The original Beagle Boy comics were the basis for this fic, particularly "The Sofa Saga", illustrated by Tom McKimson, and "A Very Special Cat", illustrated by Jack Manning. Ratty is the pet cat of the Beagle Boys in the original comics, but I thought it'd be fun to see the Ducktales Boys with a pet too.

A few quotes are taken directly, or at least inspired by, these two comics.

Kind of short and rushed but hopefully decent. The cat will probably show up again in later stories.

A Street Cat Named Ratty

Tick, tick, tick... Baggy sat at the kitchen table, with his head buried in his hands, listening to the sound of the clock and the rain outside. Why couldn't he get to sleep? He was deadbeat tired, sure enough. But he just couldn't keep his eyes closed.

He tapped his finger distractedly on the table, thinking deep Baggy thoughts; like how on Earth did "Keep Off Of Grass" signs get onto the grass?

Suddenly Burger came waddling in, the floor creaking loudly with every step he took.

"D'uh…you can't sleep either?" Baggy guessed. He was glad for some company.

Burger giggled. "Nah! I always come down for my thirty-minutes-after-midnight snack!" The hefty Beagle Boy started rummaging noisily in the depths of the refrigerator.

"I'm makin' a sandwich with all the fixin's," Burger said, grabbing a handful of items. "Uh...'dis donut, some smoked fish… mashed potaters…and chunky peanut butter. You wan' some?"

Baggy's stomach turned. "Euh, I'm good."

"More for me!" Burger grinned, slathering his work with a finishing layer of cream cheese and taking a chomp.

"MREOW!" A screeching sound followed by a crash from outside made both Beagles jump right out of their skins.

"Wh-what was that?!" Baggy cried.

"Uh, you go an' see," Burger said nervously. "I'll hold down da fort."

Grabbing a flashlight and umbrella, Baggy stepped outside of their crumbling, three-floor hideout and into the pouring rain. He whipped the light around. What if it was those dastardly Beagle Boys he'd heard about on the radio? …Oh, wait.

"Merp!"

Baggy's light went down to his feet. One of the garbage cans had toppled over, and standing right beside it was a scrawny and wet little grey alley cat.

Baggy's look of terror flipped into a smile.

"Oh, ah, hi there!" Baggy said, kneeling down and holding the umbrella over the cat. His back arched and he made a hissing sound.

"Aw, I ain't gonna hurt you," Baggy said, reaching out slowly. "What's yer name? I'm Baggy."

After a few minutes, the cat finally reached out and let Baggy touch him.

"Merp!"

Baggy, who was meanwhile getting soaked, grinned and picked him up in his arms.

Baggy brought him into the house and started drying him off with a towel while Burger watched with bulging eyes.

"Aww, 'dats better, ain't it?" Baggy said.

The cat's eyes closed and he started purring.

"What's it doing?!" Burger asked.

Baggy frowned. "D'eh, I think he's broken." He reached into the fridge and pulled out a leftover piece of fish. The cat mrrowled and gobbled it up hungrily.

"What's all the commotion about?!" a cranky voice suddenly shouted. BigTime stomped in, his sleeping mask pulled over his head.

Then he saw their guest.

"What's that ratty, mangy thing doin' here?!" BigTime shouted, sniffling and rubbing his nose.

The cat hissed.

"Aw, well, first, it was rainin'…" Baggy explained. "And then, uh, he musta been playin' in the trash…!"

BigTime let out an explosive sneeze. "Get it outta here! I'm allergic!"

Baggy smiled. "Aw, you're a lotta things, BigTime, but you're not a lergic!"

BigTime's groaned. "Do you ever think before you speak?"

"I can't. It happens to fast." Baggy shrugged.

Meanwhile, the cat had sauntered into the living room, and jumped onto the sofa with a confidence only cats have.

Scrtch…scrtch…! He dug his claws into the fabric.

"Yahhh! No! Bug off, you fleabag!" BigTime ran in after the little beast, waving his arms and sniffling. "Baggy, yer nasty li'l friend is diggin' his claws into our life savings!"

"Aw, leave 'im alone!" Baggy cried desperately. "All 'dis upper class stuff must be confusin' to him!"

"Gotcha!" BigTime grabbed the cat by the scruff of the neck ("YEOWL!") and flung it ("REEOOOWR!") back out the door and into the pouring rain. He quickly slammed the door behind it and turned on his brothers, eyes red and watery.

"I've got it bad enough takin' care of you two mugs! I don't need another goon to look after!" BigTime snapped, glaring at Baggy. "Especially some nasty, ratty alley cat!" With that, he wiped his nose and stomped back upstairs to try and catch a few more winks of sleep.

"Gee, sorry, Baggy," Burger said, finishing up his sandwich and giving him a sympathetic look. "I know 'zactly how it feels. BigTime wouldn't let me have 'dat huge honey-glazed ham I wanted at the market either."

"He's gonna get all rained on!" Baggy moaned sadly, looking out the boarded window into the darkness. "Poor kitty…all wet and cold and all alone…"

The cat sat sulking on the steps for a long time, wondering what he'd done wrong. It'd been so nice to be petted…to eat real food…to feel like he belonged somewhere.

Then that scruffy midget went and ruined everything. Hssss.

Suddenly his ears pricked up- there was someone out here with him!

"Is this the place?" said the cop, closing the door softly and looking at the building. "Whooo-eee! What a dump. This place oughta be condemned!"

"Yeah, well we've got to check it out first," said his partner, patting the gun in his holster. "According to the tip, there have been some strange noises and sightings…nothing specific."

"'Course not," the first cop said bitterly. "What can you expect of people livin' in this bum part of town?"

The two walked up the street and straight for the Beagle's hideout.

