My husband and I live in Banbury, Oxfordshire. I started keeping rats in 1996 after years of begging my parents to let me have some. My mum wasn't really keen and there were strict rules as to where the rats were allow to go. I got 2 boys, a black hooded called Sylvester and a blacked capped called Lucky.

Not long after I got the 2 boys I ended up with 2 girls and 2 more boys which I took in after people had given up on them. I learnt so much about these wonderful little furries that I have been keeping them for over 10 years now.

I am a member of the National Fancy Rat Society (NFRS), Yorkshire Rat Club (YRC) and Midlands rat Club (MRC). RCT is a registered Stud name with NFRS and RCT is the name used to identify rats bred by me. The initials RCT have come from a nickname which was give to me 15 years ago and it stands for "RollerCoasterTigger"!

I am now a NFRS Show Judge after passing my judging assessment at the NFRS Theale Show, October 2011

I have chosen to breed British Blue, Mink and Black as they are my favourites. I will be breeding for well tempered and healthy rats, first and foremost and colour 2nd. I may have kittens available on occasions to loving homes.

I AM NOT A PET SHOP AND DO NOT HAVE RAT KITTENS AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME. YOU MAY HAVE TO TO WAIT BEFORE BEING OFFERED KITTENS!

I am currently breeding for:
* Mink and Black Variegated and Blazed Berkshires (Badgers)
It is possible that I will get the following from these lines:
Colours - Agouti, Topaz, British Blue, Cinnamon, British Blue Agouti, Dark Phase Pearl
Markings: Capped, Berkshires, Hooded
Smooth coated only. Top-eared and occasional Dumbo.

* British Blue and Black Selfs
It is possible that I will get the following from these lines:
Colours - Agouti, British Blue Agouti, Russian Blue, Burmese, Russian Silver
Smooth & Rex coat. Top-eared and Dumbo.

Breeders who are breeding for British Blue and British Blue Agouti selfs (top-eared only):
Aquaruis Rattery Stroud, Gloucestershire
Luxus Rattery, Fareham, Hampshire
Ionian Rattery, Herford, Hertfordshire
Serenity Rats, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Elkwood Rattery, Kent, South-East England

Information about the varieties I am breeding for can be found here

Why Breed?
I will put my hand up and say that I use to buy my rats from pet shops. I never realised that breeders existed until I joined rat clubs in 2006. Most of the rats I have from pet shops either died very young (under 9 months) or ended up with tumors around 18 months old and had to put to sleep. It was very distressing to me and now I know better. This doesn't include a number which had nasty respiratory infections and those with aggression issues!

To me, that is my aim, to produce healthy and long-lived rats who have fantastic temperments which will make people fall in love with them.

I would like to thank Estelle of Alpha Centauri for the guidence she as given me over the past few months to assist with my breeding plans. I would also like to thank Lisa of Halcyon Stud, Ann of Rivendell stud and Jenna of Hakuna Matata Stud for providing me with rats to start my lines.