But rats have become such a problem that it is claimed giant rodents are "running riot" in the leafy suburb of Boughton.
In January a terrier was mauled in a Chester family's back garden by a vicious giant rat, with other sightings of the huge creatures causing increasing alarm.
Now fed-up resident William Nield is petitioning Cheshire West and Chester Council to release dozens of feral cats into the area - to hunt down and kill the super-rats.