I can't sleep, guess why....yep there's a clue in the title of this thread.
Rats in the ceiling above my bed! It was bad enough hearing them run around but now I can hear them squeaking! I assume there is a nest of baby rats right above me.
Now I'm not scared of rodents but I draw the line at an infestation. I'm concerned about the wiring and fire hazard.
So has anyone dealt with rats before? I'm reluctant to use poison because of the risk of secondary poisoning to my cats. I'm also reluctant to shove the cats into the attic and tell them to kill because rats aren't like mice, they fight back and I can't afford vet's bills.
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Call environmental health quickly!
Rats carry weil's disease, its very nasty and is caught by coming in contact with rats urine. If you have a header tank in your loft chances are thats where the rats are getting their water from and that it is used to supply your bath/shower water and full body immersion is the most common way of catching wiel's!  |
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i got a mouse problem as we speak x pesky little feckers are chewing everything! i called my local council yesterday and they're coming out today x best way is either glue boards (which some class as inhumane but the best anti-poison solution) or send in next doors cat x |
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"Are you sure its rats and not mice?? If rats call the council as they can send out pest control and they usually provide treatment quickly if its rats  "
I'm pretty sure its rats as they are too loud for mice and I can hear them gnawing on wood to keep their teeth down. They don't come into the house, pretty sure of that as there is no shit or damage down here, so they must be getting directly into the attic space from outside. I don'thave a water tank in the attic, its up near the ceiling in the kitchen, so hopefully they have no access to it. I didn't know the council would deal with it for me, I hope they will anyway. I'llgive them a call when they start work for the day. |
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"Are you sure its rats and not mice?? If rats call the council as they can send out pest control and they usually provide treatment quickly if its rats "
Damn, just checked online and they only sort it out for council tenants. |
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"Also if you think they are coming into your home from next door then environmental health will help you"
There is no next door, no houses close to me, so it looks like I'm on my own with this. Does anyone know how much a pest control company would charge? |
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"Also if you think they are coming into your home from next door then environmental health will help you
There is no next door, no houses close to me, so it looks like I'm on my own with this. Does anyone know how much a pest control company would charge?"
sorry to hear the council won't help you x most pesky control firms do a 3 visit system looking around the £100+ range x i know the council charge around £40 per visit but can't say how much pest control firms cost. Ring a few and go with cheapest x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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We had a problem with rats few years ago. They were coming into our garden from next door. Contacted council and they came out no charge and we own our house.
Hope it gets sorted for you.
Either that or I can send one of my boys round with his shot gun |
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By *utzzCouple
over a year ago
wrexham |
"
sorry to hear the council won't help you x most pesky control firms do a 3 visit system looking around the £100+ range x i know the council charge around £40 per visit but can't say how much pest control firms cost. Ring a few and go with cheapest x"
our local council charges £40 for private rats and council rats are free. £40 covered 3 visits |
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"We had a problem with rats few years ago. They were coming into our garden from next door. Contacted council and they came out no charge and we own our house.
Hope it gets sorted for you.
Either that or I can send one of my boys round with his shot gun "
I'm in the north of Scotland, probably a bit far to come, but thanks for the offer |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Are you sure its rats and not mice?? If rats call the council as they can send out pest control and they usually provide treatment quickly if its rats
Damn, just checked online and they only sort it out for council tenants."
They will come out and sort rats for anyone. They do here as one of my neighbours used to do the job. Give them a ring when they open and good luck. |
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"If its rats council should come out regardless of your status with the property...well they do here..x "
I'll certainly give them a try. I can't afford even the cheapest of private firms I suspect. Trouble is I can't afford to do nothing either!
The squeaking only six feet above my head as I lie in bed is getting disconcerting now! Little feckers! I need that big old stray tomcat that I sometimes see around here...not that i could get that close to him, i dont call him The Black Menace for nothing. |
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"It's squirrels I have in my loft - pesky little blighters ... maybe it's the same for you?"
