Yesterday, I was bitten by a rat…. 🐀

In fact, thank you to everybody that has given me a positive response..😁

You have the patience of a saint, Shinamae! 😇

And for those that weren’t quite so positive but were concerned in case I got a nasty disease…..🙄

SueDonim

You have the patience of a saint, Shinamae! 😇

🤗

GrannyIvy

I’m sorry you were bitten but never handle a rat without gloves!! In fact I would run a mile from a rat I am scared of mice & rats. Call pest control to deal with it and see if you have a rat problem under your shed. Goodness how awful for you and hope you have no problems from the bite.

Well said. This rat needs to be killed and l am sure no vet would want to revive a wild rat, either. They are disgusting creatures, who carry multiple nasty diseases. You need to attend to the problem under the shed as your neighbours will not thank you if rats get into their gardens.

Did this thread go out on the daily email thing? as when they do they seem to attract a really negative, often aggressive response

Musicgirl

GrannyIvy

I’m sorry you were bitten but never handle a rat without gloves!! In fact I would run a mile from a rat I am scared of mice & rats. Call pest control to deal with it and see if you have a rat problem under your shed. Goodness how awful for you and hope you have no problems from the bite.

Well said. This rat needs to be killed and l am sure no vet would want to revive a wild rat, either. They are disgusting creatures, who carry multiple nasty diseases. You need to attend to the problem under the shed as your neighbours will not thank you if rats get into their gardens.

Music girl….And you need to read the whole of the thread!!

JaneJudge

Did this thread go out on the daily email thing? as when they do they seem to attract a really negative, often aggressive response

Not sure, Jane, but I don’t worry about people like that…😉

❤️

No vet will do anything for a wild rat, they're vermin. As cruel as it sounds your probably better off letting the dog do what it was bred to do at least the rat won't be suffering.

Oh and the rat of them under your shed? Lol they won't leave because of a dog unfortunately. My daughter has a terrier who actively catches the rats on a daily basis, for such intelligent creatures they're incredibly dumb. They're running round her garden in broad daylight, they don't care about the dog or her 2 cats.

Dreadwitch

No vet will do anything for a wild rat, they're vermin. As cruel as it sounds your probably better off letting the dog do what it was bred to do at least the rat won't be suffering.

Oh and the rat of them under your shed? Lol they won't leave because of a dog unfortunately. My daughter has a terrier who actively catches the rats on a daily basis, for such intelligent creatures they're incredibly dumb. They're running round her garden in broad daylight, they don't care about the dog or her 2 cats.

If you go back on this thread, I have posted an article which says the RSPCA work with Vets and they will put any injured wildlife to sleep for no charge 🙄

Rats don’t seem to like the smell of cats. There used to be some under our decking but since our cats have started going under there they have gone - the cats didn’t actually catch them but who would like a great big furry face with teeth near their home? One of them was a ginger coloured rat, quite nice looking. Maybe a bush rat rather than an ordinary one, I don’t know.

25Avalon thank you, found it!

MT62

Ooh you are brave 🤣I don’t like rats.
Funnily enough I watched a YouTube last night, clip of a woman who keeps them as pets… so clever, doing tricks & all sorts.
I think it’s the teeth & tail that puts me off.

Pet rats (known as Fancy rats) aren't like the wild ones seen in gardens and sewers. They're clean, intelligent and easy to keep. My son and his family have got a few.

They haven't got sphincter muscles, as far as I know.
Not your son and family, but rats, so they leak urine wherever they go.
I could be totally wrong on that, of course, but I'm convinced I've read it a few times.

MissAdventure

They haven't got sphincter muscles, as far as I know.
Not your son and family, but rats, so they leak urine wherever they go.
I could be totally wrong on that, of course, but I'm convinced I've read it a few times.

Rats have 3 different types of sphincter muscles.... pyloric, to keep food down. Anal, for faecal, and urethral, for urine. My son is obsessively clean and tidy and wouldn't tolerate any kind of mess. Rats tend to use only one area of their cage as a toilet.

Ah, I stand corrected.
Ive also heard that rats are like little mini dogs in terms of their ablility to learn tricks, show affection, and loyalty.

I'll not focus on their backsides in future, then

. Rats make lovely pets. That son had a couple when he was about 15. They are very intelligent and very clean. Easy to feed, too.

I'll have to check them out on youtube, I think.
I want a cat, really, but a pet that can interact with me would be lovely.

I think I'm a bit nervous of rats, that's the real issue.

It’s their tails that give me the heebie jeebies. Mice have cute tails.

Yes!
I spent a long time in the pet shop studying the rats, and their tails are very long and thick
It put the wind up me!

MissAdventure Get a cat - from a rescue place, as those places are full of them, all needing a home. (and are usually neutered/speyed by the rescue centre). Mine were all rescues or strays. Bear in mind, though, that they live for about 15-20 years, so adult cats are better.

I worry about the road, and don't want an indoor cat, though.

Its not a main road i live near to, but some people drive like idiots, because it's a long, straight run.
I've had cats before, but I was less inclined to worry about these things then. (and none of them got run over)

I've no garden, so if I opened the door, the cat would be "out", not just "out, out"

Then i worry that there's already a cat tjat lives in this block, and several round and about.
I wouldn't want my cat bullied.

I understand all those concerns and agree with all that. My current cat (a stray we took in almost 2 years ago). is FIV so only goes in the (large) back garden, which is enclosed. He stays in all night.

Ive been looking at "strictly indoor only cats" and fiv is the main reason, the other cat I found is totally incontinent ot urine and faeces, wears nappies, and needs them changed regularly.

I can't have a catio, because my flat opens out onto the council owned access path to the block.
Sigh.

Outdoor only/feral cats for adoption need outbuildings to access, too.

So, I'm either going to have to put my fears to one side and risk an outdoor cat, or spend my life saying "mind the cat!" and trying to squeeze out without letting the cat out of the door.

The other cat in the block goes out, but loves people, and makes a beeline to my flat, so he can get in and have a look around, and a cuddle. He doesnt actually wander far.
That's the kind of cat I'd like.