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Rats

(45 Posts)
GoldenAge Wed 02-Jul-25 14:30:42

Like ExDancer, I too live on a farm and we have many rats but I only see them where there's food - they especially like to see what the chickens have left and enjoy bird seed that's fallen from the many feeders, but humans they don't enjoy one bit, and a rat isn't going to climb in any window without the promise of lunch.

DollyRocker Wed 02-Jul-25 14:25:29

Londoner here, rats everywhere due to rubbish and takeaway shops. Thank heavens for the local cats and foxes. Can you borrow a jack Russell, they're brilliant ratters?

sazz1 Wed 02-Jul-25 14:10:36

Yes I've seen 3 rats in my lifetime. One in our garden at our old house. One was in our kitchen cupboard here. Dog was going mad trying to knock down the kick board. The 3rd was in our dog washing shelter in the garden. I screamed and it ran away. I told OH I'm getting pest control if I see another (it's free from council here) but that was 2 yrs ago and haven't seen any since. They will come into the house if they spot a door or window open at night.

Mt61 Wed 02-Jul-25 14:01:23

I remember sleeping down stairs with the top half of my stable door open for air. One night just looking out & massive tail passed my back door ahh- never slept with it open after that

Kate1949 Wed 02-Jul-25 14:00:54

Oh no keepingquiet just scuttling around the garden.

Sharr22 Wed 02-Jul-25 13:52:09

My neighbour has dogs & cats, I used to have cats. Most rats & mice I've seen in close vicinity to my house are dead.
I leave my back door open in summer, now I'm worried!

Abitbarmy Tue 01-Jul-25 20:31:05

massive rat..

Abitbarmy Tue 01-Jul-25 20:30:32

This is such a coincidence! I was just sat in the garden about 10 minutes ago monitoring the solar powered irrigation system when a massive right shot out from under my car making for the open garage whe it saw me and retreated. We’re blaming next door bird feeding but maybe unfairly. DH has put the camera trap up…

David49 Tue 01-Jul-25 20:19:46

I hope your park home owner has a rat control plan active, look for square black boxes with a hole each end alongside walls.
It’s highly unlikely that a rat could climb in through a top window there is no grip on the glass below.

Unless someone else knows different?

keepingquiet Tue 01-Jul-25 20:18:45

Kate1949

We get the occasional one as we live by a canal.

In your bedroom??

keepingquiet Tue 01-Jul-25 20:18:26

I once knew someone who went on holiday abroad with a friend. Although it was very hot her friend insisted on keeping the windows shut. Her reason? She was frightened someone would climb up the balconies and come into their room. They were on the fifth floor!!

ExDancer Tue 01-Jul-25 20:06:59

Katjoy I really would waste your time worrying about a rat getting through your windows, please don't let it stop you opening your them.

Kate1949 Tue 01-Jul-25 19:52:03

We get the occasional one as we live by a canal.

Usedtobeblonde Tue 01-Jul-25 19:39:05

My very small cat has caught three rats in the last few months.
She brought the last one , a small young one, in on Sunday morning, it was dead and seemed unmarked.
My 14 year old GS asked if Molly could have strangled it.
He was the one who found it on the living room carpet.
I cannot comment on their climbing skills.

ExDancer Tue 01-Jul-25 19:29:27

Poor lady, living in fear of rats going to the trouble of climbing up the house wall and getting into her bedroom during the night!
They may say that no matter where we live, town or country, we are always less than 10ft away from a rat - can I ask how many of us have seen one? I live on a farm and seldom see one unless I go specially looking.
Rats have better things to do with their time than terrorising humans in their beds. Food is their top priority so they'd be heading for your kitchen, not your bedroom, if they take the trouble to invade your house.
If you're really worried get some of that mesh that let's the air through and stick it round your open window and try to stop worrying. Mr Rat is terrified of you and won't come near you unless he's desperate and you have food in your bedroom. Please don't let this lady scare you into losing sleep.

MaizieD Tue 01-Jul-25 19:21:19

Rats are very agile creatures, but I really doubt it would bother with trying to climb to a top window.

I'm sure it will be fine to keep your window open.

J52 Tue 01-Jul-25 19:15:34

Could you get metal grill put on your window so you can open it but nothing can get in?
We had something like this on the ground floor window of the all female Uni hall I was in. I think it was to keep the two legged rats out!

butterandjam Tue 01-Jul-25 19:15:32

She's being ridiculous.

We always sleep with our ground floor bedroom window open at the bottom, lots of rats round here but none has ever come in to the bedroom. 25 years and counting...

merlotgran Tue 01-Jul-25 18:56:52

Whether you live in a town or the country there will most definitely be a rat about somewhere but unless you leave food out at night or anything else that may attract them they are unlikely to bother you.

I’m sure there will be easier food sources to temp them outside.

Katjoy Tue 01-Jul-25 18:41:05

I live in a park home (like a bungalow) in the countryside, went to bingo and got talking to a lady about the hot weather and I said I always sleep with my top window open in my bedroom. She was aghast and said “you know if a rat is about he’ll come into your bedroom whilst you are asleep”. I’m now petrified to sleep with my window open and the bedroom is stifling hot. Can I have your thoughts please.