I'll send my ginger tom round. He looks as though butter wouldn't melt but he catches squirrels and gobbles up everything apart from the tail! |
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"It's squirrels I have in my loft - pesky little blighters ... maybe it's the same for you?
I'll send my ginger tom round. He looks as though butter wouldn't melt but he catches squirrels and gobbles up everything apart from the tail!"
What do you do with the tails? ( I'm imagining you with a Daniel Boone style hat). |
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We had rats in a private let we rented 2012, they were coming from the dirty garden next door to us, then with the cold weather it drove them inside. Environmental health wouldnt do anything and if they did we would have to leave the house for a week due to the poision they use. The landlord wouldnt do anything either. I ended up waking up to flooded kitchen, they had chewed threw the pipes from my boiler, we even had flames coming from our light fittings where the rats werechewing the cables and shocking theirselfs. If you own the house environmental health will come out for a charge, private let? Its down to your landlord and council or housing assosiation? Call your landlord, theyl send someone out. Thats the advice we were given, but we couldnt get out quick enough and moved. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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i had what i thought were rats on my small holding last year, same as you laying in bed hearing scraping and scurrying in the loft, i don't mind admiting i'm petrified of the little shites! what i did was bought a load of snap traps put them in the loft with peanut butter on and viola! it took a while to get rid completly but did in the end, also if you have a wood shed attached to the house they might be getting in the way |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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This sounds bad - really bad, but it works. Get a cage trap. Catch a rat in it. Chocolate or peanut butter works for that. Once the rat is in the cage, kill it by pouring boiling water over it. The racket it'll make makes the others think there's a huge predator in there and they flee. I've seen that done in that part of the world. It's risky with cats, less so with a terrier of some sort. But that's a low cost option. Sorry it's such a crappy one. |
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"We had rats in a private let we rented 2012, they were coming from the dirty garden next door to us, then with the cold weather it drove them inside. Environmental health wouldnt do anything and if they did we would have to leave the house for a week due to the poision they use. The landlord wouldnt do anything either. I ended up waking up to flooded kitchen, they had chewed threw the pipes from my boiler, we even had flames coming from our light fittings where the rats werechewing the cables and shocking theirselfs. If you own the house environmental health will come out for a charge, private let? Its down to your landlord and council or housing assosiation? Call your landlord, theyl send someone out. Thats the advice we were given, but we couldnt get out quick enough and moved."
If you ever have a problem landlord again contact your environmental health department and tell them you need them to inspect your home and issue a pest control order. If the landlord does not comply the dwelling will be condemned as unfit for human habitation.  |
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"forgot to mention they turned out to be mice still big feckers but not rats "
I think its rats because if I were still in Australia I'd be sure it was a possum, its that loud!
I'm going to stick my head above parapet today and see if I can see the little shit's shit, that should indicate the nature of the beast. I will be so pleased if its only mice because then the cats can get up there and earn their dreamies!
I really do think its rats though and I can'trisk the cats getting bitten if it is. One of my cats cost me £200 in vets bills from a cat bite a couple of years ago ( hence the naming of The Black Menace) |
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"This sounds bad - really bad, but it works. Get a cage trap. Catch a rat in it. Chocolate or peanut butter works for that. Once the rat is in the cage, kill it by pouring boiling water over it. The racket it'll make makes the others think there's a huge predator in there and they flee. I've seen that done in that part of the world. It's risky with cats, less so with a terrier of some sort. But that's a low cost option. Sorry it's such a crappy one. "
I couldn't do that , apart from anything else if I could catch them in cages I'd be able to take them for a long drive away from here anyway, but they're too clever for that. |
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"Most councils will sort it out, it is included in your council tax, some may make a small charge."
Ive checked their website and they specifically say they only offer the service to their tenants and anyone else should try a private company. You don't get a lot for your council tax anymore it seems. |
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"Most councils will sort it out, it is included in your council tax, some may make a small charge.
