Rat in my garden this morning
Discussion
This may be nothing, but this morning at about 07.30 I looked into the garden and saw this -
They say you're never more than 6 feet from a rat but this is the first time I've seen one on my property. It looked about 4 or 5 inches long plus tail. We have a 3 year old daughter and a cat so I'm reluctant to get rat poison, so what's the best course of action?
There aren't any broken drains around (not that I can smell anyway) and we live in a 'clean' area.
Any chance this could be a tame (pet) rat which has escaped ?
They say you're never more than 6 feet from a rat but this is the first time I've seen one on my property. It looked about 4 or 5 inches long plus tail. We have a 3 year old daughter and a cat so I'm reluctant to get rat poison, so what's the best course of action?
There aren't any broken drains around (not that I can smell anyway) and we live in a 'clean' area.
Any chance this could be a tame (pet) rat which has escaped ?
Edited by Mark34bn on Tuesday 6th April 10:22
I'm not sure if a cat will go for a rat, unless your cat is a nutter! Think it might be a bit big for a cat to tackle, ours have never brought a rat home, just the odd mouse.
Likewise our cat won't attack birds as big as a Magpie.....but then again our cat is very odd!
I would keep away from poison, especially as you have a pet & a young child. Have you got an air rifle? They can be quite effective!
If you have a nice clean garden with nothing to really attract rats such as rubbish etc then hopefully its just a one off & you may never see it again.
Likewise our cat won't attack birds as big as a Magpie.....but then again our cat is very odd!
I would keep away from poison, especially as you have a pet & a young child. Have you got an air rifle? They can be quite effective!
If you have a nice clean garden with nothing to really attract rats such as rubbish etc then hopefully its just a one off & you may never see it again.
Unfortunately I don't have my air rifle any more, that would have been fun! Our cat is an old lady now but a bit of a nutter who will attack anything. I'm a bit worried about her being bitten by the rat and getting an infection.
Hopefully it was a one off, I might charge the pressure washer with bleach and blast down behind the garage where the rat was seen.
Hopefully it was a one off, I might charge the pressure washer with bleach and blast down behind the garage where the rat was seen.
Arese said:
I feel for you, they are disgusting creatures. I had to pick a dead one up once, and even in gloves I could feel the horribleness of it's tail. <shudder>
Use a shovel next time. No need to touch it then 
OP could ask a local Pher to lend their air rife in exchange for some beer tokens perhaps.
soad said:
Arese said:
I feel for you, they are disgusting creatures. I had to pick a dead one up once, and even in gloves I could feel the horribleness of it's tail. <shudder>
Use a shovel next time. No need to touch it then OP could ask a local Pher to lend their air rife in exchange for some beer tokens perhaps.
I had to drag it out by its tail, and put it in a shoebox until the council chap arrived to take it away.Have a word with your cat
When we moved in, we had rats in our compost heap. Our little female tabby cat killed at least two and got rid of the rest. Big ginger beast and other little female cat showed no interest in them. I think some cats are ratters and some aren't, but female cats seem to be more predatory and small cats seem to be big enough to kill rats.
When we moved in, we had rats in our compost heap. Our little female tabby cat killed at least two and got rid of the rest. Big ginger beast and other little female cat showed no interest in them. I think some cats are ratters and some aren't, but female cats seem to be more predatory and small cats seem to be big enough to kill rats.
Arese said:
Some kind of ethical trap? I feel for you, they are disgusting creatures. I had to pick a dead one up once, and even in gloves I could feel the horribleness of it's tail. <shudder>
My pet one sitting on my shoulder might freak you out then. She tends to wrap her tail round my neck to help her hold on.When I lived in Prestwick I had a 6 foot wall all round the back garden, nothing could get either in or out. I came home one night about 3am and as I opened the back gate I saw a rat scurry past me into the garden. You'll regret that I thought.
Next morning when I got up I let one of the cats out, less than 5 minutes later that rat was dispatched and lying dead on the back step. And that was by the smaller of my two cats, the farm cat moggy rather than the large Maine Coon (which were originally bred to be ratters if I'm not mistaken). Mind you it was the same cat that killed a Magpie the day after coming home from the vets with a badly sprained ankle and instructions to try to get him to rest.
Don't underestimate the cat, it's easy to forget that that purring bundle on your lap is actually a card carrying psychopath with a record of serial killing it's way through the local population of small animals and possibly the reason why your neighbours have to explain to their children the reason why their new puppy is lying disembowelled on the back lawn.
Mind you on the other hand the cat could just as well say sod this for a game of soldiers and return to sleeping on the bed.
Next morning when I got up I let one of the cats out, less than 5 minutes later that rat was dispatched and lying dead on the back step. And that was by the smaller of my two cats, the farm cat moggy rather than the large Maine Coon (which were originally bred to be ratters if I'm not mistaken). Mind you it was the same cat that killed a Magpie the day after coming home from the vets with a badly sprained ankle and instructions to try to get him to rest.
Don't underestimate the cat, it's easy to forget that that purring bundle on your lap is actually a card carrying psychopath with a record of serial killing it's way through the local population of small animals and possibly the reason why your neighbours have to explain to their children the reason why their new puppy is lying disembowelled on the back lawn.
Mind you on the other hand the cat could just as well say sod this for a game of soldiers and return to sleeping on the bed.
Edited by youngsod on Tuesday 6th April 10:49
Wacky Racer said:
oobster said:
Here was me thinking that the General Gassing forum was for car-related topics too. What an eejit I've been.
Was the rat using any form of powered vehicle in your garden? Ride-on lawn mower maybe?
Was the rat using any form of powered vehicle in your garden? Ride-on lawn mower maybe?
Edited by Mark34bn on Tuesday 6th April 11:00
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