I'm talking farm cats, not house pets (though some do). We had a calico momma cat, who "kittened" several generations that we kept some kittens out of. She was "the boss" of all her offspring, including the males. They weren't true ferals, as all of them would come to be fed and petted, but otherwise they acted as they a feral group which had our farm as "territory". Any of them could (and did) take rats, squirrels, etc.
And then you have breeds like Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, etc, that are BIG. I doubt any of them would be even remotely intimidated by any rat.
I bow to your experience :)
My cats are all indoor cats, and always have been. I don’t let them out, but I don’t declaw them either, so I have no decent furniture. But then furniture doesn’t care whether it is decent, or not.