Any pest infestation can be annoying, but having rats in your home can be a particular nuisance, net alone disgusting and dangerous. If you let rats run riot in your home, they can do some significant damage, including wrecking your furniture, wiring and electrics, internal structures, and personal items by chewing on them. That sounds bad enough, but these rodents can carry up to 50 different diseases that can be transmitted to humans. So yes, in other words, you certainly don’t want rats in your house or even your garden, at that matter.
So, in today’s article, we are going to share our top tips for dealing with a rat infestation and what preventative measures you can put in place to stop them from ever returning. One thing to be aware of, however, is that rats can be a real pain to get rid of, so if you try all of our tips and they’re still in your home, make sure you seek the help of a professional rat exterminator.
Don’t Give Them a Reliable Food Source
One of the most effective things you can do when it comes to a rat infestation is eliminating any food sources that they are or could feed on. By doing so, you deny rats one of the reasons they chose your home in the first place. You should also take your rubbish out as soon as you’ve accumulated some and make sure that it’s stored away in a container that rats can’t infiltrate.
Get Your Home Professional Sealed
Getting your home professionally sealed is highly effective in terms of stopping rats from getting in. But let us just state the obvious, only get your home sealed up once you’ve eliminated any rats already in your house. After all, they need a way to leave. Rats are opportunists, so even though they’ll try and access your home, when they realise they can’t, they’ll move on to another house to try their luck.
Deny Them of Shelter
Rats also like to have a place where they feel safe, can sleep and where they can safely raise their young. Some rats will actually climb trees to gain access to roofs and lofts, whilst others will use garden sheds as their place of safety. Rats are nocturnal pests, so if they do feel comfortable and safe, then they’ll come out at night looking for food and run riot in your home until they find some.
So, if you want to make them feel unwelcome, you need to deny them of shelter or anywhere you think they might like. After all, they will certainly not stay in your home if you try to make them feel uncomfortable on purpose.
Don’t Just Get a Cat Thinking The Rats Will Go Away
Yes, we completely agree that cats make great pets and are natural-born hunters. But, getting a cat simply to get rid of rats really isn’t a good idea. Here’s why. When a cat catches a mouse (and we won’t go into the detail), there’s a high chance of them getting infected with something rather nasty. Plus, a cat is only going to be able to do so much. Rats like to nest and sleep within the walls of a house, so a cat isn’t going to be able to get to them.
Call in The Professionals If You Need To
If you’ve tried all of our tips, don’t be ashamed if you need to call in a professional rat removal company. They’ll have a team of experienced and fully qualified experts who can come to your home and discreetly eliminate the rats. You’ll be able to count on them to do a thorough job so your life can get back to normal as soon as it possibly can.
