Rat in My Kitchen

[grancabrona]

I had my kitchen door open all evening and as I went to shut it, about 10.20pm, I saw a large rat run out! As far as I know the only way for them to get in is the garden door, I am just concerned that there might be a nest in the garden. Have people had experiences of rats getting in their homes? I won't consider poison just yet as we have a dog (she went straight to the spot in the garden the rat scampered to but unfortunately didn't find it!), however this is the first time in the 5 years of living on Keston Road that I have seen a rat in my flat! I think I would rather boil then experience that again!

[UncleBen]

Rats in homes are generally associated with dirty homes. I wouldn't let the dog near it as the dog will most likely end up with fleas at a minimum and fatal diseases at a max. Throughly clean the house from top to bottom so vermin will not be attracted. Good luck and let us know how yot get on.

[Jumoak]

Did he say he had rats living in the home? I just thought he saw one run out of the kitchen. I wouldn't be so bold to say your home is dirty gran cabrona, especially since you have been rat free for 5 years. However rats smell food and kitchens are where food tends to be so shut your kitchen door. Especially at night. I would definitely keep your dog away from any rats though.

Oh and Uncle Ben in my last flat I went to the kitchen and saw a rat there. I had a very old plumbing system you see, not a dirty home!

[GrahamP]

apologies in advance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHwPYze5M9s

[Jeremy]

Jumoak Wrote:

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> I wouldn't be so bold to say your home is dirty gran carbona

Yeah... most people aren't as "bold" as UncleBen!

[lameduck]

probably an opportunist little b who smelt kitchen food smell

and thought he would have a look, I would keep door shut and use windows

there are rats everywhere, like foxes. He is probably a wood rat

there are loads in the parks and cemetarys here.

must have been a terrible shock for you, i would have died.

but if you had a rat problem you would have known about it.

dont worry

lynne

[first mate]

I think we all have rats within 6-9 feet of us pretty much anywhere in the city environment. They live in sewers and anywhere else they can get a ready source of food, most stay clear of humans as a survival mechanism. In this case, I'm sure it is no reflection on how clean your house is- merely the mix of a bolder rat, wram weather and opportunity.

[Penguin68]

Many rats themselves are 'dirty' as many frequent sewers - although in 'leafy Dulwich' they are as likely to be living under patios and garden sheds. They are attracted by food, not dirt - so they fact that you have found one in your house says absolutely nothing about the cleanliness of the house.

Where food is left about (i.e. half eaten pizzas in student houses) this may encourage mice - and most rodents can get into e.g. storage cupboards through gaps you wouldn't believe.

If you have a dog (particularly of the terrier type) then any rat that visits is likely to be an opportunist, not a resident.

[woodrot]

first mate Wrote:

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> I think we all have rats within 6-9 feet of us

> pretty much anywhere in the city environment. They

> live in sewers and anywhere else they can get a

> ready source of food, most stay clear of humans as

> a survival mechanism. In this case, I'm sure it is

> no reflection on how clean your house is- merely

> the mix of a bolder rat, wram weather and

> opportunity.

I did once see a documentary about a rat who became a chef in an exclusice Paris resturant. I really opened my eyes as to how clever theses animals are. Maybe your rat was whipping up a Souffle in your kitchen ?

[Dopamine1979]

woodrot Wrote:

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> first mate Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I think we all have rats within 6-9 feet of us

> > pretty much anywhere in the city environment.

> They

> > live in sewers and anywhere else they can get a

> > ready source of food, most stay clear of humans

> as

> > a survival mechanism. In this case, I'm sure it

> is

> > no reflection on how clean your house is-

> merely

> > the mix of a bolder rat, wram weather and

> > opportunity.

>

>

>

> I did once see a documentary about a rat who

> became a chef in an exclusice Paris resturant. I

> really opened my eyes as to how clever theses

> animals are. Maybe your rat was whipping up a

> Souffle in your kitchen ?

:)

[*Bob*]

Let us chant together the eternal rat myth cobbers

"YOU ARE NEVER MORE THAN TWO CENTIMETERS AWAY FROM AT LEAST FOUR RATS AT ALL TIMES"

amen

Ps - Bob Holness / Saxophone Solo / Baker Street

[woodrot]

pps marc Almond/ berlin/ 3 litres

[El Pibe]

rat population/proximity thing gets regularly debunked

http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/rats.asp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20716625

[first mate]

I stand corrected. The OP was visited by a bolder, travelling rat.

[Dopamine1979]

What are you gonna do?

There's a rat in your kitchen.

What are you gonna do?

Sorry.

[Otta]

We were all thinking it.

[Voyageur]

Someone made a comment about rats in homes being generally associated with them being dirty, which is a load of bunkum frankly.

We suffered from a rat problem in our block of flats a few years ago, and my flat is clean as a whistle. We had to call out the council vermin crew who advised that rats were entering homes as they were being driven out of their usual habitats by rising water levels - the rats were evidently entering via the drains and scaling the walls internally. The rat poison went down and we were warned by the vermin crew to expect a surge in rats for a week or two! My cats and I fought a valiant battle over the next 2 weeks before they were slain either by feline or poison. All external entry holes were blocked up and we haven't seen them since.

Incidentally, one of the vermin crew said that he had recently acquired a moggie as there had been an increase in rats breaking into nearby homes and trying to find new places to nest as they had been displaced due to demolition works going on nearby.

[Dopamine1979]

Voyageur Wrote:

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> Someone made a comment about rats in homes being

> generally associated with them being dirty, which

> is a load of bunkum frankly.

> We suffered from a rat problem in our block of

> flats a few years ago, and my flat is clean as a

> whistle. We had to call out the council vermin

> crew who advised that rats were entering homes as

> they were being driven out of their usual habitats

> by rising water levels - the rats were evidently

> entering via the drains and scaling the walls

> internally. The rat poison went down and we were

> warned by the vermin crew to expect a surge in

> rats for a week or two! My cats and I fought a

> valiant battle over the next 2 weeks before they

> were slain either by feline or poison. All

> external entry holes were blocked up and we

> haven't seen them since.

> Incidentally, one of the vermin crew said that he

> had recently acquired a moggie as there had been

> an increase in rats breaking into nearby homes and

> trying to find new places to nest as they had been

> displaced due to demolition works going on nearby.

Have you considered writing this as a screenplay?

[Voyageur]

Dopamine1979 Wrote:

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> Have you considered writing this as a screenplay?

Uncanny! Yes I have!

Fancy a walk on part as a disease ridden rat? :)

[Dopamine1979]

E-mail my agent.

No nudity though.

[UncleBen]

Have the rats been caught yet?