slang definition for describing someone of Asian descent. Most likely from their love of everything that has to do with cats, the mild resemblance and the mere fact that they're covered in skin.
One who burrows through the discarded debris in a skip, looking for items which may still be of value and/or useful to said skiprat. Much like a modern day Womble. Needless to say, such activity is viewed as "a bit pikey" by the average man on the street, who prefers his kitchen sink to come from a more reputable source.
Janet: Bollocks, a load of stuffs fallen out...
John: yeah, a skiprat's been at it