictures of his son, George, below. Our human has written a story all about his romance with George's Mum, Ethelyn, we're ashamed to say. There are incriminating photos too! Max was Pet of the Day on Sunday 18 October 1998. See his entry! Not only that, but Max and our human friend got to meet Rolf Harris when they appeared on 'Rolf's Amazing World of Animals' in 1998!!
Eric
This was Eric. His brother Errol was going to be living here instead of him but a rather horrible thing happened to him. They were both born on 3 February 1998. He used to be called Eric Concorde-Nose and if you click here, you'll see why! He was also called Gay Hairdresser Rat and we'll leave it to your imagination as to why. His proper name was Blackstaff Eric because, unlike those plebs Alfie and Max, he had a pedigree. And he got two Firsts in rat shows AND a lovely rosette for being Best Black-eyed White. He also had a successful modelling career with his photo appearing in 'You and Your Vet', 'Pet World' magazine and on a Supreme Pet Foods poster advertising Reggie rat food. Rat Palace Pink sets off his ears beautifully, don't you think?
George
The first picture is George when he was only 10 days old. Wasn't he cute? His proper name was Blackstaff George and he was born on 23 April 1998, which is St George's Day in England. Max was his Dad and his Mum was Ethelyn. You can read about the night that him and his brothers and sisters were conceived here. You can see a picture of some of his special spotty brothers and sisters here. He never went to a show but if he had he'd have gone in the pet class because he wasn't really a Berkshire like Dad or a badger like Mum, but somewhere in between.
Aubrey
This is Blackstaff Aubrey McRat, Psycho Monster, Aubster or Aubby, depending on how he behaved. Sewer rat-coloured Berkshire, he is the last denizen of the Rat Palace. Born on 27th November 1999, the same day of the year as our human's friend, he was named after that friend's grandfather.
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