Walked around visiting old sites and trying to decide if it dinner would be La Rosa or Moulin Fou. As we approached front of La Rosa we saw what we though were 2 large cats fighting. No not cats! Two large rats, fighting while a third grabbed whatever they were fighting over and ran off. We decided to retrace our steps. Rats ran across street into the Sonesta complex. We decided to drive to Yvette's.

The purpose of the cats is to keep the rats away. Rats will be plentiful when there is a food and water source. Lots of food scraps around restaurants and the trash they produce. We took early morning walks and it was not unusual to see rats around trash cans, outside of restaurants, etc. You will likely see this around many places that serve food.

A few years ago SBR had a cat roundup and removed them all from the property. A year later (2 years ago) we were walking from the Marina building by the Villas pool area and spooked a decent sized rat which scooted right INTO a ground floor villa with an open door. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

This year I noticed the cats are back around the B buildings anyway....no rats this time.

Nature and the food chain at work.

May I also add, at the risk of dismemberment by "cat people", PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not feed the cats! They are at the SBR and really anywhere there is water, to get rid of the water rats. It's what they do. However,they will be a bit less inclined to go for a rat if someone is giving them kibble and bits every day.

Snakes like to eat rats too... Cobras, rattlers etc...

Agree with the snake comment

but I think SXM is snake free, hence the cats

J&B