Just because you asked "Any thoughts?", I'll add a little splinter of mine to the general dissertation.

It is unimportant, but "fici" may imply "iu" (= I) as well as "iddu"/"idda" (= it, he/she).

Understandably this is a third-person tale and I use "it" (unless the asker prefers to "humanize" to he/she).

NO trap however! Daniela Zambrini and luskie are right stressing that the "hole" should not be left out.

As a matter of fact images that come to my mind all imply intrapment: 1) someone fallen into a deep pit; 2) someone buried under a bombed building; 3) someone in a sewer or a cavern with water rising due to rain or flood. Whence comes one thought (I'll use Italian): "Speriamo di non fare la fine del sorcio/topo!"

And the imaginary (it's a metaphor) cat is there as the variable obstacle that keeps you in the hole.

On the other hand I cannot remember any English idiom, but the paradox is kept by the contrast hamster <---> rat. And the hole is necessary.

If you think it necessary you might underline the pun by an additional: 1) amazingly it met its fate in a rat hole or
2) funny to say it met its fate in a rat hole or
3) and would you believe?! it met its fate in a rat hole... or
whatever comes to your mind.

Maurizio