We have seen that awful circuit many times. it has too many voltage losses to produce a high voltage.
1) The output swing of the 555 with the 6V supply is only 2V p-p.
2) The emitter-follower transistors reduce their output swing to less than 1V p-p.
3) The inductor reduces the output swing to almost nothing into the transformer.
You said the word, "prey". Do you electrocute then eat rats in your country?
Here in Canada I have never seen a rat. People have cats and dogs. Squirrels, rabbits and occasionally a racoon or deer are running around but we don't electrocute them.