I've got a RAT!!! (real) what do I do?

[Afghan Dave]

I've just found I've been sharing my kitchen with a rodent... he ran around me and under my sink and I'm not happy  PDT_039 PDT_041 PDT_047

Have any of you had this problem?

I'm kinda sure it's only one (please God) but what success have you guys had with DIY rat dispatch?

DON'T SAY GET A CAT!

[Twinfan]

Borrow Feline's....

[Frank]

I found a mouse in my kitchen years ago at my old house, they tend to come into warm kitchens when it gets really cold outside. Tried leaving my cat in the kitchen, she lasted 5 minutes before scratching on the door and crying to come back into the lounge so that wasn't really a successful measure.

You've got to block up any holes a rodent can get through - and mice can get through surprisingly tiny holes with surprising ease. We ended up with mice living in the ceiling space, scratching around at all hours of the night, quite disconcerting if you're up late watching a creepy film.

Humane mousetraps are available, if you've really got to trap the rat then I'd recommend those. Not only for animal respect reasons, if you've ever had to clean up a squished rat in your house then you'll appreciate being able to dispose of the rat miles from your home.

[Dmoney]

put down a trap?

A lot of houses ive lived in in london have had mice. I find as long as you keep the worktops and floors free of crumbs and stuff then eventually they learn there is no food for them and they stop mooching about.
If you have a rat though thats pretty bad. I met a girl who caught weils disease from a rat. not good

[Chris]

Had them in our garage when we first moved into our current house, but that was because some idiot had moved the soil stack and not closed off the open pipe to the sewer - I'm sure that's not the case in your kitchen!  For us getting rid of them was just a case of realising where they were getting in (that pipe) and closing it off.  Never had another problem after that.

After catching your visitor in a trap I guess you just need to see if you can figure out where he got in and seal it off?

Best of luck!  I know it is a horrible feeling when you find one.

[Frank]

some idiot had moved the soil stack and not closed off the open pipe to the sewer - I'm sure that's not the case in your kitchen!

This is precisely why I'm always careful to close off any open sewer pipes I find in my kitchen.

Just remembered, never bait mousetraps with cheese, they hate the smell of cheese. Chocolate is far better.

[Afghan Dave]

I "think" it's a rat but a small one.  :?

He must have come in to get warm and because the builders are digging up the street next door down to the foundations.

The humane traps look like a good bet because then I will eventually come face to face with my foe whom I have decided to call "Rat-Sputin"... giving me closure.

The disease aspect freeks the sh1t outta me....  :(

[Frank]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospirosis

[Kiichi]

Use a humane trap, catch it and then train it. Make it yours to command!!
From there, whatever you see fit (but donīt forget to teach it funnies).

[FernandoDuarte]

Put safety boots (with metal points) and kick it :)

[Frank]

[FernandoDuarte]

I love Flame-throwers :twisted:

[Afghan Dave]

Really...thanks... this isn't helping.  PDT_021

Gonna buy a trap tomorrow. If I catch it I will post a picture.

[MrBump]

some idiot had moved the soil stack and not closed off the open pipe to the sewer - I'm sure that's not the case in your kitchen!

This is precisely why I'm always careful to close off any open sewer pipes I find in my kitchen.

Just remembered, never bait mousetraps with cheese, they hate the smell of cheese. Chocolate is far better.

That's a total lie. 

I was in Tesco the other day, and I saw a mouse running around (I kid you not) the cheese isle, trying to get up and the yummy yellow stuff.

Please don't try to tell me again that Tom and Jerry have been lying to me all my life.

I've no experience with rats (apart from my lovely Rat modified Blackheart Little Giant...), but I had to remove squirrels from my loft a few years back.  Had to buy a proper squirrel trap, which worked a treat.

So - the trap gets my vote.  Put cheese in it...

[WezV]

get two.  put cheese on one, chocolate in the other... this needs settling!