Looking for a book by description?

[BendersFloozy]

Read this book back when I was in middle school (about 10 + years ago) but I can't remember the title or author. The book was about a group of forest animals. It was more along the lines of being "young adult" and probably shouldn't have been in the middle school library as it was if I remember correctly pretty political, and I believe one of the main animals was a badger. I distinctly remember their being a thief among the animals and they caught the culprit by setting up a trap that would turn the thiefs hand red if he went for whatever it was he was stealing. I know it's a pretty vague description, but that is all I can remember! I just remember REALLY loving the book, and now that I am older I am curious to re-read to see if there were things I didn't think about behind the meaning of the story when I was younger. I also am trying to find a book about a young boy buying a grey hound dog in a sort of swap meet in London and what the boy has to go through to keep the dog. (keeping him hidden from his mother, taking on a job to feed the dog, etc.) There is also ANOTHER book I am searching for! It is also London based and about a boy who finds a grey cat and pretty much the same thing of what he goes through to keep the cat, etc. Any help would help! I have been searching for YEARS! Thanks
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH HP WOMBAT!!!
Yes it is the RedWall series!!! it was the Outcast of RedWall!!! OMG I am sooo extremely excited right now! I have litterally been searching for about 8 years!!!