Ive checked their website and they specifically say they only offer the service to their tenants and anyone else should try a private company. You don't get a lot for your council tax anymore it seems."
that's really bad  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This sounds bad - really bad, but it works. Get a cage trap. Catch a rat in it. Chocolate or peanut butter works for that. Once the rat is in the cage, kill it by pouring boiling water over it. The racket it'll make makes the others think there's a huge predator in there and they flee. I've seen that done in that part of the world. It's risky with cats, less so with a terrier of some sort. But that's a low cost option. Sorry it's such a crappy one. "
That is cruel, obscene and If you did do that I hope you would end up in prison, ad have something similar done to you.
The house has been built on land that housed animals before we came along and destroyed their habitat.
You can get humane traps, catch them and release them in a woods, no need to harm or kill another sentient, living creature,, The forums certainly help you know what people are like  |
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"This sounds bad - really bad, but it works. Get a cage trap. Catch a rat in it. Chocolate or peanut butter works for that. Once the rat is in the cage, kill it by pouring boiling water over it. The racket it'll make makes the others think there's a huge predator in there and they flee. I've seen that done in that part of the world. It's risky with cats, less so with a terrier of some sort. But that's a low cost option. Sorry it's such a crappy one.
That is cruel, obscene and If you did do that I hope you would end up in prison, ad have something similar done to you.
The house has been built on land that housed animals before we came along and destroyed their habitat.
You can get humane traps, catch them and release them in a woods, no need to harm or kill another sentient, living creature,, The forums certainly help you know what people are like "
I wish it was easy to catch them in those humane traps, I tried for two months with a mouse where Ipreviously lived but despite their tiny brains they really are quite clever. I eventually outwitted it though and caught it in a plastic tub and took it for a long drive to a new home!
This is different, i fear there is a proper infestion up there. If I knew where they were getting in I'd try scaring them out then blocking the entry. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Living on a farm, rats and mice are part of day to day life, I chose to live in the country, so except things as they are, Having two farm cats around and 3 dogs, seems to keep them at bay.. |
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"Living on a farm, rats and mice are part of day to day life, I chose to live in the country, so except things as they are, Having two farm cats around and 3 dogs, seems to keep them at bay.. "
I have four cats that love to hunt but they can't get in to the attic. The do get on top of the wardrobe and paw at the ceiling when they hear the rats so ive no doubt they'd have a go but I don't want to risk their health with cornered rats. |
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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago
In Your Bush |
They certainly are determined little fuckers. There are a few grain silos by me and i get a few problems. My council used to provide a free service, but they have also stopped it. I had to pay £40 for two visits. They even chewed through a concrete plinth to make a run 
What about one of those secure bait traps? Like a big box that prevents pet access, and contains bait blocks. You can get them in B&Q |
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"They certainly are determined little fuckers. There are a few grain silos by me and i get a few problems. My council used to provide a free service, but they have also stopped it. I had to pay £40 for two visits. They even chewed through a concrete plinth to make a run
What about one of those secure bait traps? Like a big box that prevents pet access, and contains bait blocks. You can get them in B&Q"
My worry there is that the rats eat the poison, go outside and the cats catch and eat them and get secondary poisoning.
My landlady is coming down soon.....she can stick her head up in the attic... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Literally my worst nightmare. Rats freak me out!
They don't bother me as long as they aren't close to my face, which is the worry when sticking my head through the attic access door!"
I watched Willard years ago and that was it for me. I turn into a ninja/hurdler/ballerina when I see one.
0800-Ratbusters. |
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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago
In Your Bush |
"They certainly are determined little fuckers. There are a few grain silos by me and i get a few problems. My council used to provide a free service, but they have also stopped it. I had to pay £40 for two visits. They even chewed through a concrete plinth to make a run
What about one of those secure bait traps? Like a big box that prevents pet access, and contains bait blocks. You can get them in B&Q
My worry there is that the rats eat the poison, go outside and the cats catch and eat them and get secondary poisoning.
My landlady is coming down soon.....she can stick her head up in the attic..."
