Mr Ratty comes for breakfast

Breakfast time

We have a cheeky little rat who visits our garden (see photos). Unlike the mutant thing that eventually drowned in the kitchen drain a few years back - he was HUGE and made me feel physically sick, this little chap is healthy and, dare I say, cute!

Our next door neighbour, who hates anything not human, found rat droppings in her understairs cupboard and called in the Council who put down poison. I thought that might be the demise of ratty but no he's around and looking good. Perhaps next door isn't his dwelling place.

We've had mice scuttling around the patio for years. They are much harder to photograph. They also got into the house, the kitchen, and we put down humane traps. When I went to bed I heard the bang of the lid going down. I went down to investigate and tip it out of the trap into a pet carrier I've used when taking hamsters and guinea pigs to the vet. I even left it some food! The next morning there were two more in the trap (they are partial to peanut butter!). I let them all go on some nearby scrub land. Hubby found the hole where they were coming in and sealed it and we've had no more problems.

So while Mr Ratty, who I have named spot owing to the pink spot on his grey tail (yes, I know I'm mad) stays outside he is safe from me. My neighbour meanwhile has a thing about the foxes who like her garden. Guess what, I love the foxes too and one year they brought all their cubs into our garden and one of the adults used to sun itself on our lawn. Wildlife....I love it!

If I can just get that little bit there