There are a number of good reputable rat clubs out there in the UK fancy scene.From the higher end parts of England to the southern areas too. The more regional focused clubs are the best ones to focus on due to them being much more relaxed and full of fun, events and of course plenty of rat talk. Each smaller club has its own core values and aims, and each one brings certain unique qualities to them as well. Here we take a closer look at each of them.
Midlands Rat Club
The Midlands rat club is, as its name suggests, a rat club which generally operates in the Midlands area. This is a very social, community driven club with much more of a family day out kind of feel to it. They aim to encourage good breeding practices as well as educating members to adopt high standards of rat care.
Join the MRC
Membership to the MRC will last for 1 year in total. When you join you get a member pack which will give you a current copy of the clubs magazine, 5 further copies of each bi-monthly edition as well as some exclusive club merchandise including key rings, badges and stickers. There is also a very active Facebook community page where members talk all things rat on a daily basis. To find out more head over to the MRC Membership page now.
Breeders List
The MRC has it’s own list of recommended breeders. These recommendations can come by either club members already on the list or by a home visit from a committee approved person. This is a great step in ensuring good ethical breeding standards are being upheld.
Shows and Show Gallery
The MRC meets every 2 months, usually the first Saturday or Sunday of the month so a total of 6 shows throughout the year. As well as a general varieties and pet show section the MRC also hold bonus fun games you can take part in with your rats such as the agility course and curiosity competitions. There is a great selection of photos you can view in the MRC Gallery which will show you the shows in their full glory.
Don’t forget to check out the MRC on social media too using the links below
North of England Rat Society
The NERS was set up in 2001 by a diverse group of ratters who saw the need for a club based in the North of England that was democratic and represented the interests of its membership.
The NERS has grown and developed since its conception in 2001 and is now an established, thriving club, which has the well-being of rats at the very centre of all that it undertakes.
To find out more about the history of NERS see the About the NERS page
Join the NERS
Membership to the NERS will last 1 year. This membership will get you copies of its quarterly magazine called Rattitude, you’ll gain access to the members forum and Facebook page and other small perks like votes at the annual AGM and reduced show rates. To find out more head over to the NFRS membership page now.
Longevity Scheme
One very unique feature with the NERS is their longevity scheme. This scheme rewards rats that live well beyond an average lifespan. They offer a range of rewards in an attempt to ensure that breeders and pet homes continue attempting to ‘raise the bar’ in terms of health and longevity, to the benefit of everyone in the fancy.
For more info on this take a look at the NERS Longevity Scheme
Don’t forget to check out the NERS on social media too using the links below
London and Southern Counties Mouse and Rat Club
Founded in 1916, the London & Southern Counties Mouse & Rat Club is the oldest area mouse and rat club in the UK. They meet most months for a show for both fancy mice and rats in Harlow, Essex. The club has a great and long history behind it. To find out more check out their History Page.
To become a member of the LSCMRC head over to the clubs E-Shop now
Keeping The Past Alive
One very cool feature of the LSCMRC is the Digital library they have online. The aim of this is to keep some of the rapidly disappearing articles of the last 100+ years still alive. There are loads of really interesting and old articles to look at. Some may be totally outdated by now but those of you interested in history will really enjoy looking through these articles of the past.
Modernising Rat Shows
It’s not just the past the club wants to focus on. Taking rat shows forward is also an aim by using modern technology to make shows more interactive and organised. Show tanks for example have QR codes on that bring up the standards of the variety being exhibited. Also, having achieved this before, they aim to do more “same day entries” for shows using up to date entry systems which can allow people to apply to show rats on the day of the show instead of a couple of days before like other clubs. Other things possibly introduced in the future will be judges using Ipads for judging instead of written sheets and exploring how AI could be incorporated into the shows. Exciting times ahead for the club and its members.
Don’t forget to check out the LSCMRC Website using the link below.
Peninsula Rat Club
“Previously the South West Rat Club we are now the Peninsular Rat Club. The SWRC had some great events, promoted rats as pets and put on some amazing shows however we feel to reinstate this community it needed a name change. Peninsular means a piece of land which juts out into the water – which is where we are based – the sticky out bit at the end of the country! We will predominately be being based in Devon and Cornwall.
We do and we aim to provide a community for all to share their love of these wonderful little critters. We also hope to promote good husbandry, breeding and adoption practices. Although based in Cornwall and Devon we welcome people from all over the country.”
Don’t forget to check out the Peninsula Rat Club Facebook Page now.
The National Fancy Rat Society is also another option as a club. You can find out more about this on their website.
The Rat Wiki 