Rat-Gate...

[fliptheswitch]

I'm having problems with rat-gate... again.
I thought I was being dramatic, but there's definitely something there.
I cleared away absolutely everything last night, and swept and bleached the floor. I've been doing this every night, so I could plainly see if any droppings had been left, the next day.
Got up this morning, went into the kitchen. Still no signs of droppings, BUT, the oven glove (which hangs over the oven door handle) was on the floor, and had been chewed!! URGHHHHH!
Also, there were oranges on the floor, which had been in a bowl, on a shelf, quite high up from the ground.
There were also two receipts/giftcards, that I'd put up on top of the shelving unit, which were in the middle of the floor, and had been slightly bitten.

It's like coming down to find an invisible dog has been in the house!

Pest control are coming out Friday afternoon.

I've left traps, but nothing has been caught.

I'm starting to consider the "broken glass in peanut butter" method, that someone suggested.

Any other ideas? Would getting a cat be a bit drastic?

[sunny-dave]

Leave lights on - set up webcam - record overnight?

Won't solve problem, but may identify it ...

[sunny-dave]

and lol at title - I had images of a rat equivalent of a cat-flap >:=)

[fliptheswitch]

Actually, Dave, I thought about that this morning.
On thing is, would it come out with the lights on, or do they only show their faces in the dark?

[sunny-dave]

I don't think the light would matter - it's the quietness that they wait for.

They may wear masks so you can't identify them though ...

[Barmaid]

If you want a cat, no. Trouble is some cats are not very bright. At least one of mine would just sit and look at it. Another problem is that if it is a fully grown rat, you need a fairly big evil cat to have a go.

I'd sprinkle some flour round the perimeter of the room so you can see where it comes in and out and then wait for pest control.

[RATTER15]

>>I'm starting to consider the "broken glass in peanut butter" method, that someone suggested.<<

Do not consider this an further!!! your rat or mouse is just trying to eek a living the same as you or I, I accept that its death is the only realistic way to deal with it but the poisons that are used these days are very effective and as humane as possible.

What you are considering is totally inhumane!!! and in fact very unlikely to be effective.

[ummmm]

Just don't get a cat like mine. He'd just sit in the corner and cry.

[Barmaid]

Can you smell anything? Rats are incontinent so you should be able to smell it. Mice are too - if you smell almonds, its more than likely meeces!

[RATTER15]

So many rat and mice problems are caused by cats in the first place, A cat is highly unlikely to solve your problem and very likely to introduce another rat or mouse in the future.

[redvanman]

Hi peanut butter on a trap with a warfrin tablet or just peanut butter

[Barmaid]

lol Ratter, how right you are. When ASBO was young, he brought in a live rat and then got bored and dumped it in the living room. I had to get my old lady (who was a superb ratter/mouser) to go kill it for me.

[RATTER15]

Barmaid, having worked around rats and mice for so many years, I have never heard of mouse urine smelling of almonds, I for one could never tell an infestation from smelling urine, they both smell exactly the same to me and even in all my training on identifying the difference this was never mentioned.
Do you know something that the pest control experts dont?

[fliptheswitch]

LOL @ they may wear masks! :D Maybe I should get Crimewatch involved? Get an e-fit done.

BM, I've always said I wouldn't cat, as I live on a main road and I'd be concerned for it's safety. Saying that, I'm moving soon. Plus, a "big, evil cat" sounds a bit scary... not so sure my little'un would take to it! :)
The flour around the perimeter is a fantastic idea! I'd read about putting flour down, but it didn't say anything about putting it around the outside of the room, so I wasn't sure how it would help. Great idea though, I'll be doing that tonight! Thanks :-)

Ratter, I doubt very much I would actually do that. I am just at my wits end. It's not being destructive, just annoying and makes me feel sick!
The woman I spoke to at pest control, said they put down poison which "slowly kills them by internal bleeding". Is that humane? Really?
I don't really care, rats are vermin and I want rid!

[fliptheswitch]

Lol Ummmm :D

Right. Lets forget the cat. Seems a bit drastic to just get a cat for that reason. Also, I don't even like cats.
Sounds stupid, could reggie (the budgie) be the reason I now have a furry friend coming in? He's not even in the kitchen, but I'm just clutching at straws here. The woman at pest control said it was "strange" than a rat/mouse would bother with an oven glove, as they're usually only after food.
Also, the oven glove is quite high off the floor, so how on earth would the rat get to it? Can they jump? *shudder*
Warfrin? What is that and where do I get it? Do I crush it up and mix it in with the peanut butter?

Thanks :-)

[Barmaid]

Perhaps it's an old wives tale Ratter. However, I do remember opening the cupboard under the stairs and getting a strong whiff of almonds. Bloody infested with mice. And boy did it niff when the poison I put down started to work!

I always remember my grandfather saying to my dad one day "there's a rat in the kitchen". When asked how he knew (grandpa couldn't walk as far as the kitchen and had a carer come in) he said he could "smell the little *****".

But I do defer to you, Ratter. I admit my experience of small furry things is largely limited to cats!

[ummmm]

Leave the lights on...

We had some rats...massive yolks they were...but only came out in the dark.

We had a new kitchen fitted, whatever gap they were getting through had obviously been blocked up. Never seen them since!

Although this does time in with the alkies next door getting evicted.

[RATTER15]

>>The woman I spoke to at pest control, said they put down poison which "slowly kills them by internal bleeding". Is that humane? Really?<<

Yes really, it actually kills them quite quickly, yes they bleed internally, they feel no pain in the bleeding, they then go into shock and die relatively painlessly.

We are no longer permitted to use poisons that would cause undue suffering, im not saying that they don't suffer, im saying that it is far more humane than your alternative.

[fliptheswitch]

Nah, there's no smell whatsoever. Just the smell of bleach, where I'm frantically cleaning all the god damn time.

Pest control said it's more than likely to be coming from under the kitchen cupboards... but how on earth would it get into the actual kitchen?!
There are no holes to be seen.
It's a mystery.

[fliptheswitch]

What about the other kind of traps? The ones that snap over and catch them?
Are they effective?
The woman on the phone said sometimes they don't actually fully kill them, so I'd have to "deal with it" myself. Blurgh.

I have to pop out now, but any more suggestions would be much appreciated... although I don't think there's much more I can do.

[Ratty2E]

I know you are annoyed at this creature invading your home but please remember it is a living being just like you and making it suffer will not make you feel better.