I'm no expert as I'm wary of anyone called Roland, but I think they would have to eat a fair bit to become ill - As in, from the source opposed to secondary. If your cats can't get in the attic you should be ok. |
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"We had rats in a private let we rented 2012, they were coming from the dirty garden next door to us, then with the cold weather it drove them inside. Environmental health wouldnt do anything and if they did we would have to leave the house for a week due to the poision they use. The landlord wouldnt do anything either. I ended up waking up to flooded kitchen, they had chewed threw the pipes from my boiler, we even had flames coming from our light fittings where the rats werechewing the cables and shocking theirselfs. If you own the house environmental health will come out for a charge, private let? Its down to your landlord and council or housing assosiation? Call your landlord, theyl send someone out. Thats the advice we were given, but we couldnt get out quick enough and moved.
If you ever have a problem landlord again contact your environmental health department and tell them you need them to inspect your home and issue a pest control order. If the landlord does not comply the dwelling will be condemned as unfit for human habitation. "
Wer out of there now, we did take some action against him because of how dangerous it was. He ended up having to completly renovate the 2 houses he owned in the block, I mean everything. After we moved out it got worse cause they were empty, he had to redo all plumbing and electrics rip everything out the attic, fumigate then replace all instulation and some beams that had been chewed. Had to lift all floorboards upstair and down, clean all the mess and lay new ones lol. I spoke to him afterwards ( saw 3 full skips out side) he said the was dead rats every where n the smell was real bad, that was over a year ago and still no one has moved in lol. No one will let his house for him now. I even had a fight with one in the kitchen lol. Kicked it across the room and it splattered against the wall lol |
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i think its unlikely that if they are in your loft that they are not also in your house living areas ...if its mice there would be droppings all over the place whereas with rats they are very clean and will designate a certain area as a toilet area so you will never see their droppings. Rats seem to hate the smell of lavender and bleach ..leaving either around usually clears them off ..good luck ! |
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"My landlady is coming down soon.....she can stick her head up in the attic..."
Its her duty it sort it out if she refuses do as I have said and contact the council, north of the border the official notice is called an abatement order and the council have a statuary duty to inspect the property and if necessary serve the notice on the landlord.
There is a link on the shelter scotland site that will guide you through the process. |
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"i think its unlikely that if they are in your loft that they are not also in your house living areas ...if its mice there would be droppings all over the place whereas with rats they are very clean and will designate a certain area as a toilet area so you will never see their droppings. Rats seem to hate the smell of lavender and bleach ..leaving either around usually clears them off ..good luck !"
There is no way down into the house from the loft apart from the manhole type entrance and I think they are getting into the loft from outside of the house. Ive had experience of rats in a house before and I certainly knew when they got into the larder, what they didn't eat they shit on! |
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"i think its unlikely that if they are in your loft that they are not also in your house living areas ...if its mice there would be droppings all over the place whereas with rats they are very clean and will designate a certain area as a toilet area so you will never see their droppings. Rats seem to hate the smell of lavender and bleach ..leaving either around usually clears them off ..good luck !
There is no way down into the house from the loft apart from the manhole type entrance and I think they are getting into the loft from outside of the house. Ive had experience of rats in a house before and I certainly knew when they got into the larder, what they didn't eat they shit on! "
And the wall cavity... |
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i think they use the cavity walls and pipe work systems to travel through the house ...presumably they were at ground level at some point so i should imagine thats how they got in the loft rather than through the hatch ..good luck with your landlady |
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I not sure if I can put a link here
http://www.fearing.co.uk/raco-pro-sonic-rodent-repeller
if you just want to get rid rat mice these can sometime work ok
cheap ones at b and q but not sure as good |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I thought I had a rat or mouse (no rats around where I am) in the roof above me, squeaking and all but it turned out to be just a bird.
