We've used traps along top rail of wood fence, which rats seem to use as a 'highway'. Also put tins with peanut butter laced with rat poison in the same areas. We put these out at night and don't let the dogs out until we've taken a tour of the poison/trap sites to remove anything harmful to our dogs. Our neighbors on both sides have 'rat-heaven' yards, so this is an on-going battle.

I'd get a new cat and fire the old one. It's not doing it's job.

borderbarb, Thanks for the peanutbutter tip. We may need to do that, keeping the cat in for a few days. My house backs up to a slope that is usually overgrown with brush. The area was just cleared, so I'm thinking that there will be more and more creatures wanting to take up residence in my garden. :[

taz6122, LOL! I've already said that to my husband. He didn't like the idea, since it's "his" cat (she only likes me when I feed her).

Here too! Someone was having my green pole beans as midnight snack for weeks. Until one morning I let the dogs out early (like 5AM). The criminal was caught red handed. I've been busy harvesting beans since the gopher met his calling. A few morning later, my old rescued lady terminated a small rat.

If your cat hasn't encounter the criminal, maybe her garden tour hour needs adjustment. Or maybe the rats are simply too big for your cat. Don't cats usually get mice, not rats?

You are right. Traps and poison are dangerous for cats. Someone mentioned to me to scatter used cat litter (with no solid) around and outside the garden, and into any gopher holes. I don't know if it's a myth or facts though. Especially rat can climb the fence and cat litter can't.

Poisons seem uncalled for...

Probably you can borrow/rent/buy a Havahart trap or two,
bait them with peanut butter (sandwiched between crackers, for neatness),
and carry the little beggars over to more suitable turf

See the traps below

Here is a link that might be useful: Rat Traps

My cat used to take down rats. She shook them and broke their necks. Are you rural? If you are there is nothing wrong with a .410 shotgun and you know how to safely use it. If you aren't rat terriers are the next best thing. LOL.

bluebirdie, my cat is the biggest fraidy-cat there ever was. She's an older cat, skittish, and also is pretty small. I'm unsure that she could take down a rat. She has no litterbox, per se. Instead, it's an outdoor sandbox for her use only. I don't know if the sand would repel the rats, but I might try it anyway.

caroliniaannjer, I do own a Havahart trap for raccoons. I wonder if that model will also work for rats.

calliope, Unfortunately, we are not rural at all. We are in a typical, Southern California neighborhood (houses close together) in a foothill/canyon setting. Canyon area is on the farthest side of the neighborhood from me, so we do not see wildlife beyond small animals. No deer, etc. I do have a pellet gun, but I'm not sure I could train it on a fast-moving rat.

http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/

I think this place has better traps than the Havahart traps and at lower prices. Very professional.

Spend some time going over them or talking to them and find what will work best for you. The havahart system of two openings that go down at an angle make for a smaller trap than the size indicates. Better is one door opening and the opposite door opens for baiting. my problem is usually ground hogs and racoons. But a smaller type should work well on rats and squirrels.

good luck.

No way will anything keep them away. You have to trap them out. Then dump the trap into water and drown them. A 30 gallon rubber maid trash barrel full of water should do the trick. Do not relocate rats around the state. That is not acceptable.

Once you decide on the trap you want then you can search the internet for the best price. This place had the best prices for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: traps

It is most likely illegal to relocate rats where you live.

Used cat litter can carry diseases that can affect cats and people, it should never be used in the garden around edible plants.

I once had a family of rats in a pile of rotting "stuff". I set a rat trap under a box with a fairly small hole in one side...put a brick on top to keep it from moving.

I again noticed a very large garter snake in my potato patch...likely more than a match for a rat!

Set a trap for them and once in the trap, kill them with rat poisoned water or food. No other animal can get the food and be harmed. If not, sorry for the squeamish, shoot it with a pellet gun, bb gun, what ever they call it these days.

That's your best bet with less trouble and I guess you can burn the remains, wet down the ashes with water, throw them in the trash.

Wayne_5 is right!
The ideal solution is to attract a garden snake to your garden

That's how I used to do it when we were in the community garden
We used to deliberately choose mulch that's cushy for snakes

Once they're in residence, the rodents all disappear
...Even the big ones, since their babies are no longer safe in their nest
:-)

I've caught numerous rats and mice in a large Havahart trap designed for raccoons. Since you already own one, you could block part of the entrance to ensure that your cat doesn't wander inside while its set.