I do get rat problems because of the chickens and guinea pigs, and next doors horses but it is worse in the winter, at the mo I think they are in the fields.
I did come down stairs the other morning to find two almost half grown rats laid out neatly on my door mat! (i do love my cat!!!)

when I first moved into my house I had mucky neighbours, and the rat problem was so bad I had to call in the council. The rat man said that it was the worst infestation for the size of propety, he had seen in 30 years doing the job. I was strangly proud of this fact. Then I got the mad cat and he sorted them and the rabbits out.

I do worry about putting down poison and only do it with proper bait boxes, but have had no luck using traps.
Good luck