In article .net, "Me
too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

Are you sure it's a rat and not an opossum? Opossums have razor-sharp
teeth, and they could do a lot of damage to your cats. A rat could also
bit your cats and give them fleas, lice, etc.

Assuming that you live in North America, it's probably time to take in
the bird feeders for the season. If the creature's easy dinner is gone,
he'll go somewhere else.