American Toby Jug Museum 

Rat Catcher character jug produced by J. Fryer Limited of Tunstall, England, circa 1970 using its Oldcourt Ware tradename. In Victorian London, rat catchers used various methods to capture and exterminate rats, including traps.
Two of the most common types of rat traps used during this period were cage traps and snap traps. These traps were designed to catch rats alive or kill them instantly. The government paid people to deal with rat infestations. Every rat caught would earn people a little extra cash. If someone could catch more than 5,000 in a year they'd earn special privileges. A rat on a branch forms the handle of this jug.