We put a camera up there in the end as we couldn't see anything. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring. |
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"I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring."
you never more than 50 metres from a rat on average, yes there a problem yes they carry disease but when was the last time you read of someone been ill from rats ? I don't like them but there more scared of you than you of them |
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"you never more than 50 metres from a rat on average, yes there a problem yes they carry disease but when was the last time you read of someone been ill from rats ? I don't like them but there more scared of you than you of them"
I believe it is about 50 people a year get admitted to hospital with weil's disease.... So maybe it is you who is being complacent! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Living on a farm, rats and mice are part of day to day life, I chose to live in the country, so except things as they are, Having two farm cats around and 3 dogs, seems to keep them at bay.. "
Same. Most the rats and mice we see have been half eaten  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Talking from experience, poison is the best way for your situation. Nail the blocks of poison onto a board of wood so the rats can't take them away and stops ur cats getting to them. We do that on the farm and cover it over with mesh to stop our dogs getting at it. You will know when it's working caus when they die the leave a bad smell that normally clears in a day or two.
I'd also try and find out where they are coming in and block it to prevent them coming back.
Oh and this method works just the same if it is mice and it's a lot cheaper than having to sort wiring and pipes! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
sorry to hear the council won't help you x most pesky control firms do a 3 visit system looking around the £100+ range x i know the council charge around £40 per visit but can't say how much pest control firms cost. Ring a few and go with cheapest x our local council charges £40 for private rats and council rats are free. £40 covered 3 visits "
oo, rats have a class system lol.
can you not get a rescue cat and use that, at least then one of your own cats wont get hurt(very tongue in cheek post, btw) |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
A friend of my family had this problem and another friend if the family, who keeps ferrets, put the ferrets in the loft space for a couple of days!
No more problem.
I was surprised to say the least.
Rural areas eh?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
Not true. Read the post higher up about water tanks.
"
"Leptospirosis is rare in the UK. For example, only 44 cases were reported in England and Wales during 2011. Of these, 15 cases originated overseas and none were fatal.
Most of the people affected either worked with livestock or contracted the condition from sewage or freshwater sources."
NHS
I'd consider that 'bugger all'. |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"I thought I had a rat or mouse (no rats around where I am) in the roof above me, squeaking and all but it turned out to be just a bird.
We put a camera up there in the end as we couldn't see anything. "
Birds can make a hell of a mess in the roof space though because they shit over everything. |
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"I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring."
I don't think environmental health would have appreciated (or answered) my call at 6am when I couldn't sleep die to the beasties. |
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!"
I farmed lived on farms all my life so seen plenty of rats mostly with my jack Russel chasing them, I have only been scratched once that was in semi dark dogs chased a rat behind some gates I tried to move gates, rat most have climbed up gates to get away from my dogs. I still here just washed hands etc, we tend to leave poison in places we know rat live, you control no but can never total get rid of them
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!"
Agreed you wont catch it from the loft, you catch it from urine contaminated water. However as rats leave a urine trail when they move around and it is lightly that they are also in other parts of the house and the urine can contaminate water anywhere it is not worth taking the chance. |
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"I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring.
you never more than 50 metres from a rat on average, yes there a problem yes they carry disease but when was the last time you read of someone been ill from rats ? I don't like them but there more scared of you than you of them"
I'm not scared of them, as long as they aren't in my face, I just don't want them eating through the insulation on the wiring and causing a fire. That's my biggest fear and the main reason I couldn't sleep. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
I farmed lived on farms all my life so seen plenty of rats mostly with my jack Russel chasing them, I have only been scratched once that was in semi dark dogs chased a rat behind some gates I tried to move gates, rat most have climbed up gates to get away from my dogs. I still here just washed hands etc, we tend to leave poison in places we know rat live, you control no but can never total get rid of them
"
Indeed. We have a little battle against them every winter as they move in for the warmth.
We used to be warned about weils disease when kayaking & rafting etc. - open wounds in fresh water. I've never heard of anybody catching it by having a bath. |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
Not true. Read the post higher up about water tanks.
"Leptospirosis is rare in the UK. For example, only 44 cases were reported in England and Wales during 2011. Of these, 15 cases originated overseas and none were fatal.
Most of the people affected either worked with livestock or contracted the condition from sewage or freshwater sources."
