[onychomys]

Empirical evidence shows that they're unbelievably terrible at killing rodents (...in at least one specific case): https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rats-and-cats

[carapace]

Cats catch mice. For rats you want a terrier.

[ljf]

Or a hungry cat that is used to catching prey. Our cat (on a small farm) used to bring in small rabbits to eat.