Rats

I live near some open fields and have seen the odd mouse running about, although thankfully not in our house. I have seen the odd rat though and it's always after someone has some major work done on their house - digging for extensions, knocking them down to be rebuilt etc.

I don't know your situation, but it could be that someone nearby is having building work done and it's simply disturbed them. They then start roaming around looking for food. A house a few doors down had rabbits outside and the rats soon found a way into their hutch, they are astonishingly clever animals. The good news for you is that after a few weeks, they just move on. Obviously make sure there's no bird seed etc outside or any open food in your house. Make sure all your food is in cupboards/tins etc. You need to make sure there's no reason to stay.

In the longer term, cats will obviously keep mice and rats away. It astonishes me how fast/nimble cats can be when they spot prey. If you're thinking of getting a cat, I can't imagine the rats would want to live with something that will kill them! Since we got our cats, I've never seen any mice or rats and that's despite someone a few hundred yards away rebuilding their house.

It might be worth giving your local Council a call as they will be able to advise. We had a bees nest over summer and they were really helpful and I would imagine rats are seen as a "worse" problem. If nothing else, they will point you in the right direction.

I hope you get it sorted, it's not nice at all.
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
I live near some open fields and have seen the odd mouse running about, although thankfully not in our house. I have seen the odd rat though and it's always after someone has some major work done on their house - digging for extensions, knocking them down to be rebuilt etc.

I don't know your situation, but it could be that someone nearby is having building work done and it's simply disturbed them. They then start roaming around looking for food. A house a few doors down had rabbits outside and the rats soon found a way into their hutch, they are astonishingly clever animals. The good news for you is that after a few weeks, they just move on. Obviously make sure there's no bird seed etc outside or any open food in your house. Make sure all your food is in cupboards/tins etc. You need to make sure there's no reason to stay.

In the longer term, cats will obviously keep mice and rats away. It astonishes me how fast/nimble cats can be when they spot prey. If you're thinking of getting a cat, I can't imagine the rats would want to live with something that will kill them! Since we got our cats, I've never seen any mice or rats and that's despite someone a few hundred yards away rebuilding their house.

It might be worth giving your local Council a call as they will be able to advise. We had a bees nest over summer and they were really helpful and I would imagine rats are seen as a "worse" problem. If nothing else, they will point you in the right direction.

I hope you get it sorted, it's not nice at all.
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we have tightened up everything for more than 1 week,nothing left out,
on work surfaces ,floors ,and bins emptied every night empty or full.
the neighbour has an apple tree that drops hundreds of them every year,we have lived here for 11 years and
thats never attracted them or brought them into our house,we clear the ones away that drop on our side.

my wife saw the little ******* last week in our kitchen when she got up early,so we 100% know its a rat,rats.

a cat would obviously be a potential answer,but none of us want or like cats ,so that option is out.
 
kaz7 said:
In the loft ? I get them in the loft and twice a year i get pest control in , poison is best left for enclosed areas and not where kids or pets can get to it , rats will come back a couple of times before it kills them
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sorry for the late reply
we have a loft conversion,so nowt up there thank god.
 
50,000 feral rats at the Etihad said Syed,
Round them up and put them in his bed.
Gnaw his feet and eat his eyes,
Serve him right for telling lies.
 
Seen two dead ones when I was walking to work, just in this last week. Takeaways on Yorkshire Street don't help, and someone needs to sort it.
 
My late Westie (West Highland Terrier) called Alfie was the most placid dog, living and playing with our cats and hamsters.
His mood changed in an instant if he saw a rat (2 occasions only). He shot over and killed by neck shaking leaving dead rats immediately changing back to his docile self leaving the cats looking at him in amazement.

We now live in Spain and have a Bodeguero ( rat killer in wineries) called Reggie. Not seen his rat skills yet but he has the same ability to get on with all other animals but no doubt wired to selectively kill rats.
Similar to a Jack Russell but known locally as an Andalucian Rat Hunter.
 
We had a mouse a few years back. Proper affected me knowing it was there and not being able to get rid. Laid some humane traps but when that did fuck all we got poison, took about a week before it worked. Turned the living room upside down to find it nestled in the corner of the sofa but was delighted to get rid!
 
crublue1 said:
A domestic cat wouldn't eat a dead animal unless it was starving to death. Nor would it eat poisoned baits, they're far too intelligent for that.
I think you and Merlin can sleep easy Kaz x
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And that’s where the problem lies for cats. Rat poison is designed to kill a rat over time, not immediately as the clever bastards won’t touch food if another rat has just died eating it, so they run around with the poison inside them
 
SilverFox2 said:
My late Westie (West Highland Terrier) called Alfie was the most placid dog, living and playing with our cats and hamsters.
His mood changed in an instant if he saw a rat (2 occasions only). He shot over and killed by neck shaking leaving dead rats immediately changing back to his docile self leaving the cats looking at him in amazement.

We now live in Spain and have a Bodeguero ( rat killer in wineries) called Reggie. Not seen his rat skills yet but he has the same ability to get on with all other animals but no doubt wired to selectively kill rats.
Similar to a Jack Russell but known locally as an Andalucian Rat Hunter.
Click to expand...
West Highland White Terriers were originally bred to kill rats on farms.
 
I’d have to move out as well if there was a rat in the house, and possibly a mouse as well. Hate them

wife saw a rat a few weeks ago round the corner from our house so I haven’t even opened the windows since lol
 
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