"Stan The Man" wrote ...
...or if not, what other creature might be responsible for the
disembowelled rat next to my compost heap? Actually, it was only
slightly disembowelled so maybe my welcome predator changed its mind on
tasting it...... TIA.

Cat most likely. We get rats in all states of dismemberment on our allotment
and I am certain it is at least one of the cats in the Swan Sanctuary next
door, they have about 27 cats. A fox would tend to eat his kill but these
cats are well fed and leave the carcase for the crows.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London