I finally managed to capture the rat that has been living in our kitchen for several weeks. After finally discovering where it was hiding (in a space under the kitchen cupboards), I bought a trap from Bunnings and laid it out covering the entrance to its lair. It took several days to venture out, probably because it got hungry.
I was a bit repelled by it at first but then it gave a little squeak of trepidation and my heart melted with compassion. I fed it some nuts and then let it go in a local Waverton nature reserve, not far from some houses. I wish it well.