There's a Rat in the Kitchen, What I'mma Gonna Do?

I saw it last night. What is either a very large mouse or a small rat in my apartment. Not cool. Mr C and I were freaking out. Mr C is short for Mr Crackers, my 8 month old, tri-color male basenji.

Anyway, we were very tentative about entering the kitchen. I think it's under the oven/stove, or the refrigerator. I was banging on things hoping to chase it out and then Mr C could pounce and kill it. But Mr C was whimpering. I don't think he would have been any help. In fact, I've witnessed his fear of cats -- and poodles.

Are we going to have to get an exterminator? I guess I could buy rat poison and put it behind the stove and refrigerator? I don't want Mr C to get into that. There is really no reason or excuse for this. I keep all of my food in ziploc bags, because when I moved in I noticed some ant traps had been left here.

So I couldn't sleep last night because of that rat. As soon as I just fell asleep I was awoken by the noise. The noise of the rat in the bedroom. I sat up and turned on the light and it ran out of the room. I shut the door and stuffed pillow cases underneath so it couldn't get in.