NHS
I'd consider that 'bugger all'."
Totally avoidable risk in this case though.
Low chance or not, I'm sure the OP would rather not become one of the exceptions.
And rats do carry other diseases and health risks.
I was brought up in and have lived in very rural areas and rats and mice are a fact of life. They are a pain in the arse and a health risk when they get into houses though.
Warning the OP about the health risks was a sensible thing to do, but you carry on with your normal smug poo-pooing if it makes you feel superior. No change there. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
Agreed you wont catch it from the loft, you catch it from urine contaminated water. However as rats leave a urine trail when they move around and it is lightly that they are also in other parts of the house and the urine can contaminate water anywhere it is not worth taking the chance. "
Best not take the risk of going outside then. You never know if a frozen turd may land on your head from a passing spacecraft. Actually best check the loft is structurally sound.. |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring.
you never more than 50 metres from a rat on average, yes there a problem yes they carry disease but when was the last time you read of someone been ill from rats ? I don't like them but there more scared of you than you of them
I'm not scared of them, as long as they aren't in my face, I just don't want them eating through the insulation on the wiring and causing a fire. That's my biggest fear and the main reason I couldn't sleep. "
They're also bloody noisy. Last time I had one I would have sworn there was a hippo in the loft space. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Warning the OP about the health risks was a sensible thing to do, but you carry on with your normal smug poo-pooing if it makes you feel superior. No change there."
Like I said - watch out for those spacecraft ejections. Head injuries can cause all sorts of difficulties. |
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"A friend of my family had this problem and another friend if the family, who keeps ferrets, put the ferrets in the loft space for a couple of days!
No more problem.
I was surprised to say the least.
Rural areas eh? "
Now that would be a brilliant idea, ferrets would be perfect for getting into all the nooks and crannies and under the insulation where the rats will hide. The only problem is I don't know any ferrets. Maybe I could catch a Pine Marten and pop it up there for the weekend. |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
Agreed you wont catch it from the loft, you catch it from urine contaminated water. However as rats leave a urine trail when they move around and it is lightly that they are also in other parts of the house and the urine can contaminate water anywhere it is not worth taking the chance. "
Some people are just too darned tough to concern themselves with completely preventable risks. |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"Warning the OP about the health risks was a sensible thing to do, but you carry on with your normal smug poo-pooing if it makes you feel superior. No change there.
Like I said - watch out for those spacecraft ejections. Head injuries can cause all sorts of difficulties."
Apparently so. |
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"I am trying to bite my tongue here without luck. If it was me i would firstly call environmental health then maybe ask about others experiences to be honest.
It should be left to experts to kill and remove due to all disease and risks rats bring.
you never more than 50 metres from a rat on average, yes there a problem yes they carry disease but when was the last time you read of someone been ill from rats ? I don't like them but there more scared of you than you of them
I'm not scared of them, as long as they aren't in my face, I just don't want them eating through the insulation on the wiring and causing a fire. That's my biggest fear and the main reason I couldn't sleep.
They're also bloody noisy. Last time I had one I would have sworn there was a hippo in the loft space."
Like I said earlier if I had been in Australia I would have sworn it was a possum in the roof. Up and down the ceiling all bloody night long! But the worst was when the squeaking started right above my head. My landlady is coming back with a longer ladder tonight so at least I will be able to go up and shine a torch in their faces and tell them to shut the fuck up! |
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"I not sure if I can put a link here
http://www.fearing.co.uk/raco-pro-sonic-rodent-repeller
if you just want to get rid rat mice these can sometime work ok
cheap ones at b and q but not sure as good"
I'm going to try one of these as a preventative measure once the current population have gone. I've read they don't work well with a current infestation as the rodents get used to it but it may put off rodents looking for somewhere new to set up home. |
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"You have bugger all chance of catching weils disease from rats in your loft!
