There's a rat in the kitchen, what am i going to do?

beeza

beeza

Silver
Nov 2, 2006
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Actually I think I know what I need to do.....I need a cat.

This rat problem has escalated since my poor ol puss died about a year ago. I brought her over from England and she spent the twilight of her life trying to chase rats and lizards. I think rats can smell cats. Even though she seldom caught a rat, we never seemed to have this huge and potentially health hazard problem that we have now.

So it's time we got another cat. I would like a kitten that comes from a good ratter and one that has the potential to grow into a large cat.

I also have a pair of Malinois Belgian shepherds, so any advice on how I can socialise these dogs with a kitten would be very welcome.

So anyone on the North Coast that can help, please let me know.

Cheers
 
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PeteyPablo

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Apr 30, 2011
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A glue trap works wonders. It doesn't require training, won't need to socialize with your dogs, doesn't produce a vet bill, and best of all it won't reproduce...adding to the problem of pets on the street.
 
Hillbilly

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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If you have rats, the glue strips will not work very well. Sometimes they'll work and other times the rats just leave a bunch of their hair on the traps...

I would suggest an exterminator. Someone who will put out really nasty rat poison for you. There are plenty of these people in your area. Just keep your dogs away from the bait.

Usually, the baits are placed in inaccessible places but dogs are known to get into these places anyway, since they can't read that they are inaccessible ...So make sure that they are well hidden under cinderblocks and such, where the vermin go for walks.

You will need a follow up treatment in a month or so...

HB
 
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PeteyPablo

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Apr 30, 2011
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As a dog owner, poison is a scary proposition. There is no doubt that poison is effective, but I have never had to resort to it. My dogs are very crafty and I would not chance it.

Back home in NYC, we had RATS. The trick is not to place the bait on the trap itself, bit instead place the glue traps in a tight circle (edges stacked on each other) and put the bait in the middle. Just set it out at night and you can lock your dogs elsewhere (mine are usually in the room with me). Then in the morning just pick up and move out of the way. No worries about the doggies ingesting nasty stuff.

You won't have to do this long at all, a tasty piece of chicken is hard for those critters to pass up. Never had one escape me to this day using this method.
 
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SantiagueroRD

Bronze
Apr 20, 2011
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Good Afternoon, Mothballs for those places that are hidden (false ceilings, behind counters, below cabinets) and peanut butter with the wooden traps. If you saw one there are a dozen. Good luck.
 
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dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,266
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many kittehs needing help in DR, man. just go out to the street and you will find it. give it deparasitante and feed it and you will have the best pest control machine there is.
as far as socializing cats with dogs: a cat has to be really samll so it does not know much. take it out to the dogs and let'em smell its a**. :) that body part is a lot more appreciated than head than can hiss and bite :) and the kitten will not know much what is happening behind it ;)
i wish you well. i will keep my eyes open if i see any kitteh in need of help. all my cats were street cats and there is nothing better. they know you saved their life and they will always love you for it...
 
Z

zoomzx11

Gold
Jan 21, 2006
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glue traps did not work at all for me. Standard spring traps got em. A cat will keep them away. Dont over feed it. Get a very small kitten and introduce it to the dogs while the dogs are on leash. Being on leash changes the dogs mentality about what they can get away with if they are at all trained. Dogs and cats can get along if they are introduced properly and the cat is a bit easy going. Without a cat the rats will return and you will have to trap them all over again. I use peanut butter as bait.
 
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CoreyH

New member
Mar 5, 2010
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Depending on where you are on the North Coast, AAAS Sosua/Judy's Pet Lodge may now of, or have, some kittens.
 
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PeterInBrat

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May 29, 2006
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I had a rat in my condo and figured out it was coming in through a conduit for the AC. The landlord patched up the hole from the outside with some concrete and I never had another problem. Try to figure out where it's coming in.

I've heard that putting down AJAX or other cleansing powders on their paths works well as a deterrent. The critters walk through it and then they lick their feet. It doesn't kill them, but they will avoid coming back to the same place.
 
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Ringo

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Mar 6, 2003
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We have had the same problem with rats. They have taken over the pool house and now moved into our garage. We have been using the rat poison and being very carefull that the dogs don't get into it. But it has been a month and it appear to be no end to putting out the poison, it's gone in the morning but more droppings the next day. Not cats, the dogs eat them.

Ants have also popped up as a problem. Perhaps all the rain we have had has changed their habits.
 
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jrhartley

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Sep 10, 2008
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definately more ants at the moment of various kinds- we had a rat in a suspended ceiling that refused to leave
 
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whirleybird

Silver
Feb 27, 2006
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Despite many dogs on the outside terrace, 2 cats and 1 dog on my bed and a terrier in the living room, one daring rat entered through the living room window and made its way into my bedroom one night just before Christmas. No-one really gave chase so there he remained until the morning when he was disturbed from his hiding place behind the chair whereupon he ran through the house and out the top half of the back door gate. Pursued by my worker, Tuly, and Shaka the Ridgeback he was tracked down in the garden and destroyed.

My worst problem, however, is rats in the car engine who seem unperturbed by the noise and the heat even whilst driving... yet another was chased out last night upon my return from Sosua and as far as I know may still be at large. The dogs tell me when there is one there but catching them is another matter.

As I won't have poison on the place I have resorted to camphor cubes (similar to mothballs) as I understand the rats have an aversion to the smell - not sure it works though!!
 
beeza

beeza

Silver
Nov 2, 2006
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whirleybird said:
Despite many dogs on the outside terrace, 2 cats and 1 dog on my bed and a terrier in the living room, one daring rat entered through the living room window and made its way into my bedroom one night just before Christmas. No-one really gave chase so there he remained until the morning when he was disturbed from his hiding place behind the chair whereupon he ran through the house and out the top half of the back door gate. Pursued by my worker, Tuly, and Shaka the Ridgeback he was tracked down in the garden and destroyed.

My worst problem, however, is rats in the car engine who seem unperturbed by the noise and the heat even whilst driving... yet another was chased out last night upon my return from Sosua and as far as I know may still be at large. The dogs tell me when there is one there but catching them is another matter.

As I won't have poison on the place I have resorted to camphor cubes (similar to mothballs) as I understand the rats have an aversion to the smell - not sure it works though!!
Click to expand...

Rats in your engine compartment can do all sorts of untold damage. Once they start to chew through wires and hoses, the consequences can be very expensive, as I found out when I returned after leaving my jeep in the garage for a couple of months.

The mechanic who helped me fix the car told me that if you leave a few rags soaked in diesel under the bonnet, the smell will repel them.
 
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