Trish Brown writes:
No, they don't! Rats keep their babies in a nest and when the kittens
are ready to go a-foraging, they go independently of Mum.

What you saw might have been a marsupial something-or-other? Small
Ring-Tail Possum? Bandicoot? Marsupial Rat? Antechinus or Dunnart or one
of those little fellows? How exciting! *Do* try and get another look
(and a pic, if you can)!

Thanks for the reply, Trish.

This was not a ring tail nor a native water rat, as both of those have
a white tip to their tail, and this one did not.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)