A little reason to celebrate
National Ratcatcher's Day
History ยท July 22
A look at ratcatchers, the people who kept rats out of homes, ships and granaries, and the old Pied Piper tale often linked to their trade.
National Ratcatcher's Day falls on Thursday, July 22, 2027. That is 268 days away.
Before traps came in plastic and pest control came in a van, rats were handled by ratcatchers. They were hired to clear rats from houses, shops, barns, ships and grain stores, where the animals spoiled food and chewed through whatever they could reach.
The work was practical and often grubby. Ratcatchers used traps, poisons and sometimes trained dogs, especially terriers, which were bred to be quick and fearless around small animals. In busy old cities a good ratcatcher could be a familiar figure, known by his tools and his dogs.
The trade also shows up in folklore. The best known example is the Pied Piper of Hamelin, a ratcatcher who leads the town's rats away with his pipe. The town then refuses to pay him, and in revenge he plays again and leads the children away too. It is a strange, dark story, and the town's refusal to pay him ended badly for everyone involved.
Marking the day mostly means looking back. People reread the Pied Piper story, look up old illustrations of ratcatchers with their cages and dogs, or think about how much daily life once depended on keeping grain safe. Some take the chance to check their own homes for gaps where mice or rats might squeeze in.
The modern version of the job still exists. It just tends to be called pest control now, and it usually arrives without a pipe.
Ways to celebrate
- Read or retell the Pied Piper of Hamelin tale.
- Look for old illustrations or photographs of ratcatchers at work.
- Learn about terrier breeds originally kept for catching rats.
- Check your home for small gaps where rodents could get in.
- Thank a pest control worker you know for an unglamorous job.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, July 22 |
| 2027 | Thursday, July 22 |
| 2028 | Saturday, July 22 |
| 2029 | Sunday, July 22 |
| 2030 | Monday, July 22 |
Also on July 22
Categories: History days