I have got a barn cat that sneaks a sweet life in amongst my outdoor plants. Seems to have been helping with the vermin. Stays away from the German Shepherds. Orchards and fields around here support quite a strong mouse/rat population.
Fight the good fight and I hope you nuked them fuckerz
I hope you find a remedy cabo5150 but I had similar damage several years ago and I tried wrapping the stem and using a tar-like bark protector to no avail. The plants died anyway. I really do hope you have better results.