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Noises in kitchen, absolutely shitting myself

359 replies

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 21:54

First of all, I have a huge phobia of rats. To the point I can’t function if there is one nearby. I have fainted before when seeing one as a teenager.

anyway, partner is currently out with a mate and won’t be home for a few hours. I cooked my dinner and left his portion on the kitchen counter next to microwave for him to warm up when he gets in, as I’ll likely have gone to bed by then. Went back into living room and put TV on not thinking anything of it, door to kitchen slightly ajar. I can now hear rustling noises. Really weird, the dryer and washer aren’t on and I can’t think of anything else that would explain the noise. It’s really loud though, like something has taken food from the plate and is dragging it along the kitchen floor/kitchen counter, I’m genuinely terrified and physically can’t move from the sofa to go and look. The kitchen counters are raised a few inches from the floor so would be easy for rats to be under there. I’m really frightened so please talk to me until partner gets home as I genuinely am stuck to the sofa with fear.

OP posts:
papadontpreach2me · 05/05/2024 22:43

nadine90 · 05/05/2024 22:27

Oh god! Rats are the worst. I had them in a flat years ago, barely slept for weeks 🤢
They are scared by noises and will run and hide if they hear you coming. Until you know what it is, you will be thinking the worst. I would get completely dressed - big boots on, long legs long sleeves. Grab something heavy, help you feel a bit safer. And go have a look. Even if it is a rat, I promise it won’t be as scary as you are building it up in your head.

How did they get into your flat? Can rats climb?

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:43

Just heard from partner who is on the bus, he’s a bit tipsy but not hammered thank god! He reckons it’s a cat that has come in for the salmon. He is going to have a look around kitchen

OP posts:
bluebag27 · 05/05/2024 22:40

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 05/05/2024 22:33

Potato wedges do not make noises when dragged across a kitchen floor.

Sorry this made me laugh 🤣

ThelmaDinkley · 05/05/2024 22:37

It will be a cat. The smell of salmon will be really tempting for it.

Pipecleanerrevival · 05/05/2024 22:35

I think you should miaow at the door and see if it answers you.

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 05/05/2024 22:33

Potato wedges do not make noises when dragged across a kitchen floor.

Sauvblanctime · 05/05/2024 22:33

Nosey follow 👀

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 05/05/2024 22:32

Right Op, you need to calm down. All these posters are not helping you.

breathe carefully and considerately. Being able to identify from a different room, with an ear infection that the random sound you can hear is precisely a rat dragging a potato wedge is your imagination in overdrive.

either go and check, because your imagination will be worse, or calm your breathing, podcast on and wait until your partner is home.

hyperventillating on mumsnet will not assist you.

RatintheCat · 05/05/2024 22:32

Oh OP I've had similar and it was a cat! Long ago before I had my own cats and it woke me up, I thought it was a person! Keeping my fingers crossed you have a feline burglar rather than a ratty one.

DoYouSmokePaul · 05/05/2024 22:32

Oh my god how horrible! Hope it’s not a rat or mouse.

I once stayed in an Air bnB in Amsterdam with friends. I was sleeping on the sofa in the living room and I heard a noise. Looked towards the kitchen area and a mouse was tearing into a packet of tobacco on the counter. I screamed and almost pissed my pants and my friends came running through thinking I was being attacked 😂 Luckily we were leaving the following morning.

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:31

The fact that the food on offer on the kitchen counter is salmon deffo implies cat but then I know rats will eat anything so it doesn’t rule rats out. the sheer level of the noises does suggest cat but it was a dragging sound, surely a cat would just eat it there and then rather than taking it away to cache?

OP posts:
ChillGill · 05/05/2024 22:29

Another here who thinks it’s a cat. This happened to me in an apartment in Spain - a cat got in through a metal gate I’d left open to provide ventilation while keeping the property secure.
Try not to worry.
Do please update us OP when it’s discovered.

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:27

Hoping and praying it is next doors cat!

OP posts:
nadine90 · 05/05/2024 22:27

Oh god! Rats are the worst. I had them in a flat years ago, barely slept for weeks 🤢
They are scared by noises and will run and hide if they hear you coming. Until you know what it is, you will be thinking the worst. I would get completely dressed - big boots on, long legs long sleeves. Grab something heavy, help you feel a bit safer. And go have a look. Even if it is a rat, I promise it won’t be as scary as you are building it up in your head.

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:27

Keeponkeepingonandon · 05/05/2024 22:26

Rats can climb stairs OP

Thankfully there is a door between our living room and small hallway!

OP posts:
Keeponkeepingonandon · 05/05/2024 22:26

Rats can climb stairs OP

therealjohnmajor · 05/05/2024 22:25

I found next door's cat on my counter with its two front paws in my casserole pot helping itself. Luckily it was just cold leftovers! I'd say cat was far more likely than a rat.

Loocheeyar · 05/05/2024 22:23

Throw something into the kitchen see what happens !

TheNoodlesIncident · 05/05/2024 22:23

With the kitchen window being left open, I would bet my house it's a cat come in and eating your partner's salmon.

Forget about the really unlikely rat and go look at the far more likely cat? Not that you'll be able to rescue the dinner, too late for that...

murasaki · 05/05/2024 22:23

Might it a be a squirrel? One raced past me into the back room, moved in behind the radiator, and took two days to remove.

I both yelled in a teams meeting when it made a noise, and at the time it first happened phoned dp in tears demanding he come home.from work to deal with it ( he didn't, reasonably really), but I can't even look at the bastards now and never leave the kitchen door open unattended anymore. Ever.

Zippedydoodahday · 05/05/2024 22:21

My guess is cat or pigeon.

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:18

TwattyMcFuckFace · 05/05/2024 22:17

And left the kitchen door open?

Why??

Whatever it is could be anywhere in the house now obviously.

It will only have access to kitchen and living room. It’s a 2-up 2-down

OP posts:
Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:17

EnglishBluebell · 05/05/2024 22:16

Ah I see. I'd be calling DH and telling him to come home now!

He rather conveniently isn’t answering! He goes out once in a blue moon, once every year or so! So I don’t want to keep calling and ruin it for him but I am desperate for him to walk through the door as I am terrified

OP posts:
RichPetunia · 05/05/2024 22:17

Might be mice. I'm in the process of evicting them from my house - maybe they've relocated?🙂. Anyway, just buy some strong mouse/rat poison and put it down for a few days. That should get rid of the little blighters.

TwattyMcFuckFace · 05/05/2024 22:17

Kidulthood2027 · 05/05/2024 22:13

I’ve just legged it upstairs

And left the kitchen door open?

Why??

Whatever it is could be anywhere in the house now obviously.

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