The Rat and other critters

My last column was about mice and unwanted critters that can creep into old, country homes. People sometimes tell us the “Rat” in our Ranch Tails comic strips is their favorite cartoon character. Really a mouse, he materialized as if by magic years ago when I thought he’d be a good addition to our mental menagerie. Zack thinks he suggested it. I won’t split hairs. Over the years, like most…