There is no problem for me in caring for all God's creatures and having to get rid of a rat in the kitchen.

Once the place smells of rat - or mouse - the problem gets harder as others will detect it and follow the trail of the first ones. Even if you block up the holes they will try to get in by gnawing, and they are persistent and determined. They also do so much damage. Over the years mice have destroyed things I valued, and there is still mousy odour in places which I find sickening. It will only go if the furniture and carpets are stripped out - and that would be very expensive.

Years ago now my first husband thought we had mice and put down food for them, which caused an argument - and then I found a rat in the food cupboard. I went ballistic.

Here in the UK the council will come and get rid of rats, as there are laws which insist on them being dealt with.

You can't keep a place 'clean' when there is something running around on the works surfaces, over anything left out, contaminating the entire room - anything it touches which you then use or eat could result in you becoming seriously ill. You'd need to sterilise everything and anything using hydrogen peroxide - bleach is not going to kill everything.