Rat-a-tat-tat

Sput · Mon 07 Dec, 2009 22.28

Hey all! Now then, I've just despatched a full size horrid rat from my kitchen and I'm wondering if I should expect more! Any general rules of thumb here? I've not seen any evidence of its existence before today, just that it did a poo and was arrogantly rummaging around in a plastic bag full of carrier bags even though I made my disapproval VERY obvious.

Ebeneezer Scrooge · Mon 07 Dec, 2009 22.55

I was under the impression that you have a legal obligation to report rats if they are in your property. I googled it and it seems to point toward the 'Prevention of damage by pests act'.
It's not unusual to find a rat on it's own but due to their nature, more often than not, there's likely to be more somewhere nearby!

DVB Cornwall · Mon 07 Dec, 2009 22.57

Ask Gino for a recipe.

...........

Seriously keep an eye open if you don't get another by next Monday I'd say you're ok. I had a major problem when a new school was built near me for almost two years until their relocated nest was discovered and destroyed.

Sput · Mon 07 Dec, 2009 23.04

Ebeneezer Scrooge wrote:I was under the impression that you have a legal obligation to report rats if they are in your property. I googled it and it seems to point toward the 'Prevention of damage by pests act'.
It's not unusual to find a rat on it's own but due to their nature, more often than not, there's likely to be more somewhere nearby!

Why thankyou for the pearls of wisdom. I certainly intend to ring the landlord tomorrow and place the ball in their court, I only found it tonight. Given that I live right in the middle of the city and have an alley behind the flat it doesn't seem surprising that a rat would pay a visit!

Rather proud of my approach, incidentally: did a giant version of the spider/glass/card trick using a big plastic box and cupboard door

nidave · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 12.33

We live not too far from the river and there is a rough wooded area not far from us as well.
Our cats regularly bring us in presents of mice which we have finally trained them to ear in their food bowl (that is when they do decide to eat them not just toy with them like the evil creatures they seem to be).

A few times the smaller of the two cats have brought in Rats, HUGE rats. nearly as big as the cat himself.

He always comes in with an air of superiority, as if to say look at what I have done... needless to say we are not as pleased with the kill as the cat seems to be and we end up having to bin the rodent. This causes the cat to go in to what can only be described as a strop. He is not happy with events and is going to make sure we know about it.

fusionlad · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 16.24

I believe a call to your local authority is in order. They are obliged to come out to sort the issue for free.

Gavin Scott · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 16.49

nidave wrote:We live not too far from the river and there is a rough wooded area not far from us as well.
Our cats regularly bring us in presents of mice which we have finally trained them to ear in their food bowl (that is when they do decide to eat them not just toy with them like the evil creatures they seem to be).

A few times the smaller of the two cats have brought in Rats, HUGE rats. nearly as big as the cat himself.

He always comes in with an air of superiority, as if to say look at what I have done... needless to say we are not as pleased with the kill as the cat seems to be and we end up having to bin the rodent. This causes the cat to go in to what can only be described as a strop. He is not happy with events and is going to make sure we know about it.

Cats are fabulous for having tantrums. Ours used to present dead birds under the kitchen table, and then get very cross when we shouted at him.

I think you're supposed to lavish them with praise and then send them out the room before cleaning up - that way they think you're eating their gift.

Be aware - some local authorities charge for their environmental wardens. It used to be free to get an exterminator round to remove a wasp nest - but now it can cost a few quid.

Make sure you tell them to bill your landlord as appropriate...

fusionlad · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 17.33

Gavin Scott wrote: Make sure you tell them to bill your landlord as appropriate...

I believe the landlord has no obligation to deal with vermin. When I had a small mouse in the house, the letting agents informed me that it was the tenant's responsibility.

My council; Plymouth City Council would charge for the removal of mice, but rats were dealt with for free, because of the environmental health issues.

I agree though; the landlord should pay in my opinion, as long as you've kept your house reasonably clean!

Lorns · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 17.39

I'm very lucky with my cats. They don't believe in wasting their prey, they scoff the lot. Normally only a few feathers or a mice tail to clear up from the garden.
I used to have a dog, i would often walk her through Kearsney Abbey gardens. There are loads of water rats there. The council once a year would lay rat poison kill them off before they had their al fresco soiree council get together there. My dog caught a slowly dying rat, before i could stop her, she'd sunk her teeth into it and put it out of it's misery. The next day i had to rush my dog off to the vet,the poisoned rat she caught nearly killed her.

Dr Lobster* · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 21.35

i can't give you any tips that specifically pertain to rats, but we had a mouse. i was initally alerted to it's presence after a suspicious hole was detected in a roll of bin bags after i returned from holiday.

i put two traps out, one with cheese the other with a sausage and it was the one with the sausage that got it.

Sput · Tue 08 Dec, 2009 21.44

Is that Bagpuss you've used for bait there?