Agreed you wont catch it from the loft, you catch it from urine contaminated water. However as rats leave a urine trail when they move around and it is lightly that they are also in other parts of the house and the urine can contaminate water anywhere it is not worth taking the chance. "
The water tank is sealed so they can't get at the water and they aren't in the rest of the house, there is absolutely no sign of them in the kitchen which would be the attractive room. No foodstuffs touched, no shite anywhere. I won't say the idea of Weils disease doesn't concern me but my water supply comes from an open stream up the hill which has cattle, sheep and wildlife around it so that kind of thing is a risk I always have to live with and try not to let worry me because I can't afford to bathe in bottled water |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This sounds bad - really bad, but it works. Get a cage trap. Catch a rat in it. Chocolate or peanut butter works for that. Once the rat is in the cage, kill it by pouring boiling water over it. The racket it'll make makes the others think there's a huge predator in there and they flee. I've seen that done in that part of the world. It's risky with cats, less so with a terrier of some sort. But that's a low cost option. Sorry it's such a crappy one.
That is cruel, obscene and If you did do that I hope you would end up in prison, ad have something similar done to you.
The house has been built on land that housed animals before we came along and destroyed their habitat.
You can get humane traps, catch them and release them in a woods, no need to harm or kill another sentient, living creature,, The forums certainly help you know what people are like "
Quite frankly, having lived on a croft for 18 years, and having seen numerous people suffering from infestations at various times - and they do suffer - I have seen first hand what works. I never claimed it to be nice. But given a them and us choice, I vote us.
Thanks for your input though. We'll just have her bulldoze her house because the rats were there first. And if it's an infestation they'll breed faster than they can be caught and moved.
Go and picket Rentokil. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Living on a farm, rats and mice are part of day to day life, I chose to live in the country, so except things as they are, Having two farm cats around and 3 dogs, seems to keep them at bay..
I have four cats that love to hunt but they can't get in to the attic. The do get on top of the wardrobe and paw at the ceiling when they hear the rats so ive no doubt they'd have a go but I don't want to risk their health with cornered rats."
Cats have extremely efficient immune systems that protect them from "prey" bites and scratches. There must be some sort of access to your loft for maintenance of the cisterns - try going up a stepladder and put one or two cats up there for a few hours. Female cats are usually much better hunters. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The back end of last summer i had a rat in my back garden, I hate rodents with a passion they are up there with spiders. The pest control in our area was £50 and that covered 3 visits. The first to put poison down, which he put in place where we both knew would be safe to cats etc. the second the poison had been taken and yes i did see the rat, he was very bloated and slow on his feet. It was never seen again after that. I asked him about others, breading etc and he said he thought it was a male rat as they are very territorial unlike the females.
So if you can hear lots of noise then yes i would get them out as soon as possible, they will also find out how they are getting in your loft too.. Ruby |
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"The back end of last summer i had a rat in my back garden, I hate rodents with a passion they are up there with spiders. The pest control in our area was £50 and that covered 3 visits. The first to put poison down, which he put in place where we both knew would be safe to cats etc. the second the poison had been taken and yes i did see the rat, he was very bloated and slow on his feet. It was never seen again after that. I asked him about others, breading etc and he said he thought it was a male rat as they are very territorial unlike the females.
So if you can hear lots of noise then yes i would get them out as soon as possible, they will also find out how they are getting in your loft too.. Ruby "
Unfortunately the style of my house is such that the entrances up the outside walls won't ever be sealed. It's a little corrugated iron ex-shop built in the twenties. Every second curve of the corrugation is an entrance to the inside of the outer wall. So I know how they are getting in and it will be an ongoing battle to keep them out. I think they probably don't come down into the house because there are 4 cats here so once the current population has been dealt with I think I'll send the cats to the loft to leave their scent and hopefully deter any more moving in. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The back end of last summer i had a rat in my back garden, I hate rodents with a passion they are up there with spiders. The pest control in our area was £50 and that covered 3 visits. The first to put poison down, which he put in place where we both knew would be safe to cats etc. the second the poison had been taken and yes i did see the rat, he was very bloated and slow on his feet. It was never seen again after that. I asked him about others, breading etc and he said he thought it was a male rat as they are very territorial unlike the females.
