@wizardmanperson @HatkeshiatorTND @CapitalB @histoire3 it's a wordplay using irregular plural forms in german. it works with either the advice or household goods meaning of "Rat".
"Rat" is always plural if it's used for household goods as it's uncountable, like garbage or trash.
"Rat" for advice is shortened "Ratschlag", the plural form would be "Ratschläge".
when bad times ("schlechte Zeiten", can be shortened to just times, "Zeiten", in this context) arrive, so do the rats "Ratten".