The cat's ears went back. He knew trouble when he saw it. Taking a deep breath, he leapt to the front steps and let out a shrieking yowl.

"MREEEEOOOOOOW!"

Back inside, Baggy had been dozing, and he woke up with a start.

"Kitty-?" he asked softly, opening the door just a smidge. The cat barreled into his arms.

"Hey!" Baggy was shocked for a moment, but he was happy to see his little friend again. "You gotta be quiet, or-"

Then he saw the headlights from the police cruiser some distance down the road. They were being raided!

Baggy grabbed up the cat by hit kitty armpits and sprinted to the bedroom where BigTime and Burger were sleeping. "Guys, guys, wake up!"

BigTime opened his eyes and let out a loud sneeze. "Now waddaya wan- oh, no!" He glared at the animal in Baggy's arms. "I thought I told ya to get rid of that thing!"

"Shhhhh!" Baggy said, dropping his friend to the floor with a thump. "It's da cops!"

BigTime and Burger froze.

"Shoooot," BigTime breathed, silently stepping to the boarded window and peering through the boards. Sure enough, there was a baconmobile parked right out there.

"Wh-what do we do?" Burger whimpered.

"Quick, get to the basement," BigTime instructed. "We can escape through there!"

As quietly as they could, the three Beagle Boys raced down to the cellar door and stumbled down the dark basement stairs, closing the door behind them.

"Did you hear that?" asked the first cop as they approached the building. It had been a loud, creepy screeching noise, like a scream, and it had him uneasy.

"Just stay on your toes," his partner said. They reached the door and jiggled the handle. It swung right open and they gave each other a look.

They stepped into the dark house and one of them brought out a little flashlight, scanning the area.

Their faces twitched with disgust as they looked through the rooms. Thick layers of cobwebs, dust, and grime were on everything, and the walls were seeping with mold and stains. The few pieces of furniture were ragged and torn beyond any use…even the fridge was bashed in, and all that was left inside was a rotting piece of fish.

"Geez, what a dump!" the first cop repeated. "Nobody could live here."

"Yeah, but hold on…" the second cop walked towards the basement door thoughtfully.

"Merp!"

Both cops spun around, hands ready to grab their weapon. Then they relaxed.

"Oh, it's just some stray cat."

The cat stood on the kitchen counter, rubbing his head against a rusty toaster and purring.

Oops. The toaster fell to the floor with a smash and the cat looked at them innocently.

"Aw, hey there," the first cop walked over and stroked his head. "Was it you making that commotion this whole time, huh?"

"That's what it looks like. Looks like we solved our complaint," the second cop said, snapping his flashlight up. "Hey. Let's go. I need a coffee."

"Ahh, alright," his partner followed him and the two slammed the door, ready to start their next fuzz adventure.

After a few moments of standing with their ears to the door, the boys let out a sigh of relief. That'd been close. Too close!

"It's a good thing Ratty was there to warn us!" Baggy grinned.

BigTime frowned. "Ratty?"

"D'eh, you know…the cat! You called him 'ratty' …well, I guess it kinda fit!" Baggy looked quite proud of himself.

BigTime gnashed his teeth. "Yeah, well, whatever! Don't think I'm gonna forgive that furball for this, it was just a fluke!" He grabbed the doorknob and turned.

It held.

"Uh-oh."

"What? What?!" Burger yelled.

BigTime heaved a big sigh. "Well, er, it looks like we might be…locked in here."

Baggy's eyes widened. Burger started bawling. "We's gonna die in here!" He grabbed Baggy by the throat. "Stop breathin' my air!"

"Relax, numbskulls, we'll just use our original escape plan," BigTime said impatiently. "Lift me up and I'll crawl through the window to come back and unlock the door."

Baggy and Burger laced their fingers and gave BigTime a boost so he could scramble up to the tiny basement window. With a grunt, the short and chubby beagle opened it and started worming his way through.

"Unh! It's too tight!"

Baggy and Burger exchanged worried looks. If BigTime couldn't get out, then they certainly couldn't!

But after a moments of squirming BigTime finally pushed himself through the window and out onto the sidewalk, breathing hard and sore all over. Never again. He'd had a month's worth of a workout right there.

Panting, he ran back into the kitchen and started searching frantically for the basement key. Where did they put it? Where did they put it?!

"Mreow?"

He turned around. "Ah no! Keep away!" He covered his face as Ratty frolicked over. "Are you tryin' to make me miserab-?" He stopped himself before he could finish. There was something shiny in Ratty's mouth.

"Hey, that's our skeleton key!" BigTime said.

The cat dropped it at his feet and looked up at him with wide eyes.

BigTime looked at him for a minute, unsure, then reached down and took the key. "Uh…thanks."

With a rattle, he opened the basement door and Burger and Baggy burst out.

"Ah, da land of da livin'! Light! Fresh air!" Burger cried. "Gimme a burger, stat!"

"Guess your dumb cat really wanted to see you, Bags," BigTime said, stifling a sneeze.

"Ohh, uh, where is he?" Baggy asked, eager to give his furry friend a big hug.

Scrtch…scrtch…!

"No! He's scratchin' the stuffin' outta our sofa!" BigTime yelled.

"Wait!" Baggy suddenly held out his arm to stop his brother. "What's this wad of paper in the stuffing…?" He walked over and picked it up.

BigTime came over for a closer look and a huge grin spread on his face. "Well what do ya know! Looks like some previous owner hid his dough in here!" He started digging through the stuffing himself, laughing. "Boys! We hit the jackpot!"

"I think you mean Ratty's the jackpot!" Baggy said, giggling, and picking up his cat in his arms. "He's the one who found it all!"

"Yeah, well, I want you to keep him outta my way," BigTime said. Then he smiled. "But I guess he ain't so bad…for a ratty, mangy cat."