So if you can hear lots of noise then yes i would get them out as soon as possible, they will also find out how they are getting in your loft too.. Ruby
Unfortunately the style of my house is such that the entrances up the outside walls won't ever be sealed. It's a little corrugated iron ex-shop built in the twenties. Every second curve of the corrugation is an entrance to the inside of the outer wall. So I know how they are getting in and it will be an ongoing battle to keep them out. I think they probably don't come down into the house because there are 4 cats here so once the current population has been dealt with I think I'll send the cats to the loft to leave their scent and hopefully deter any more moving in."
I bet the cats are thinking "Lets up there mum we will sort it"  |
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"The back end of last summer i had a rat in my back garden, I hate rodents with a passion they are up there with spiders. The pest control in our area was £50 and that covered 3 visits. The first to put poison down, which he put in place where we both knew would be safe to cats etc. the second the poison had been taken and yes i did see the rat, he was very bloated and slow on his feet. It was never seen again after that. I asked him about others, breading etc and he said he thought it was a male rat as they are very territorial unlike the females.
So if you can hear lots of noise then yes i would get them out as soon as possible, they will also find out how they are getting in your loft too.. Ruby
Unfortunately the style of my house is such that the entrances up the outside walls won't ever be sealed. It's a little corrugated iron ex-shop built in the twenties. Every second curve of the corrugation is an entrance to the inside of the outer wall. So I know how they are getting in and it will be an ongoing battle to keep them out. I think they probably don't come down into the house because there are 4 cats here so once the current population has been dealt with I think I'll send the cats to the loft to leave their scent and hopefully deter any more moving in.
I bet the cats are thinking "Lets up there mum we will sort it" "
They stand up on top of the wardrobe and paw at the ceiling, they'd love to get up there but they don't know what's good for them and I have no money for the Vet! |
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"It's squirrels I have in my loft - pesky little blighters ... maybe it's the same for you?
I'll send my ginger tom round. He looks as though butter wouldn't melt but he catches squirrels and gobbles up everything apart from the tail!
What do you do with the tails? ( I'm imagining you with a Daniel Boone style hat)."
Furry cuffs and collars. Everything matches! |
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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"The back end of last summer i had a rat in my back garden, I hate rodents with a passion they are up there with spiders. The pest control in our area was £50 and that covered 3 visits. The first to put poison down, which he put in place where we both knew would be safe to cats etc. the second the poison had been taken and yes i did see the rat, he was very bloated and slow on his feet. It was never seen again after that. I asked him about others, breading etc and he said he thought it was a male rat as they are very territorial unlike the females.
So if you can hear lots of noise then yes i would get them out as soon as possible, they will also find out how they are getting in your loft too.. Ruby
Unfortunately the style of my house is such that the entrances up the outside walls won't ever be sealed. It's a little corrugated iron ex-shop built in the twenties. Every second curve of the corrugation is an entrance to the inside of the outer wall. So I know how they are getting in and it will be an ongoing battle to keep them out. I think they probably don't come down into the house because there are 4 cats here so once the current population has been dealt with I think I'll send the cats to the loft to leave their scent and hopefully deter any more moving in.
I bet the cats are thinking "Lets up there mum we will sort it"
They stand up on top of the wardrobe and paw at the ceiling, they'd love to get up there but they don't know what's good for them and I have no money for the Vet!"
Get them some armour |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I had rats in the garden in a previous house as a very stupid neighbour used to hand feed them in the morning (yes, really! She was mad)
The council sent a man to talk to her. We were told to ensure that no food stuffs were available, including fallen fruit in the garden. (They were also capable of climbing into the fruit trees and bushes and some of them were the size of otters.)
It is the only time I ever saw my very wussy dog kill anything. Quick nip on the neck and a toss into the air.
And, yes, the thought of my poor dog contracting Weil's terrified me.
A few traps and no available food persuaded them to go elsewhere in the end. |
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