I think you have that backwards. Typically cats are considered evil, and ******* associated with witchcraft, and Satanism.
On the other hand, revered and held as Gods by the Egyptians.
I think rats and mice are also very much aware of canine ***** too. Dogs, although not as predatorily as cats, they are hunters. Mankind has domesticated dogs FAR more then cats....because they could, much easier, I would assume....so as a result, they became reliant for their food, whereas cats will hunt and ****. I think the biggest threat small wild ******* face from dogs, are breeds with a hunting tradition in their genetics, and those that have a weird little streak, and lack of discipline in their training, and even possibly genetics. Some dogs were breed to **** rats and other vermin....but as time ******, they became our little buddies, and tech developed traps, and poison.